Fulham’s under 23s slipped to a disappointing defeat at Reading this evening as Rashawn Scott scored twice.
Steve Wigley shuffled his pack as he made three changes to his starting line-up for the champions’ penultimate league fixture. Jay Williams started his first under-23 game since November after recovering from a hamstring injury, Terence Kongolo returned in the centre of defence and Terry Ablade, who has struggled to feature during his loan spell at AFC Wimbledon, led the line.
Reading had the better of the early exchanges with Charlie Robinson making a vital interception before Kongolo cleared Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s header from underneath his own crossbar. The Dutch defender then spurned a good chance when he headed Sonny Hilton’s set-play straight at Jökull Andresson. At the other end, Scott should have put the Royals ahead when he went clean through on Alex Borto’s goal and rounded the American goalkeeper but scuffed his finish into the side netting.
Welsh youth international Luke Harris then volleyed over after getting on the end of an Ablade knock down and the striker then screwed a shot wide of goal after being played in by Jonathon Page. Reading made Fulham pay by taking the lead just before the half hour. A well worked corner saw Scott tee up Ehibhatiomhan, who scored at the second attempt with a powerful finish. The hosts doubled their lead when the referee adjudged Scott to have been fouled inside the box when the trip appeared to have been outside the area. Scott didn’t mind – beating Borto from twelve yards.
Kieron Bowie headed straight at Andersson as the visitors sought an immediate response to going two goals down, but they hit back four minutes into the second period. Jay Stansfield fired in a fabulous effort from long-range to halve Fulham’s arrears and Page miscued a half volley well off target. Wigley’s side were well in the contest, but Reading still looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Ethan Burnett and Scott going close in quick succession.
The hosts restored their two goal cushion midway through the second half when a flowing move saw Ehibhatiomhan square for Scott, whose low finish beat Borto and went in off the far post. Stansfield almost brought Fulham straight back into the contest when he hit the frame of the goal from five yards out to sum up a frustrating night in Berkshire for Wigley’s men, who finish a fine league campaign against Burnley at Motspur Park on Friday night.
READING UNDER 23s (4-3-3): Andresson; Abrefa, Samuels (Abbey 60), Craig, Burnett; Ashcroft, Camara, Leavy; Scott (Abideen-Goodridge 76), Osorio, K. Ehibhatiomhan (Bristow 72). Subs (not used): Norcott, P. Ehibhatiomhan.
BOOKED: Bristow.
GOALS: K. Ehibhatiomhan (29), Scott (40, 66).
FULHAM UNDER 23s (4-2-3-1): Borto; J. Williams (D’Auria-Henry 64), Odutayo, C. Robinson, Kongolo; Page, Harris; Hilton, Bowie (O’Neill 76), Stansfield; Ablade (Pajaziti 66). Subs (not used): Allen, Bowat.
GOAL: Stansfield (49).
