FOR a prolonged period in the second half, it appeared as if Blue Square Conference side Kettering would secure at least a second meeting with Premier League Fulham, if not a shock victory. But Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora introduced some reality with two late goals to take their team into the fifth round.

It was not what the Poppies deserved. Twice they came back after Fulham had assumed the lead. Craig Westcarr converted nine minutes before the interval to cancel Simon Davies’s sublime right-footed volley. Westcarr equalised again from the spot with seven minutes remaining after substitute Danny Murphy’s deflected goal.

Ultimately, tired limbs, waning concentration and class prevented something more glorious, but Mark Cooper, the Kettering manager, articulated the pride that echoed around the ground. “I’m a proud man but a sick man. At 2-2 and with three minutes to go, you don’t expect a mistake of the sort that cost us,” said Cooper, referring to Kettering goalkeeper Lee Harper’s failure to deal with a Davies cross, which Zamora headed down to Johnson for Fulham’s third goal. “It was a tremendous performance.”

For the last 10 minutes before the interval and for all but the final few minutes of the second half, the game was pulsating. Gareth Seddon shot wide from the edge of the penalty area and Exodus Geohaghon’s header from a corner kick was scrambled away as the 9-1 outsiders chased the win. Richard Graham worked his way in from the dead-ball line and forced Aaron Hughes to concede another corner at the near post before John Dempster, the Kettering captain, missed the target with a free header from six yards. All of these chances came in the first 15 minutes after the restart. Fulham were not without opportunities of their own, such as the powerful 20-yard volley by Paul Konchesky that produced an excellent save from Harper.

Fulham imposed themselves just enough to remove the Kettering threat. Johnson and Clint Dempsey offered clever movement up front for Zoltan Gera and Davies to aim through balls into their path, while Konchesky delivered dangerous crosses.

Dempsey twisted and turned past Tommy Jaszczun on the touchline and, with his left foot, sent his cross to the edge of the penalty area where Davies made the perfect connection with a right-footed volley that rocketed past Harper. Dempsey was denied again when his close-range header from Freddie Stoor’s cross was saved by Harper as the Poppies refused to wilt.

Even when Davies set up Murphy for Fulham’s second goal, Kettering hit back. Westcarr was brought down by Brede Hangeland and referee Mike Riley awarded a penalty that Westcarr despatched.

But Harper’s error allowed Zamora to link up with Johnson, who fired into an empty net. Within a minute, Johnson had set up Zamora for the shot that sealed the game. “We had to dig deep and we did,” said Roy Hodgson, Fulham’s manager.

Star man: Craig Westcarr (Kettering)

Yellow cards: Kettering: Westcarr, Graham, Dempster Fulham: Hangeland

Referee: M Riley

Attendance: 5,406

KETTERING TOWN: Harper 5, Bennett 5, Geohagon 6, Dempster 7, Jaszczun 5 (Potter 71min), Eaden 6, Boucand 6, Solhkon 7, Graham 7 (Marna 89min), Westcarr 8, Seddon 6 (Beardsley 73min)

FULHAM: Schwarzer 6, Stoor 6, Hughes 7, Hangeland 6, Konchesky 7, Gera 6 (Zamora 69min), Andreasen 6, Etuhu 6 (Murphy 69min), Davies 8, Johnson 7, Dempsey 6

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