Fulham under 21s made it three wins in their last three matches as they outclassed an in-form Brighton and Hove Albion outfit on a cold night at Motspur Park this evening.
The young Whites put clear water between themselves and the Seagulls in the PL2 table as they inflicted Shannon Ruth’s side’s first defeat in five games with a clinical performance on their return to league action. Albion opened expansively and Hayden Mullins’ men were indebted to the covering instincts of Welsh youth international Jay Williams, who read the danger to deny Jamie Mullins a free run on goal in the early stages.
The lively Luke Harris registered Fulham’s first shot on target when his snapshot was superbly saved by Brighton goalkeeper Tom McGill. The hosts’ probing passing rhythms succeeded in penning Brighton bato denck and Mullins’ side went in front on the quarter hour when Williams began a fluent move that saw the hosts show patience in possession before Harris played in Imani Lanquedoc, who left the Brighton defenders trailing in his wake and finished impeccably.
Harris added the second midway through the first half. The Welsh under-21 international lashed a lovely finish in the bottom corner after being released in space by an exquisite lofted pass from Ollie O’Neill. Jon Esenga almost demonstrated his set-piece ability again when an outrageous long-range free-kick cracked against the crossbar, although Brighton finished the first period strongly and could have found a route back into the contest were if not for George Wickens. The recalled goalkeeper pulled off an excellent one-on-one stop to deny Lewis Flower after a well-worked one-two.
Wickens needed to be alert at the start of the second period, rushing from his goalline to thwart Brody Peart when the substitute seemed set to go round him whilst Noel Atom made a brave block to deny Ollie O’Neill at the other end after the Irish midfielder looked to profit from some unselfish hold-up work from centre forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi. The home side weren’t ruthless enough to kill off the contest with seventeen minutes to go when O’Neill threaded George Okkas through after winning a key challenge – only for the Cypriot midfielder to look for a pass rather than pulling the trigger himself.
Williams did eventually wrap up all three points with fifteen minutes remaining by heading home an Esenga corner when he outjumped three Brighton defenders and powered his effort past McGill. This impressive victory, which saw Fulham move level on points with second-placed West Ham United, was the perfect preparation for Tuesday night’s trip to Wycombe Wanderers in the second round of the Football League Trophy.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Wickens; Tanton, Esenga, Williams, Odutayo; King (Sekularac 66), Okkas; Lanquendoc (Gordon 66), O’Neill, Harris (Araujo 83); Loupalo-Bi (Donnell 66). Subs (not used): McNally.
BOOKED: Wickens, Esenga.
GOALS: Lanquedoc (15), Harris (26), Williams (75).
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McGill; McConville (Tasker 84), Slater, Jackson, Atom; Knight (Peart 45), Chouchane; Nilsson (Ifill 64), Duffus (Gorman 65), Mullins; Flower. Subs (not used): Cahill.
BOOKED: Atom, Mullins, Ifill, Slater.
REFEREE: James Durkin.
