Fulham plummeted to second bottom of the Third Division – the lowest league position in their history – after losing at bottom-of-the-table Torquay United tonight in a result that piled the pressure on manager Ian Branfoot.
The Seagulls moved to within six points of the Whites – raising the real prospect of London’s oldest side playing their football in the Conference next season – after snatching a dramatic victory, despite Fulham creating the far clearer chances and dominating possession throughout.
The visitors made a dreadful start with Torquay taking great confidence from scoring with their first attack within the opening sixty seconds. Ian Hathaway made the most of oceans of space on the left wing to deliver a low cross that found Paul Baker, who twisted inside the area and struck a low shot beyond Tony Lange to give the Seagulls a superb start. Baker could have easily doubled his tally within five minutes – and Fulham took twenty minutes to register a shot of their own.
Nick Cusack, deployed in midfield in a Branfoot tactical tweak that didn’t work, played a one-two with Phil Barber but screwed his shot well wide. But the visitors did find a route back into the contest just before the half hour when Mike Conroy scored at the near post from close range after Kevin Moore had flicked on a Martin Thomas corner. Thomas forced a routine space from Ray Newland with a header just before half time, but the second period demonstrated that Branfoot’s leaky defence remains a real problem.
Mark Hall ran the former Torquay full back Herrera ragged all afternoon and Fulham struggled to progress the ball up the pitch. Cusack looked like the visitors’ most likely source of a goal, with his astute flick on creating an opportunity for Conroy but Newland did well to deny the Scottish striker. The visitors were furious when Scott seemed to be felled by Newland as he stretched for a loose ball in the box, but referee Gurnam Singh waved play on.
Branfoot threw on Rory Hamill in search of a late winner and was forced to make a further substitution when Scott limped off injured but it was Torquay who stole all three points in the closing stages. Steve Winter’s cross was returned with interest by Richard Hancock and Simon Garner, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, lashed the winner past a stunned Lange.
TORQUAY UNITED (4-4-2): Newland; Barrow, Watson, Gore (Hall 27), Stamps; Winter, Ramsey, Oatway, Hathaway (Hancox 82); Baker, Garner. Subs (not used): Mateu.
GOALS: Baker (1), Garner (82).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Moore, Blake; Thomas (Hamill 74), McAree, Cusack, Barber; Conroy, Scott (Marshall 80). Subs (not used): Angus.
BOOKED: McAree.
GOAL: Conroy (29).
REFEREE: Gurnham Singh (Wolverhampton).
ATTENDANCE: 2,594
