Duff on the mark as Fulham cruise

SOCCER: EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFYING ROUND:FULHAM TOOK their first step towards further Europa League success with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Faroese minnows NSI Runavik in Martin Jol's first match at the helm. Damien Duff, Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson netted the all-important goals at Craven Cottage as the west Londoners look to repeat their run to the final in 2010.

While a further 22 matches still stand between them and another appearance in the finale, Fulham already seem to have dispatched NSI with a clinical display in the first leg of their first qualifying round clash in front of a crowd of 15,000.

Heading into the tie, recently-appointed former Tottenham boss Jol sprang something of a surprise by naming the strongest possible starting line-up. Jol had hinted he would blood in youngsters during the early rounds but named a side packed with experience.

Murphy skippered the Whites and the likes of Brede Hangeland, Bobby Zamora and Duff were included in the starting line-up.

Duff was unfortunate not to net the game’s first goal in the 23rd minute, twisting and turning on the edge of the box before unleashing a right-footed drive that went just wide of the far post.

Despite Fulham’s dominance, Justinus Hansen almost gave NSI a shock lead with a thumping effort that caught Mark Schwarzer unawares and bounced just wide.

The long-range drive seemed to spur Jol’s side into life and – after some nice play down the left-hand side – Duff thumped home from inside the 18-yard box.

Fulham returned from the break reinvigorated and the visitors were forced to deal with a barrage of attacks from the offset. Despite NSI’s resilience, however, the home support did not have to wait long for a second goal after Petersen upended Simon Davies in the box, allowing skipper Murphy to coolly slot home from the penalty spot.

The tie was effectively put to bed when Johnson wriggled free in the box and angled a shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Nine-man Glentoran gave themselves a fighting chance of progressing past the first qualifying round after a battling 2-1 defeat to Renova in Macedonia.

Northern Ireland rivals Cliftonville will also fancy their chances after grabbing a 1-1 draw with The New Saints in Oswestry. Alex Darlington’s 26th-minute opener for the home side was cancelled out by Barry Johnson six minutes before the interval.