Seth Ridgeon’s brilliant brace helped Fulham’s under 21s finish the PL2 regular season in second place after they edged out Blackburn Rovers in a five-goal thriller tonight.
Ridgeon, starring again for Hayden Mullins’ side despite still only being aged sixteen, opened the scoring with a superb strike from the edge of the box and then rifling a firm finish under the body of home keeper Nick Michalski to give the visitors a two-goal cushion at half time. Callum Osmand added a third from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half but goals from James Edmondson and Aodhan Doherty set up an anxious last few minutes.
Osmand was denied a dream start by Michalski’s feet inside the first twenty seconds before the centre forward then set up a good chance for Ridgeon but the youngster’s fierce strike flew wide of the near post. Osmand then glanced a fine cross from Brad de Jesus against the post as the Cottagers went closer to breaking the deadlock.
The richly talented Ridgeon lashed home a venomous half-volley from eighteen yards midway through the first half to give Fulham a lead their pressure certainly merited. Going behind briefly brought Blackburn to life with Doherty trying his luck from long range – and worrying Alex Borto who desperately tried to cover the other corner of the net – before Delano McCoy-Splatt leathered a shot into Michalski’s palms at the other end.
But Ridgeon caressed home a second after latching onto a lovely through ball from Sam Amissah to put the Londoners further ahead. Rovers replied immediately with a spirited riposte in what little time remained before the interval but Matty Litherland and Igor Tyjon were both denied by Borto.
There looked no way back for the hosts when George Pratt felled Ridgeon just as he looked likely to complete his hat-trick five minutes into the second half and Osmand scored his tenth PL2 goal of a glittering campaign by sending the helpless Michalski the wrong way from twelve yards.
But Doherty quickly drew a brilliant save from Borto with a powerful strike from the edge of the box as Rovers refused to go down without a fight. Michalski matched his Fulham counterpart with a fingertip save to deny the returning Luc de Fougerolles a goal on his first start since October after Ridgeon had hung up another inviting cross.
The home side kept plugging away and should have reduced their arrears when Harley O’Grady-Macken found space in the six-yard box but the Mancunian midfielder fired over the crossbar when it appeared easier to hit the target. Edmondson brought Blackburn back into it with a stunning 25-yarder that flew into Borto’s top corner – and the end-to-end nature of an enthralling encounter continued until the final whistle.
Imani Lanquedoc and Lemar Gordon saw their efforts fabulously fingertipped away by Michalski, who then gratefully grasped a curler from Tom Olyott. Rovers made it 3-2 with four minutes to go when Doherty’s downward header from Nathan Dlamini’s cross beat both Borto and Amissah on the goal-line – and the comeback was on. Blackburn pushed everyone forward, presenting an added time chance to Olyott, but the winger wastefully drove high over the bar when one-on-one with Michalski.
Fulham held on for the win that confirmed they would finish second in the regular season standings and Mullins’ side will now turn their attention to the stern test provided by Olympique Lyonnais in the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup before contesting the PL2 play-offs.
BLACKBURN ROVERS UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1):Â Michalski; Litherland, Davies (Eze 65), Pratt, Pates (Leeming 89), Dunn (Stritch 65), O’Grady-Macken, A. Doherty, Edmondson, Dlamini, Tyjon (Boggan 65). Subs (not used): A. Khan, Boggan.
BOOKED: Dunn, Tyjon.
GOALS: J. Edmondson (68), A. Doherty (86).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1):Â Borto; Gofford (Nsasi 45), de Jesus, de Fougerolles, Amissah; Nwoko, McCoy-Splatt (McFarlane 66); Lanquedoc, Gordon, Ridgeon (Olyott 66); Osmand (Works 84). Subs (not used): Underwood.
GOALS: Ridgeon (26, 42), Osmand (pen 51).
