Mike Conroy scored a hat-trick as Fulham thrashed Second Division Swansea City 7-0 on a remarkable record-breaking day at Craven Cottage to surge into the second round of the FA Cup.
Ian Branfoot’s Third Division strugglers were delighted to rediscover their goalscoring form in the Cup as they tore Swansea to shreds. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Roger Freestone look shell-shocked after conceding seven goals – as Fulham recorded their biggest-ever FA Cup victory. The Whites took the lead in the third minute when Cusack flicked on a long goalkick from Tony Lange and Conroy accelerated past Mike Basham to open the scoring. The Scottish striker made it two fifteen minutes later when he followed up after Freestone had failed to hold a drive from Martin Thomas.
It was 3-0 on the half hour mark when Swansea struggled to clear a corner and right back Duncan Jupp rifled an effort through a crowded penalty area. Conroy completed his hat-trick on the hour when he punished poor marking at a corner. Brazil’s delivery was helped on by Cusack at the near post and Conroy bundled in the loose ball unattended at the back post. Cusack deservedly got his name on the scoresheet eight minutes later when he hurdled a challenge from left back Andy Cook and hit a low drive into the bottom corner.
Paul Brooker, on as an early replacement for the injured Lea Barkus, scored his first senior goal with ten minutes to play. The teenager winger capped off another excellent performance by blasting home Danny Bolt’s inch-perfect ball at the far post and there was still time for Thomas to volley in a fine cross from Robbie Herrera to make this the biggest winning margin against higher league opposition in the FA Cup’s illustrious history.
Branfoot said afterwards: “We’ve been building up to this in the last four games. Confidence is a massive factor – it was a lot easier for Paul Brooker to come into a team playing with this sort of confidence. I’d love to get Southampton in the third round, if we can get there”.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Moore, Angus; M. Thomas, Barkus (Brooker 18), Morgan, Cusack; Brazil (Bolt 73), Conroy (Hamill 73).
GOALS: Conroy (3, 18, 60), Jupp (28), Cusack (68), Brooker (80), M. Thomas (85).
SWANSEA CITY: Freestone, Barnhouse, Cook, Basham (Perrett 30), Edwards; Pascoe, Chapple, Hodge, Coates; Heggs, Torpey. Subs (not used): Thomas, Price.
REFEREE: Paul Reijer (Leicester).
ATTENDANCE: 4,798
