Fulham’s under 18s surged to a superb win on the south coast this lunchtime – putting four past Southampton to move three points clear at the top of the table.
Ali Melloul’s men made a sensational start at Staplewood – racing into a 3-0 lead inside the first ten minutes. Tom Olyott opened the scoring with superb strike into the far corner after racing onto a loose ball. It was two five minutes later when the impressive Josh King lashed a low drive into the net after being teed up by Lemar Gordon. The visitors sewed up the points three minutes later when the in-form Callum Osmand turned home a terrific cross from Brad de Jesus.
Fulham eased off a little having assumed complete control of the contest but were able to keep Saints at bay for much of the first half. The home side’s threat largely came from centre forward Nick Oyekunle, who fired over having burst into the penalty area, but the Cottagers finished on top and should have made it four before half-time after Dylan Moody saved a shot from Olyott and the winger wastefully sent the rebound over the bar.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi did extend Fulham’s advantage when he poached his second league goal of an injury-hit campaign from close range five minutes after the interval. Melloul then rung the changes but would have been disappointed that his side conceded a consolation three minutes from time. The lively Oyekunle finished clinically after collecting a cross from Alejandro Rodriguez – although the late Saints strike shouldn’t detract from another outstanding performance from Fulham captain Ollie Gofford, a midfielder by trade who once again did not look out of place at centre back.
Fulham, who have now won five games in a row in all competitions, finished on the front foot again with Murphy, who prevented the rampant visitors from reaching double figures, making a fine save to thwart substitute Ma’kel Bogle-Campbell from adding a fifth in stoppage time. Melloul’s side will look to continue their fantastic form when West Bromwich Albion visit Motspur Park next Saturday morning.
SOUTHAMPTON UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Murphy; Okonola-Matthews (Prescott 45), Sheaf, Moore, Dobson-Ventura (Andrews 53); Miles (Daley 71), Williams, Sesay; Rodriguez, Robinson, Oyekunle. Subs (not used): Upstell, Pitts.
BOOKED: Rodriguez.
GOAL: Oyekunle (87).
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Kaiser; de Jesus, Nsasi, Tabares, Gofford; Nwoko, King (Ridgeon 83); Olyott (Ali Wahid 70), Gordon, Osmand (Bogle-Campbell 83); Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Varney, Park.
BOOKED: Nwoko.
GOALS: Olyott (2), King (7), Osmand (10), Loupalo-Bi (50).
REFEREE: Ollie Kaya.
