Olly Sanderson’s eleventh goal of the season was enough to steer Fulham’s under 18s to a narrow victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Spurs Lodge this afternoon.
The in-form forward produced a flawless finish to send Imani Lanquedoc’s terrific through ball past Aaron Maguire ten minutes before half time. Ali Melloul’s side had started strongly in Chigwell with the lively Lanquedoc almost punishing a sloppy clearance from Maguire by bursting away from two defenders before his cross was cleared behind for a corner.
Spurs’ first opening came through Rio Kyerematen, who fired wastefully over from just outside the penalty area, before the midfielder’s fabulous free-kick was headed narrowly over by Jaden Williams. The hosts continued to apply serious pressure with Samuel Amo-Ameyaw inches away from connecting with a dangerous cross, but Fulham looked sharp on the counter attack. Sanderson seized upon an untimely slip from a Spurs defender but couldn’t beat Maguire from a tight angle.
Michael Allen then made a magnificent stop to deny Jamie Donley and the visitors made the most of that let off as Sanderson stroked them ahead after latching onto Lanquedoc’s lovely pass. Fulham were far more dominant in the second period, controlling both possession and the pattern of play. Substitute Michael Olakigbe almost laid on a second for Lanquedoc, but the midfielder’s deflected shot was smothered by a worried Maguire.
With time ticking by, it was still Fulham looked the likelier to double their lead. Olakigbe, making a real impression against a tiring Tottenham defence, was only denied the killer second by the legs of the Tottenham goalkeeper as Melloul’s men completed the double over their north London opponents.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Maguire; Andiyapan, Linton, Sayers, Chaplin; Kyerematen, Abbott; Amo-Ameyaw (Bloxham 69), Heaps (McKnight 63), Donley; Williams (Owen 77). Subs (not used): Gunter.
BOOKED: Williams, Heaps.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Allen; Tanton, de Fougerolles, Benjamin, Araujo; Okkas, McCoy-Splatt, Caton (Olakigbe 71); Lanquedoc (M. Parker 87), Works; Sanderson. Subs (not used): Varney, Gofford, Gordon.
BOOKED: Sanderson, McCoy-Splatt, M. Parker.
GOAL: Sanderson (36).
REFEREE: Martyn Mitchell.
