Fulham won their fourth meeting of the season with Wycombe Wanderers after a brilliant brace from midfielder Martin Thomas steered the Whites into the quarter finals of the Auto Windscreens Shield at Craven Cottage this evening.
Fulham boss Ray Wilkins made nine changes from the side that had cruised to a comfortable win over fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham at the weekend but the rotation didn’t disrupt the Whites’ rhythm. They went in front as earlier as the second minute when Thomas, a hero of last season’s Division Three runners-up, volleyed majestically home from ten yards after rapid wing play from Darren Freeman.
Mo Harkin scored at the Cottage for the second time this season, equalising for the visitors when his deflected shot left Mark Walton in the Fulham goal completely wrongfooted ten minutes before half time. Thomas popped up with his second of the game to put the home side ahead again with five minutes to go. He headed home a fine cross from Robbie Herrera, operating on the left wing rather than at left back tonight, before Freeman fired in a decisive third goal three minutes later.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Walton; McAnespie, Lawrence, Maher (Arnott 61), Blake; Thomas. Hayward, Brooker, Herrera; Freeman, Scott (McAree 72). Subs (not used): Aggrey.
BOOKED: McAnespie.
GOALS: Thomas (2, 85), Freeman (88).
WYCOMBE WANDERERS (4-4-2): Martin Taylor; Kerslake (Wraight 72), Mohan, Ryan, Kavanagh; Carroll (Cornforth 84), Simpson, Harkin, Brown; Stallard, McGavin. Subs (not used): Read
GOAL: Harkin (35).
REFEREE: John Brandwood (Lichfield).
ATTENDANCE: 4,319.
