A late Leicester City equaliser denied Fulham’s under 21s a return to winning ways at Motspur Park last night as the bottom of the table Foxes headed back to the Midlands with a creditable point after an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Substitute Kian Pennant’s sensational long-range effort two minutes from time was fitting reward for Leicester’s spirit, although Steve Wigley’s will look back with regret on their own wastefulness on what was ultimately a frustrating evening for the young Whites. The head coach made three changes from the team that were beaten in stoppage time at Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break, with George Wickens returning in goal and Matt Dibley-Dias and Terry Ablade stepping into midfield and attack respectively.

The lively Martial Godo almost gave the hosts an early lead when he raced onto a poor back header and nearly chipped Brad Young, but the Foxes goalkeeper backpeddled impressively to keep the ball out. The dangerous Chris Popov offered an early warning as to the visitors’ danger at the other end, cutting in dangerously and forcing a fine save from Wickens with a left-footed curler.

Dibley-Dias, making his first start at under-21 level for some months, drove a speculative shot over before Luke Harris was denied by a sharp save from Young. Leicester went straight down the field and rattled the woodwork through a tremendous effort from distance by Tawanda Maswanhise that crashed off the post with Wickens well beaten. That fortunate escape may have concentrated Fulham minds as the home side went ahead from their next attack with Harris coolly converting a penalty after Ablade was sent crashing to the turf by Young.

Harris, fresh from a spell with the Welsh senior squad, had the chance to double Fulham’s advantage just before half-time when the Foxes were penalised for handball but he made the mistake of opting for the same corner and Young pulled off a good reaction save. The away side put Fulham under pressure after the restart and, after Jay Williams brought down

Harris, fresh from a spell with the Welsh senior squad, had the chance to double Fulham’s advantage just before half-time when the Foxes were penalised for handball but he made the mistake of opting for the same corner and Young pulled off a good reaction save. The away side put Fulham under pressure after the restart and, after Jay Williams brought down Maswanhise, Wanya Marçal-Madivadua’s wicked free-kick was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Ablade.

Fulham almost restored their lead immediately as George Okkas had a powerful drive bravely blocked and, in an increasingly open second period, Brandon Cover shot just over for the Foxes. With less than twenty minutes to play, Harris unlocked the visiting defence once again. The talented teenager volleyed home a well-worked set-piece but Fulham couldn’t hold on to claim victory, punished for their profligacy in front of goal by Pennant’s peach of an effort from range in the closing stages.

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Wickens; Tanton, Williams, C. Robinson, Araujo; Okkas (McFarlane 84), Dibley-Dias; Hilton, Godo (S?ekularac 83), Harris; Ablade (Sanderson 73). Subs (not used): Borto, Essenga.

BOOKED: Tanton, Godo, Dibley-Dias, Hilton.

GOALS: Harris (pen 34, 71).

LEICESTER CITY UNDER 21s (5-4-1): Young; Wormleighton, Brunt, Lindsay (Booth 34), Amartey, Ali; Cover, Cartwright (Richards 84), Marçal-Madivadua, Maswanhise; Popov (Pennant 68). Subs (not used): Odunze, Grist.

GOALS: Ablade (o.g. 57), Pennant (88).

REFEREE: Jason Richardson.