Football: Peschisolido strikes twice to keep Fulham revival rolling

Fulham 3 Gillingham

Fulham 3

Gillingham 0

Fulham climbed to the dizzy heights of eighth place in the Second Division - their highest since Kevin Keegan and Ray Wilkins arrived at Craven Cottage two months ago.

A crowd of more than 8,000 created a good atmosphere for Friday night football beside the Thames as the Fulham revival rolled on.

Wilkins' men took a long time to get into gear despite the lift of a 10th- minute goal from Paul Peschisolido, a rare home attack in a first half which the visitors dominated.

Fulham remained unruffled, however, and after Gillingham's influential midfielder Mick Galloway was sent off six minutes before half-time for a second bookable offence there was little doubt about the outcome.

Fulham led when Neil Smith chipped the ball into the visitors penalty area for Peschisolido, Fulham's pounds 1.1m record signing, to head goalwards. Gillingham goalkeeper Jim Stannard parried the effort but Peschisolido hooked in from six yards.

Iffy Onuora was unlucky eight minutes before half time when he beat keeper Maik Taylor with a header but the ball hit the crossbar.

Fulham scored a second on the hour when Peschisolido dribbled to the byline and crossed for Paul Watson, a former Gillingham player, to fire a left foot volley past Stannard.

Tempers flared moments later when Ade Akinbiyi became one of five bookings for a late lunge on Taylor.

Stannard was left helpless five minutes from time when Peschisolido again tricked his way past two defenders to score with a right foot shot.