Football: JUST GR-EIGHT; 100 per cent Fulham so Hayles and hearty

FULHAM maintained their GR-EIGHT start to the season thanks to a two-goal show from striker Barry Hayles.

Jean Tigana's London aristocrats wrapped up their eighth successive win with Hayles running poor Gills ragged.

The 28-year-old striker finished brilliantly from Steve Finnan's cross in first-half stoppage time, then played a perfect through ball for Lee Clark to seal the match midway through the second period.

The Gills fought all the way but Hayles rubbed salt into the wound with a third goal just four minutes from time.

The odds were against Gillingham from the start. Yet to win away from home in their first season in the First Division, they were facing a team who had scored 14 goals in their four previous home games.

Fabrice Fernandes almost took the tally to 15 within four minutes but his 25-yard shot cannoned off the post and away to safety.

While Gills striker Carl Asaba and player-boss Andy Hessenthaler probed at one end, Vince Bartram kept Fulham out at the other.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper had to be at his best to keep out shots from Wayne Collins, Clark and Fernandes, who looked dangerous throughout the first half.

But Bartram could do nothing about Hayles' goal, the Fulham forward chesting down Finnan's cross and lashing his shot into the top corner.

Gillingham sent on Andy Thomson for Marlon King and he could have scored with his first touch but he mis-timed his header from Hessenthaler's free kick.

Clark sealed the game for Fulham after 65 minutes. He ran on to Hayles' pass, rounded Bartram and finished expertly. Hayles should have added a third and Bartram saved from Clark before Hayles drove the ball into the top corner once more to make it 3-0.

That makes it 24 points from their opening eight League games of the season - who would bet against Fulham clinching the First Division title now?STAR MAN VINCE BARTRAM

Made several first-class stops to keep his side in the game.

FULHAM: Taylor 6; Finnan 8, Melville 7, Coleman 6 (Lewis 5), W Collins 5, J Collins 6, Goldbaek 7, Clark 7, Fernandes 7, Hayles 8, Saha 6 (Boa Morte 5).

GILLINGHAM: BARTRAM 8; Ashby 6, Hope 6, Butters 6, Southall 6 (James 6), Hessenthaler 7, Smith 6, Browning 5, Edge 6, King 5 (Thomson 5), Asaba 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Tigana 7, Hessenthaler 7.

REFEREE: F Stretton 5.

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