Michael Elstone scored twice as Fulham Under 23s comfortably defeat their Newcastle United counterparts 3-0 at Motspur Park yesterday to move into the PL2 play-off positions.
Peter Grant’s side, which included first-team winger Yohan Mollo, had the better of the first half and went in front in the first minute of added time. Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson spread the play wide for Elijah Adebayo and the forward’s cross caused chaos in the Newcastle defence. The loose ball was poked home by Elstone from barely a yard out.
The Whites doubled their lead straight after the break. Thorsteinsson split open the Newcastle defence with a raking through ball, which Adebayo sprinted onto and the powerful forward finished clinically past a helpless Freddie Woodman. Rob Atkinson cleared a Magpie effort off the line, but Fulham looked the more likely to score – and they did 20 minutes from time, when Elstone converted another excellent Adebayo cross to put a more convincing gloss on the scoreline.
The result represented a fifth consecutive league win for Grant’s side and vaulted Fulham into fifth, which is the last play-off spot for promotion from the Premier League 2. The Under 23s are next in league action against Brighton and Hove Albion on 8 December at Motspur Park.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Ashby-Hammond; Jenz, Davies (Nabay 39), Atkinson, Spence; Harris, Francois (Thompson 78); Mollo, Elstone, Thorsteinsson; Adebayo. Subs (not used): Schwarzer, Andrason, Kwietniewski.
GOALS: Elstone (45+1, 70), Adebayo (46).
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Kitchen, Yarney, Gillesphey, Cameron; Barlaser, Bailey; Fernandez, Ward, Roberts; Heardman (Charman 46). Subs (not used): Sangare, Harker, Smith, Elmhanni.
