Northampton Town ended their abysmal away form with a comfortable win over feeble Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Cobblers had not scored an away goal since September but managed three in west London as Ian Branfoot’s side suffered a significant hangover following their FA Cup heroics at Brighton and Hove Albion in midweek. Northampton took the lead in the fifteenth minute when, despite suspicions of offside, the linesman’s flag stayed down as Garry Thompson latched onto a long ball from David Norton and scored at the second attempt after Tony Lange had blocked his first effort with his body.
The Cottagers were stunned and conceded a second goal six minutes later. Jason White, a long-time Fulham scourge, spun superbly away from Terry Angus and smashed a shot clinically beyond Lange. The home crowd signalled their displeasure, although their side did find a lifeline six minutes before half time when Terry Angus halved their deficit with a diving header after the visitors had failed to clear Lea Barkus’ corner.
But, rather than kick on after the goal, Fulham’s intensity subsided in a insipid second half. Nick Cusack spurned the best chance to level when sent a free header wide from five yards nine minutes after the interval before producing forcing a fabulous save from Billy Turley after fashioning a shooting chance out of nothing. Northampton held onto their lead doggedly and looked dangerous on the break – and it was no surprise when they put the result beyond doubt with four minutes remaining.
Duncan Jupp’s dreadful attempt at a clearance allowed Thompson’s right wing cross to reach White, who strolled in to score one of the simplest goals of his career from only two yards out.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Taylor, Moore (Blake 74), Angus, Barkus (Brooker 66), Morgan, Cusack, Conroy (Williams 74), Hamill.
GOAL: Angus (39).
ATTENDANCE: 3,421.
