Ali Melloul’s in-form Fulham under 18s collected their third consecutive league victory after a devastating start against Norwich City at lunchtime having raced into an unassailable three-goal lead early in the first half.
The young Whites went ahead from their first attack when deadly young forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi fired in his fifth goal of a sensational season inside the very first minute. The seventeen year-old striker latched onto a clearance from goalkeeper Alfie McNally and raced through on goal before beating Canaries goalkeeper Leon Giller with an another assured finish.
The hosts doubled their advantage just two minutes later. The lively Lemar Gordon also reached five league goals after breezing past full back Ben McCabe and firing home clinically with his right foot. The Ealing-born winger was a constant threat, whipping in a number of devilish deliveries from the left flank, and it was a surprise that Fulham weren’t further in front after totally dominating the first 25 minutes.
Greg Crane’s side gradually grew into the game and could easily have reduced their arrears. McNally made a smart save to hold a header from Michael Reindorf and only alert defending denied Alex Matos after the midfielder had dribbled into the box. Their momentum was stalled by a serious head injury suffered by McCabe, who was substituted at half time, and after a lengthy stoppage for treatment to the defender, Fulham swiftly made it 3-0. Tom Olyott’s fierce strike – after being teed up by Gordon – underlined his impressive introduction to this level and put the game beyond the away side.
The visitors were far more competitive after the interval but didn’t find the consolation goal that their precise passing and inventive approach play probably merited. That was down to Fulham’s diligent defending, but Melloul’s men spurned some decent chances to score more goals. Gordon couldn’t grab a second – shooting wide when one-on-one with Giller after his pace left the yellow shirts trailing in his wake and Delano McCoy-Splott, making a return from months out injured from the bench, shot straight at the City goalkeeper.
The under-18s are now second in the Premier League south and will look to extend their superb form when they travel to Rochdale in the third round of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday 13 December.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): McNally; de Jesus, Araujo, de Fougerolles, Slade; King (McCoy-Splatt 62), Parker (Nwoko 45); Olyott (Works 57), Gordon, Osmand; Loupalo-Bi (Bogle-Campbell 79). Subs (not used): Kaiser.
GOALS: Loupalo-Bi (1), Gordon (3), Olyott (45+17).
NORWICH CITY UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Giller, Owen, Renecke, Doy, McCabe (Williams h-t), Matos, Welch, Djedje, Reindorf (Amadou 75), Myles (Eze 78), Aboh. Subs (not used): Bullen.
BOOKED: Djedje.
REFEREE: David Payne.
