First half goals from Seth Chingwaro and captain Logan Cooke guided Fulham’s under 18s to an impressive win at Brighton and Hove Albion yesterday.
January signing Chingwaro gleefully grabbed his first Fulham goal by poaching at the far post after Macauley Zepa’s corner had been unintentionally headed on by a home defender. The second goal also came from a set piece as Cooke climbed highest to head home a devilish delivery from Jayden Quashie. Ali Melloul’s side dominated possession and could have scored further goals during an accomplished away display.
Brighton goalkeeper Finley Taylor did brilliantly to keep out a 25-yarder from Quashie that was sandwiched between the visitors’ goals and, so complete was the young Whites’ control, that Dino Kaiser was tested just once in the first half. The Fulham custodian dashed from his line to prevent Theo Outen from giving the home side a lifeline. At the other end, Alfie White should have done that shoot high over the bar from a good position whilst Zepa sent a curler wide of goal.
Zac Brennan did come close with a deflected effort that crept past the post but it took the introduction of Zebedee Lawson just before the hour mark to really enliven the Seagulls. The forward came close to his seventh goal of the season when he flashed an effort into the side netting before lashing a fierce left-footed effort from distance towards goal – only for Kaiser to make a vital save.
Cooke and Quinn Schutter marshalled the back four expertly to ensure the young Whites kept a clean sheet and notched up back-to-back victories. The under 18s will take on Arsenal next in a London derby next Saturday at Motspur Park – with kick off at 11am.
BRIGHTON UNDER 18s (3-4-2-1): Taylor; T. Ferdinand, Hayden (Lawson 59), Alakiu; Outen, Anah (Newnam-Reeve 83), Brennan, Middleton (Widdup 77); Ibrahim (Parsons 59), Silsby, Kasvosve. Subs (not used): Ademola.
BOOKED: T. Ferdinand.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Kaiser; Benchaita, Slade, Cooke, Schutter; Quashie (Grant 72), Chingwaro; Zepa, Evans (Picotto 89), White; Dair (Khan 89). Subs (not used): Mayer, Khan.
BOOKED: Schutter.
GOALS: Chingwaro (6), Cooke (16).
REFEREE: Stuart Mackenzie.
