Bottom of the table Scarborough dented Fulham’s play-off push with a surprise 3-1 win over the Londoners this afternoon.
Ian Branfoot had set his side the target of winning all of their final eight league fixtures to try and conjure up an escape from the bottom of the Football League pyramid, but the Cottagers were found wanting at the first hurdle after a disastrous day at the seaside.
A spirited Scarborough side have spent weeks scrapping away at the foot of the table in attempt to claw themselves clear of the danger zone. They got a huge break nine minutes after half time when a defensive mix-up between Kevin Moore and goalkeeper Jim Stannard allowed centre forward Jason White to open the scoring with a lovely lob into the unguarded net. Fulham thought they could go on and claim a precious three points seven minutes later when Micky Adams curled in a fabulous free-kick for his twelfth goal of the season.
But that belief was dashed within five minutes when the lively David D’Auria eluded the visiting defence to head Scarborough back in front and striker Rob Scott added a third – and his first for Scarborough – two minutes later when he smashed in a superb shot from Mark Calvert’s clever free-kick.
A disappointed Branfoot, whose decision to deploy centre back Terry Angus at left back in place of the benched Robbie Herrera backfired, blamed Fulham’s poor finishing afterwards. He said: “We missed two good chances early on and conceded two poor goals. I couldn’t believe our luck when Adams scored, but when you concede goals like that you don’t win games.”
FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Angus, Hurlock, Moore, Blake, M. Thomas, Morgan, Cusack (Hamill 65), Adams, Marshall. Subs (not used): Harrison, Herrera.
GOAL: Adams (61).
ATTENDANCE: 2,050.
