Alan Mullery had an unhappy return to Craven Cottage as his Barnet side were well beaten by a Fulham team intent on setting the pace on the top of the Third Division.
The Whites were fired up to win this London derby having been needled by some disparaging comments about their set up from the Barnet management in the build-up to the game. The home side came out on top at the end of a feisty encounter courtesy of goals from Mike Conroy and stalwart Simon Morgan.
Micky Adams’ men took the lead in the thirteen minute when Scottish striker Conroy became the country’s leader goalscorer in fortunate fashion. Conroy didn’t get the cleanest connect on his shot from Paul Watson’s free-kick but the ball bounced off the Cottage turf and looped over the stranded Maik Taylor in any case. Skipper Morgan settled the contest with eight minutes to go with a trademark header from another excellent Watson delivery.
This win did more than give Fulham the bragging rights after a pre-match war of words – it also put Adams’ side seven points clear at the top of the table once more.
FULHAM: Lange; Watson, Herrera, Angus, Blake, Cusack, Cockerill (Thomas 85), Carpenter (Cullip 86), Morgan, Scott, Conroy. Subs (not used): Brooker.
BOOKED: Carpenter.
GOALS: Conroy (13), Morgan (82).
BARNET: Taylor; Primus, McDonald, Gale; Simpson, Wilson, Hodges, Campbell (Tomlinson 68), Hardyman; Devine, Codner. Subs (not used): Pardew, Brazil.
BOOKED: Gale.
ATTENDANCE: 4,423
