Fulham’s under 21s returned to winning ways with an excellent 3-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Elite Performance Centre tonight.
Tom Olyott fired the young Whites in front but Hayden Mullins’ side failed to capitalise on a dominant start, allowing Joe Belmont to bring the hosts level before the break. Fulham redoubled their efforts after a stern half-time talking to and an own goal from Charlie Penman saw the visitors retake the lead before Gordon won and converted a late penalty to make sure of the points.
Fulham, sporting their striking purple third kit, were quickly into their stride on the south coast with Seth Ridgeon’s superb solo run setting up an early chance for Olyott, whose shot was blocked at source. The home side were just as cultured with the ball at their feet and created their first serious chance in the eighteenth minute when a promising move culminated in Harry Mills crossing for Belmont, but the striker failed to beat Underwood from close range.
Olyott then showed Belmont how to finish when Imani Lanquedoc opened up the Albion defence with a peach of pass and the winger rolled an understated strike into the unguarded net. It could have been two a minute later but Chibby Nwoki’s low drive was deflected just past the post. Ridgeon had a header cleared off the line, but Fulham’s prolificacy in front of goal would soon haunt them.
Brighton roared back level when Mills played a fabulous ball behind Sam Amissah, giving Belmont the chance to surge onto the pass. This time, the highly-rated Brighton forward easily beat Underwood – making amends for his squandering of a simpler chance.
An even game was turned on its head again when Ridgeon’s inswinging corner was headed goalwards by Eddy Nsasi – only for a desperate Penman to unwittingly divert the ball past his own goalkeeper and into the net. Albion launched another siege of the Fulham goal with Josh Robertson testing Underwood with a left-footed strike after a lovely bit of skill in the box, but Fulham held firm and added a third when Gordon was felled in the area and dusted himself down to send Killian Cahill the wrong way from twelve yards.
An impressive outing in Sussex proved the perfect way for the Whites to bounce back from their disappointing home defeat by Nottingham Forest in time for next Monday’s meeting with Sporting Club de Portugal’s B side in the quarter-final of the Premier League International Cup at Craven Cottage.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1):Â Cahill, Mackley (Tasker 62), Penman, Simmonds, Mills, Chouchane (Nti 81), Owusu (Moulton 72), Howell, Mullins, Bashir (West 62), Belmont (Robertson 62).
BOOKED: Owusu, Chouchane.
GOAL: Belmont (38).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1):Â Underwood, Gofford, de Jesus, Amissah, Nsasi; Nwoko (Works 72), Donnell (McCoy-Splatt 62); Olyott (Dibley-Dias 62), Lanquedoc, Ridgeon, Osmand (Gordon 62). Subs (not used):Â Kaiser.
BOOKED: Amissah.
GOALS: Olyott (21), Penman (o.g. 64), Gordon (pen 71).
REFEREE: Stephen Parkinson.
