A spirited Fulham under 21 side lost a five-goal thriller at Wycombe Wanderers this evening to exit the Football League Trophy at the second round stage.
The Whites had it all to do after Dale Taylor, who only came into the Chairboys’ starting line-up after Lyle Taylor picked up an injury in the warm up, scored twice in the space of fifteen first-half minutes to put the League One outfit in a strong position. But skipper Ollie O’Neill smashed home a stunning effort on the stroke of half time and, even after Chris Forino lashed home from a free-kick to make it 3-1, Ali Melloul’s side keep on pushing forward. They gained hope of a remarkable fightback when Jon Esenga’s cross deflected in off Tjay de Barr but the hosts survived a late onslaught to reach Friday’s last 16 draw.
Wycombe fielded an experienced side, which included former Fulham full back Jack Grimmer as well as Richard Keogh, Garath McCleary and Joe Jacobson, and started the stronger. Taylor could easily have fired them ahead in the sixth minute but couldn’t turn in a dangerous cross from the right. After Kieran Sadlier’s low drive had tested Steven Benda in the Fulham goal, the home side hit the front when Taylor clinically finished from the edge of the box after McCleary had seen a shot blocked.
Luke Harris drilled Fulham’s clearest opening over the bar but Wycombe continued to make most of the running with Benda redeeming himself for a misplaced ball by making a magnificent reaction stop to keep out McCleary’s curling effort. The former Swansea goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Taylor from touching home his second from close range after Sadlier and Leahy had combined to put the striker in a great position.
But O’Neill rose to the occasion in stoppage time at the end of the first period with a sensational individual effort. The Irish under-21 international curled a fine finish into the top corner to bring the visitors right back into the contest. O’Neill nearly turned provider for Imani Lanquedoc as Fulham restarted on the front foot, but his low ball in evaded the in-form winger.
Wycombe goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli then made a comfortable save from Kristian Šekularac before the former Juventus forward rifled a long-range effort narrowly over the bar. Taylor should have completed his hat-trick and put the contest to bed but rolled a finish wide of goal having sprinted clear of the Fulham defence, but that fortunate escape seemed to galvanise the Whites.
Promising full-back Esenga almost surprised Ravizzoli with a viciously inswinging corner that needed turning over the crossbar and Harris spurned a great chance that he fashioned for himself with some trademark quick feet by shooting straight at the goalkeeper. Lanquedoc then sent a curler wide but Fulham were punished for not taking their chances when Forino fired home after the visitors had missed the chance to clear a free-kick.
Belief surged through Melloul’s battlers when Esenga’s cross looped off Gibraltar international de Barr and over a helpless Ravizzoli but the Argentinian goalkeeper preserved Wycombe’s slender advantage late on when he somehow kept out Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s header with a sprawling save. Fulham’s youngsters were beaten – but this was a performance to be proud of at Adams Park.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS (3-4-3): Ravizzoli, Grimmer (Forino 67), Keogh, Jacobson, Sadlier, Breckin (Scowen 54), Leahy (de Barr 54), Boyes; McCleary (Phillips 55′), Wheeler, Taylor (Ward 79). Subs (not used): Stryjek, Scowen.
GOALS: D. Taylor (22, 37), Fiorino (79).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Benda; Tanton, Esenga, Araujo, Odutayo; King (Okkas 55), Donnell; Lanquedoc, O’Neill, Harris; Šekularac (Loupalo-Bi 55). Subs (not used): McNally, de Jesus, Williams, Osmand.
GOALS: O’Neill (45+3), Esenga (82).
REFEREE: Kirsty Dowle
