Fulham (1) 3 Bury (0) 1
Fulham's forgotten man Andrejs Stolcers revived his Cottagers career with a fine brace tonight as Third Division Bury's Worthington Cup fairytale finished at a deserted Loftus Road.
Latvian striker Stolcers hit the net for the first time in 22 months to halt Fulham's three-match domestic losing streak and ruin Bury's dreams of making Jean Tigana's men their third cup scalp this season after giantkillings against Stoke and Bolton.
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Fulham striker Andrejs Stolcers gets two goals for Fulham.
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The £2million 28-year-old, starting only his ninth game since joining the Londoners two years ago, actually doubled his Fulham goal tally with his fine finishes after 39 and 52 minutes.
Tigana must now decide whether to hand Stolcers his long-awaited chance in the Barclaycard Premiership at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Lee Clark wrapped up Fulham's comfortable 3-1 success tonight with a dolly header after a terrible mix-up in the Bury defence with 18 minutes left, before Jon Newby scored a stunning injury-time consolation for the Shakers.
The Shakers' other best effort came from Daniel Swailes, who hit the bar on a surreal night in front of a sparse crowd who paid more attention to a belated firework display next to the ground than the dull first half.
Fulham, with four fringe players featuring, started brightly and Barry Hayles went close early on.
Junichi Inamoto's 20-yard drive deflected well wide soon after - while Steve Finnan headed over and Bjarne Goldbaek blasted into the upper tier of the stand just after the quarter-hour mark.
John Collins' fizzing drive provided a moment of excitement with 19 minutes on the clock, before Goldbaek produced an embarrassing air shot when presented with a clear sight at goal 14 yards out.
Finnan then swung over a delicious curling cross from the right flank, but Hayles wastefully headed straight at Glynn Garner.
The Bury keeper made a brilliant point-blank block from Inamoto after 34 minutes, ensuring his side remained on level terms.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Bury |
| Goal attempts |
15 |
3 |
| On Target |
7 |
2 |
| OffSides |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
8 |
7 |
| Corners |
8 |
3 |
| Yellows |
0 |
0 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: www.sportinglife.com |
But Garner was helpless when Hayles put Stolcers in on goal five minutes later - he scored with a cool shot into the bottom left corner.
Bury suffered an injury blow three minutes after the break when Terry Dunfield fell heavily. After prolonged treatment, he was stretchered off with what appeared to be an injury to his left knee.
And the visitors' woes increased further in the 51st minute when Stolcers produced a classy second goal to put his side 2-0 up.
Clark gave the 28-year-old a decent through-ball and he jinked inside two defenders to drill a thumping right-foot strike into the far corner.
Just after the hour, Goldbaek twice came close to adding to Fulham's lead.
First, he challenged keeper Garner, who dropped the ball but grabbed it again before the Danish winger could pounce.
Then he sent a screaming 20-yarder a foot wide of the angle of post and crossbar.
Substitute Facundo Sava missed a sitter from Stolcers' cross in the 67th minute.
Bury gave the home side a big scare two minutes later, with Swailes heading Chris Billy's cross against Maik Taylor's bar.
But Colin Woodthorpe's horrendous defensive error allowed Fulham to go 3-0 up in the 72nd minute.
The Bury defender missed a long ball, which bounced over Garner. Lee Clark nodding into an empty net for a comedy goal.
Goldbaek also hit the side-netting - and Garner pulled off two sensational saves to deny Sava and Hayles late on.
It was left to Newby to score a stunning injury-time consolation for the Third Division side - but Premiership Fulham are the side who go into the fourth round.
Fulham:
Taylor, Finnan (Djetou 64), Wome, Melville (Hudson 79), Ouaddou, Goldbaek, Collins, Inamoto (Sava 45), Clark, Hayles, Stolcers.
Subs Not Used: Herrera, Boa Morte.
Goals: Stolcers 40, 53, Clark 73.
Bury:
Garner, Swailes, Unsworth, Nelson, Barrass (O'Shaughnessy 81), Stuart, Billy, Dunfield (Woodthorpe 49), Forrest, Newby, Preece (Nugent 73).
Subs Not Used: Redmond, George.
Goals: Newby 90.
Att: 6,700 Ref: D Pugh (Merseyside).