Imani Lanquedoc scored a fine hat-trick as Fulham’s under 18s battered Brighton 5-1 at Motspur Park this afternoon.
Fulham were on the front foot from the off with Lanquedoc at the heart of the hosts most promising moves. The young midfielder made the first chance of the game when he burst away down the left flank and crossed for Lemar Gordon, who stroked wide. Olly Sanderson shot over before Brighton made their first impression as Michael Allen saved smartly from Bailey Smith.
Ali Melloul’s side took the lead in the eighteenth minute through an unlikely source. Centre half Xavier Benjamin strode forward from the back and, after seeing his first shot blocked, found the bottom corner with a sweet strike from range. Lanquedoc grabbed the second just after the half hour mark when he fired home off the inside of a post after Killian Cahill had pushed out a powerful drive from Devan Canton.
It was three just four minutes later. Terrell Works scored a sensational solo goal – dribbling away from three would-be defenders before firing in. Brighton put together a good spell of pressure at the start of the second half with Leigh Kavanagh blazing over from close range and Billie Clark shooting wide.
Fulham made sure of victory with a two further goals in the last twenty minutes. Delano McCoy-Splatt turned away from two defenders and played in Devan Tanton along the right flank. The full back’s fine cross was perfectly weighted for Lanquedoc, who fired in his second of the afternoon. The all-action midfielder completed his hat-trick with fifteen minutes left by tucking a calm finish past Cahill after being played in by substitute Oliver Gofford.
Albion finished strongly with Allen making a couple of excellent reaction stops before Zak Emmerson headed in a consolation right at the death.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Allen; Tanton, Parkes, Benjamin, Araujo; Lanquedoc, McCoy-Splatt (de Fougerolles 80), Okkas; Gordon (Gofford 67), Works, Sanderson (Loupalo-Bi 75). Subs (not used): Borto, Caton.
BOOKED: Gordon, Works.
GOALS: Benjamin (18), Lanquedoc (32, 71, 75), Works (36).
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Cahill; Winstanley, Sturge, Kavanagh, Ryan; Jenks, Hinshelwood; Smith (Clark 61), Duffus, Baker-Boaitey (Ifill 61); Emmerson. Subs (not used) Fisher, Gee, Shann.
BOOKED: Emmerson, Winstanley, Duffus.
