Fulham declined the invitation to join Arsenal as a famous York City scalp. Exactly 17 years ago to the day, York City enjoyed their proudest FA
Cup moment when Arsenal were dumped out in the fourth round.
Sadly for York, who could fold if a buyer does not come up with the £4.5
million purchase price by the end of March, they were comfortably defeated
this time round and the urgently needed cash injection from a Cup run
has been denied them.
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Fulham ace striker Steve Marlet clocks up
another goal
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Frenchman Steed Malbranque deservedly put Fulham ahead in the first half
and, after latching on to a huge punt from Edwin van der Sar, his compatriot,
Steve Marlet, broke away to put the result emphatically beyond doubt six
minutes from time.
At least the supporters' trust who are attempting to rescue the club
will benefit to the tune of £50,000 after Fulham owner Mohamed Fayed's
decision to donate his club's share of the gate receipts to their funds.
York, more than £1 million in debt and losing £15,000 a week,
had performed wonders to get even this far in the competition, beating
Colchester, Reading and Grimsby, all from higher divisions. Not bad for
a team next to bottom of Division Three.
Fulham, having disposed of Wycombe Wanderers, semi-finalists last season,
at the previous stage only after a replay, had no reason to underestimate
their impoverished opposition especially as the Londoners took the field
without suspended top scorer Barry Hayles.
After a grandiose entry to the strains of the film music from 2001 A
Space Odyssey, York immediately launched into the attack, Michael Proctor
pulling back for Richard Cooper to fire right-footed straight at Van der
Sar. Such was the power of the shot that the Dutchman cleanly gathered
it only at the third attempt.
Fulham were quick to reply, a smartly taken free kick releasing Louis
Saha, whose teasing chip to the far post forced Graham Potter to head
hastily clear for a corner. Potter was again on hand to clear off the
line when the flag kick prompted further goalmouth panic.
It seemed hard to keep Potter out of the picture as the left-back was
soon called on to take an inswinging corner on the right for his own side,
the unattended Lee Bullock heading it over the top when well placed.
Two superb saves in a five-minute spell from former Northern Ireland
goalkeeper Alan Fettis then relieved mounting pressure on the home defence,
first from Malbranque and again from Marlet's header following Malbranque's
cross.
| Match
Stats |
York |
Fulham |
| Goal
attempts |
11 |
18 |
| On
Target |
5 |
7 |
| Hit
woodwork |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
10 |
9 |
| Offsides |
6 |
6 |
| Corners |
8 |
6 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source:
www.sports.com |
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Fulham's smoother and quicker distribution of the ball was bound to reap
dividends eventually, and it did so after 26 minutes as York, waiting
for an offside flag which was never raised, were caught flat-footed as
Saha threaded a pass to Malbranque. The Frenchman dashed clear and coolly
allowed Fettis to commit himself before slipping the ball past him.
York's early fire had been doused and Tigana's expensively assembled
team increasingly took control on a pudding-textured pitch made stickier
still by intermittent rain.
Fulham continued in the ascendancy as the second period got under way,
Steve Finnan squandering a fine chance to extend their lead before Van
der Sar almost handed York a lifeline in bizarre fashion. Under little
pressure, he badly sliced a clearance and handed possession to Lee Nogan
inside the box. Nogan delayed too long, however, as team-mates were slow
to lend him support. The ball was blocked and Nogan succeeded only in
earning himself a caution for venting his frustration with a rash tackle.
Fulham, who had briefly allowed complacency to set in, looked rattled
as York attempted a valiant fightback. Even so, they remained a constant
menace on the counterattack, Malbranque's trickery setting up John Collins,
who curled his shot narrowly wide. Marlet and Zat Knight, with a low drive
from 30 yards, also went close before Marlet, who cost a cool £11
million, neatly wrapped things up.
York: Fettis, Edmondson, Basham, Hocking, Hobson (Duffield 77),
Potter, Cooper, Brass, Bullock, Nogan (Mathie 83), Proctor.
Subs Not Used: Howarth, Smith, Richardson.
Booked: Nogan.
Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Legwinski,
Collins (Goldbaek 74), Knight, Malbranque, Saha, Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Ouaddou, Willock, Stolcers.
Booked: Marlet, Collins.
Goals: Malbranque 26, Marlet 85.
Att: 7,563
Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
Source S. Telegraph by Steve Thomson