A second half strike from midfielder Martin Thomas was enough for Fulham to see off promotion rivals Bury at Craven Cottage this afternoon as the Whites illustrated the strength of their own play-off credentials.
Ian Branfoot’s side laid siege to the Bury goal throughout this contest but had to wait until twelve minutes after half time when Thomas’ volley finally broke the deadlock. It looked like it was going to be a frustrating day down by the banks of the River Thames for Fulham’s long-suffering fans but this hard-fought victory takes the Cottagers to within only three points of the play-off places.
Fulham were ferocious from the first whistle and never let an overworked Bury defence have anything approaching peace. Simon Morgan saw an early header scrambled off the line by former Brentford defender Roger Stanislaus and Thomas had an effort blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs. Young Rory Hamill led the line impressively alongside new arrival Nick Cusack, starting Fulham’s finest move of the match which saw Thomas have a strike blocked and Bury goalkeeper Gary Kelly bravely save at the feet of John Marshall.
Simon Morgan had a volley well saved by Kelly and Mark Blake should have scored just before half time but the centre back shot wide of the target after the ball had bounced his way following an old-fashioned goalmouth scramble. Fulham were much more patient in the second half, even after Cusack had sent a volley fractionally wide of the far post, and were rewarded when a sweet strike from Thomas nestled in the far corner after Bury had struggled to clear their lines.
Thomas might have had a second eight minutes later but he shot just wide and the visitors, whose only clear chance came when Lenny Johnrose chipped Jim Stannard but strike the crossbar, were reduced to ten men late on when Nicky Daws was sent off for a second bookable offence.
FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Angus, Marshall, Moore, Blake, M. Thomas, Morgan, Cusack, Brazil, Hamill. Subs: Harrison, Finnigan, Cork.
GOAL: M. Thomas (57).
ATTENDANCE: 3,941.
