3rd tier* League fixture
*Then known as Division Three

Notts County 5     Fulham 1
McParland 8, 52, (pen) 89                     Leonard (OG) 19
Yates 41
Lund 47
 

Attendance:- 6,107
Referee:- L. Shapter (Devon)
Corners:- Notts 4 Fulham 3
Goal attempts on target:- Notts 9 Fulham 2
Goal attempts off target:- Notts 2 Fulham 6
Bookings:- Eckhardt (Fulham)
 

Notts County
Colours:- Black & white striped shirts, Black shorts, Black socks
League Position:- before 2nd/24, after 2nd/24
Manager:- John Barnwell

1.   Mick Leonard
2.   Paul Smalley
3.   Darren Davis
4.   David Kevan
5.   Dean Yates
6.   Garry Birtles
7.   Gary Mills
8.   Ian McParland
9.   Gary Lund
10. Geoff Pike
11. Adrian Thorpe *

Sub: Wayne Fairclough *79
Sub not used: Paul Barnes
 

Fulham
Colours:- All red
League Position:- 11th/24, after 11th/24
Manager:- Ray Lewington (as player manager)

1.   Jim Stannard
2.   Jeff Eckhardt
3.   Glen Thomas
4.   Ray Lewington
5.   Shaun Gore
6.   Keith Oakes
7.   Gary Barnett
8.   Peter Scott
9.   Justin Skinner
10. Gordon Davies *
11. Clive Walker

Sub: Kenny Achampong *70
Sub not used: Wayne Kerrins

Video of the match:- Presumably Notts' own video camera captured the action, but I'm not sure whether or not a goals report was shown on local news.

Nottingham Evening Post Report

MAGPIES ARE JUST CAPITAL
By Dave McVay

FOR SO LONG the Houdini men of Division One, Fulham's escape act is definitely on the slide these days. Craven Cottage chairman Jimmy Hill, on location with Match of the Day cameras, missed this latest failure to get out of jail, built on the virtues of graft and guile at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

TOO PREDICTABLE
The trouble is the Londoners' routine has become too predictable -and the likes of Notts County just aren't being conned anymore. Tony Macedo, George Cohen and Johnny Haynes may have provided the class to keep Fulham from sinking to the lower levels in the past. But these days a visit to the bargain basement for the first time in their history isn't a remote notion for the club. “Flatter to deceive, John,” is the Cottage motto. “And if the punter don't buy it, then you're on to a bad little earner.”

GRASPED
And at the moment, John Barnwell's men aren't about to be taken for mugs. Second in Division Three. his County players have learned that football at this level is about commitment and 90-minute endeavour. Skipper Geoff Pike, from the classic West Ham school of soccer, understands it. David Kevan, who could aspire to that level, has also grasped the meaning of lower League life. That's why these two midfielders outfought and eventually outskilled Fulham to death. Normal service has also been resumed in Ian McParland. The Scot's hat trick - a chance header, a tap-in and a penalty still isn't enough to depict his contribution. A standing ovation for Adrian Thorpe when subbed late on isn't sufficient, either. It was simply one of those games when heart mattered. County possessed it, Fulham didn't. After McParland's early strike, London pride was apparent when Mick Leonard turned Clive Walker's cross into his own goal in 19 minutes.
But Fulham didn't have the stomach for a fight when Dean Yates headed Notts back in front after 41 minutes. Thorpe's corner proved practice makes perfect when Garry Birtles flicked on for Yates. And when Gary Lund scored his sixth in the last seven League games two minutes after the interval, the battle was over. Except Fulham persisted with niggly, isolated skirmishes a rogue sniper would have been proud of. But then that's another aspect of trench warfare to which Notts have become immune in their struggle for better things.
 

Up the Maggies footnote:
This was Notts' 9th consecutive home league victory! And Ian McParland netted his 2nd of three hat-tricks for the club.
 

Notts County Season 1987/88
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