A late double from Martial Godo helped Fulham’s under-21s win a five-goal thriller against Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight as Hayden Mullins’ began his tenure as the Whites’ under 21 head coach with a dramatic victory at Aggborough.
Wolves looked set for an impressive opening victory when leading 2-1 through goals from Owen Hesketh and James Hubner with three minutes remaining but Fulham roared back by grabbing an equaliser from substitute Callum McFarlane before Godo, who had levelled from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time, drove in the winner in the sixth minute of added time. The hosts were reduced to ten men when James Essen was dismissed for a wild tackle on Chris Donnell as a pulsating encounter came to an action-packed end.
It was the old gold who made the stronger side with the recalled Alfie McNally forced into action inside the first minute. The Fulham goalkeeper made a sharp save from Nathan Fraser as the Wolves kept the ball impressively and prevented Fulham from playing their preferred possession football. It took until midway through the first half for the young Whites to get a sight of goal when Kristian Šekularac played a lovely ball in beyond the Wolves defence but goalkeeper Palmi Arinbjornsson raced off his line to beat Donnell to it.
Wolves went ahead in the 28th minute when Hesketh took advantage of some poor marking to meet Aaron Keto-Diyawa’s fine cross by heading home after making a late run into the penalty area. Fulham’s riposte was swift but they found Arinbjornsson in outstanding form again as the Icelandic teenager dived to right to prevent Terrell Works from converting a devilish delivery from the dangerous Donnell. But the Whites did go in level at half time when Godo picked himself up to convert a spot-kick awarded after the winger had been upended by Harry Birtwistle.
Mullins was forced into a change early in the second half when Šekularac picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Devan Tanton. His second switch shortly afterwards saw George Okkas introduced for Works, but the visitors were largely on the back foot repelling a concerted spell of home pressure. It was no surprise that Wanderers went ahead again midway through the second period, although Fulham will have been disappointed to concede from a set play. Justin Hubner climbed highest at the far post to head in Hesketh’s corner and it might have been worse for the Whites when a rasping drive from Chem Campbell rattled the woodwork.
Mullins sent on McFarlane, a regular scorer in his outstanding debut campaign in the academy last year, and the centre forward found an equaliser within three minutes of replacing Ollie Sanderson. He stooped superbly to glance in Luciano D’Auria-Henry’s cross at the near post – and at that stage it looked as if the Londoners would be happier with a share of the spoils. But Godo powered home the winner after D’Auria-Henry had done brilliantly to keep a Fulham attack alive to reward the Whites’ never-say-die attitude.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Arinbjornsson; Birtwhistle, Keto-Diyawa, Hubner, Kandola; Griffiths, Bruno Jordao; Farmer (Essen 73), Campbell, Hesketh (Rees 84); Fraser (McLeod 90+1). Subs (not used): Ojinnaka, Young.
BOOKED: Fraser, Hubner.
SENT OFF: Essen.
GOALS: Hesketh (28), Hubner (67).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally; D’Auria-Henry, Parkes, de Fougerolles, Araujo; McCoy-Splatt, Donnell; Works (Okkas 56), Godo, Šekularac (Tanton 50); Sanderson (McFarlane 84). Subs (not used): Conway, Olyott.
BOOKED: McCoy-Splatt, de Fougerolles, Araujo, Tanton.
GOALS: Godo (pen 45+2, 90+6), McFarlane (87).
REFEREE: Paul Marsden.
