An outstanding hat-trick from Dom Ballard inspired Southampton to a 5-2 win over Fulham’s under-21s in the PL2 quarter-final ending Hayden Mullins’ side superb season at St. Mary’s last night.
The tie began in an encouraging fashion for the visitors, who forced a succession of early corners, and then opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Josh King found Ollie Gofford, whose ball to the back post was guided home by Martial Godo from close range. But Fulham’s bright start was marred by an injury to number ten Seth Ridgeon, who had to be replaced by Lemar Gordon after just twelve minutes. The Ealing winger soon engineered a shooting opportunity for himself but his effort was nowhere near testing Josh McNamara in the home goal.
Southampton began to settle having looked visibly nervous at the outset with a jinking run from Jay Robinson culminating in a left-footed drive that flew over the bar. But the home side equalised in the 23rd minute when Fulham failed to clear the danger inside the area and centre back Joachim Kayi Sanda composed himself before lifting his finish beyond Alex Borto and into the far corner.
The leveller opened up what had been a cagey contest. Jay Robinson went close with another attempt, before Borto dashed from his line to prevent Moses Sesay from putting the hosts ahead. Fulham also looked to restore their advantage when the lively Godo produced a peach of a pass to release Imani Lanquedoc but the midfielder’s drive was deflected wide. Lanquedoc also shot straight at McManara from a corner but the Londoners were presented with a great chance to go in front once more.
Callum Osmand was hauled down in the penalty area and referee Sam Mulhall pointed to the spot. The Welsh striker stepped forward to take the penalty but McManara guessed correctly and made a stunning save before clinging to the ball as Osmand closed in on the rebound. That blow was compounded two minutes in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Ballard, back from his loan spell at Cambridge United, raced onto a fine through ball from Robinson and clipped a lovely left-footed finish over Borto.
Saints were on the front foot immediately after the interval as Derrick Abu danced past Jon Esenga before shooting straight at Borto. Ballard looked to be in again but fine defending from Gofford closed down his angles at the expense of a corner. That relief was merely temporary as Ballard poached his second of the evening after Matt Dibley-Dias had cleared off the line with Fulham’s marking all at sea.
The England under-20 striker that completed his hat-trick in sumptuous style. He linked up with Robinson before spinning to sprint beyond a stretched Fulham defence to reach another excellent through ball and fired fabulously into the far corner to make it 4-2. Fulham responded within six minutes with a great goal from Godo briefly reviving their hopes. The winger did wonderfully to bend a brilliant effort between McManara’s outstretched palm and the far post after surging onto a beautiful ball from centre back Sam Amissah.
The Cottagers then threw everything at Southampton in a prolonged five minutes of pressure. King dug out a cross intended for Godo but Lewis Payne spotted the danger superbly and intercepted. Godo then left three defenders trailing in his wake before setting up Gofford but the full back’s finish went fractionally wide. McManara sped off his line to bravely block an Osmand effort and the Fulham forward then fired the wrong side of the near post after superb approach play from King – and Southampton killed off the tie at the other end with five minutes to play.
Will Merry’s precise pass found substitute Prince Ehibhatiomhan in the penalty area and the nineteen year-old scored his second goal as many play-off appearances by shooting past a disconsolate Borto. Saints will face Crystal Palace in the semi-finals, whilst Fulham’s youngsters – who finished just two points behind league leaders Manchester City – are left to reflect on the harness of the new PL2 play-off format.
SOUTHAMPTON UNDER 21s (3-4-2-1): McNamara; Payne (Dobson-Ventura 90+2), Moore, Sanda; Abu, Lanos, Bragg, Akachukwu; J. Robinson (O’Brien-Whitmarsh 71), Sesay (Merry 71); Ballard (Ehibhatiomhan 71). Subs (not used): Abbotson.
BOOKED: Sanda, Moore, Payne, Ehibhatiomhan.
GOALS: Sanda (23), Ballard (45+2, 60, 62), Ehibhatiomhan (85).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Gofford (Nwoko 76), Esenga, de Fougerolles, Amissah; Dibley-Dias, King; Lanquedoc (Works 67), Godo, Ridgeon (Gordon 13); Osmand. Subs (not used): Underwood, Nsasi.
BOOKED: de Fougerolles.
GOALS: Godo (6, 68).
REFEREE: Sam Mulhall.
