Fulham’s under 21s eased into the quarter finals of the Premier League Cup by thrashing near neighbours Queens Park Rangers 5-0 at Motspur Park last night.
Steve Wigley’s side played the more polished football from the outside but had to wait until the 25th minute to break the deadlock. A well-worked move saw Jay Williams switch the play to Sonny Hilton on the right flank and the skipper’s fine floated cross was turned in by Terry Ablade. QPR were unfortunate not to equalise when a rampaging run from Jude Arkell-Boyd took the Rangers right back into the area and his shot bounced down off the crossbar and away to safety having surprised George Wickens.
Fulham spurned good chances to double their lead, but Luke Harris made no mistake from the penalty spot in the last minute of the first half. The Whites were good value for their half-time advantage but survived a scare when Wickens saved smartly from Joseph Ajose after the R’s forward had been released clear of the home defence by a perceptive pass from Rafferty Pedder.
Harris added his second of the evening with another assured finish into the corner of the net after excellent approach from Adrion Pajaziti, but Rangers didn’t give up. Wickens held an ambitious effort from the imposing Hamzad Kargbo before Fulham cut loose in the final twenty minutes. The lively Martial Godo got on the scoresheet deservedly after proving a regular threat down the left wing, firing in after a swift Fulham break had led to a bit of a melee in the penalty area.
Substitute Olly Sanderson scored a fifth in the fourth minute of stoppage time following up after an audacious strike from the half-time by Pajaziti had beaten Rangers goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Wickens; Tanton, Araujo (Okkas 74), C. Robinson, D’Auria-Henry; Williams, Pajaziti; Hilton (McCoy-Splatt 84), Godo (McFarlane 84), Harris; Ablade (Sanderson 74). Subs (not used): Allen.
BOOKED: Harris, Williams.
GOALS: Ablade (25), Harris (pen 44, 48), Godo (71), Sanderson (90+4).
QUEENS PARK RANGERS UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Mahoney; Jude-Boyd, Anthony (Hawkins 45), Harrack (Bala 45), Woodman; Owens (Cotter 45), Murphy; Ajose (Flaherty 70), Pedder, Murphy; Kargbo. Subs (not used): Salamon.
BOOKED: Murphy, Jude-Boyd, Kargbo.
REFEREE: Elliott Swallow.
