Macauley Zepa bagged a brace as Fulham’s under 18s thrashed Norwich City to register their first win of the league season this afternoon.
Aidan Evans fired the visitors ahead in the fifth minute when he coolly converted a clever pass from Seth Ridgeon at the end of a lovely passing move just outside the Norwich box. But the hosts hit back almost immediately when Rio Mundle rifled in at the back post after being afforded too much room to latch onto a cross from Toby Chilvers.
Wily winger Zepa went agonising close to restoring Fulham’s advantage when he shot just wide after a lovely give-and-go with the impressive Evans. Left back Luca Picotto did put the Londoners ahead once more when he hammered home a half-volley after Norwich had failed to deal with a free-kick. He might have had a brace before too long but fired over after racing onto a good cross by Bashil Lubega.
Zepa give Fulham breathing space just before the break when he tucked away an assured finish after another raking Ridgeon pass and made it four with a shot that surprised John Ruddy at his near post after linking up with Evans. Fulham goalkeeper Marco Underwood did well to reach Damari Daley’s dipping effort – with the Cottagers’ custodian deftly diverting the ball over the bar with a brilliant reaction stop.
Farheen Ali Wahid completed the rout by dispossessing Ruddy and dribbling his way into the net to score one of the simplest goals of his career.
NORWICH CITY UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1):Â Ruddy, Oligbo (Simbai 77), Adelusi (Madu 78), Keita (Okpiahele 45), Ozcan; Ofori-Manteaw, Mundle; Valencia (Northover 45), Sealey; Daley (Owen 81).
BOOKED: Ofori-Manteaw.
GOAL: Mundle (6),
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Â Underwood; Walters, Picotto, Cooke, Slade; Ridgeon (Khan 84), Quashie, Lubega, Zepa, Evans (Platel 81), Ali-Wahid. Subs (not used(: Varney, Hall, Simoni,
GOALS: Evans (5), Picotto (15), Zepa (44, 61), Ali-Wahid (80).
REFEREE: Adrian Copsey (Kent).
