Diomansy Kamara scores his first goal for Fulham as the Whites start their pre-season campaign with a win.
Match Summary
Fulham got their pre-season campaign off to a solid start as they produced an efficient display to record a win over Dagenham and Redbridge. New signing Diomansy Kamara’s first half strike was enough to separate the sides.
The first half certainly saw more expansive play coming from both sides, with Fulham having the edge in passing accuracy. The Whites fielded a completely different side in the second half and as legs tired, the game became all the more rushed and scrappy.
Starting Line Ups
First Half Action
7 minutes
Paul Konchesky played a well-weighted ball into the Dagenham penalty area which Michael Brown did well to control on his chest before hitting a low left-footed shot across the far post. Konchesky was making a good start to the match, having linked up well with Franck Queudrue just moments earlier.
10 minutes
Sam Saunders whipped a dangerous corner to the far post which was put narrowly wide by Rainford.
13 minutes
Fulham broke up a promising Daggers attack and the ball was played out to Franck Queudrue just outside the penalty area. Queudrue hit a raking diagonal pass to Diomansy Kamara who, having got beyond the last man, was tugged to the ground from behind. Queudrue’s free kick produced a spectacular save from Ed Thompson.
18 minutes
Chris Baird gave possession away in a dangerous position which allowed Nurse to lay the ball back to Rainford, who was lurking on the edge of the area. The midfielder’s powerful shot was blocked by Zat Knight.
23 minutes
Having won a corner, Fulham worked the ball short to Diomansy Kamara who subsequently laid the ball into the path of Chris Baird. The new signing took a touch before hitting his shot just wide of the right hand post.
26 minutes
Baird came to the rescue when a miss-hit shot fell into the path of Glen Southham whose cross was cut out by Baird just before Chris Moore could apply the killer touch at the far post.
30 minutes
The home defence breathed a sign of relief after Queudrue’s bending cross left defender Ross Smith in two minds. The Daggers centre back elected to attempt a diving header facing his own goal – the ball looped up and the back-pedalling Thompson had to tip the ball over.
32 minutes
Dagenham squandered their best chance of the half when Hughes was caught out by a short bounce. The Whites’ back line hesitated for a moment which allowed Jon Nurse to have a free shot. Antti Niemi got down well to block the first effort but the ball bounced back out to Nurse who flashed his second effort wide.
35 minutes
With Fulham looking to break forward in numbers, Simon Davies received a delicate through ball which he played across the face of goal. Unfortunately the onrushing Kamara could not stretch to make contact.
40 minutes
Another pitch length Fulham counter-attack produces a good goal scoring opportunity. The Whites certainly look to have plenty of options on the break.
44 minutes GOAL (Kamara, Fulham)
Diomansy Kamara opened his Fulham account with a fearsome strike just before the interval. The ball fell to the Senegal international on the right hand side of the Daggers’ penalty area and he unleashed a thunderbolt which hit the back of the net before Thompson could react.
Second Half Action
The Whites fielded a completely different side for the second period:
Warner; Volz, Pearce, Bocanegra, Rosenior; Dempsey, Diop, Smertin, Timlin; John, Healy
47 minutes
Collins John had his first opportunity of the match when his header was clawed over by Thompson following good build-up play from Healy, Timlin and Rosenior.
60 minutes
Collins John went close again on the hour mark, this time the supply came from the right flank where David Healy had drifted into space. The Northern Ireland international was found by Dempsey before playing an accurate cross to John who headed just off target.
62 minutes
Papa Bouba Diop was certainly enjoying his time on the pitch, getting through a healthy amount of running, looking dominant in the air and calm in possession - even though the second half was being played a far more frantic pace than the first.
69 minutes
With Fulham pressing for their second, Moritz Volz had two almost consecutive attempts on goal. The first, a long range pile driver took a deflection before rising just over Jack Norton’s right hand top corner. From the following corner, the ball fell again to the former German Under-21 international who connected sweetly, only to see the ball fly just wide.
80 minutes
Without doubt one of the top performers in Fulham’s midfield was Alexei Smertin. The former Russia Captain looked sharp and played his way out of a number of tight situations.
