Ian Branfoot declared Mike Conroy’s late equaliser at high-flying Chester City could be turning the point of Fulham’s season after his side battled for a share of the spoils at the Deva Stadium.
Fulham’s winless run might have been extended to eleven matches but Branfoot admitted the point that prevented Chester from returning to the top of the Third Division table felt like a win after they were utterly outplayed in the first half. Conroy, who had already seen a striker ruled out for offside, grabbed an unlikely share of the spoils for the Cottagers with five minutes remaining when he headed home at the back post after Nick Cusack had flicked on Martin Gray’s corner.
Chester were furious that the corner had even been awarded as Kevin Moore’s header appeared to drift well wide, but referee Neale Barry pointed to the corner flag. Fulham might even have won it at the death but for a brilliant save from City goalkeeper Billy Stewart who somehow prevented centre half Julian Alsford from heading diverting Conroy’s cross into his own net.
Chester had taken the lead through winger Eddie Bishop’s eighth goal of the season just after the half hour mark. The left winger fired past Tony Lange from the edge of the box after Andy Milner had played him after excellent approach play from the former England international Cyril Regis. The hosts might have gone further in front before the interval but Regis saw a free header saved by Lange and midfielder Neil Fisher lashed over from just inside the area.
Branfoot said afterwards: “We came away from the game thinking ‘we should have won that one’ and I think it could be an important result for us. We have to keep plugging away and the confidence will come back”.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Taylor, Gray, Moore; Bower, Thomas, Morgan (Hamill 45), Cusack; Brazil (Barkus 75), Conroy. Subs: Finnigan.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Taylor, Gray, Moore; Bower, Thomas, Morgan, Cusack; Brazil, Conroy. Subs: Finnigan, Barkus, Hamill.
BOOKED: Moore, Gray, Jupp.
GOAL: Conroy (85).
REFEREE: Neale Barry (Lincolnshire).
ATTENDANCE: 2,752
