Caelan Avenall scored an equaliser at Burnley to earn Fulham’s under 21s a point as they finished finished top of Group G following an entertaining and even contest at the County Ground in Leyland last night.
The Clarets took the lead through a fine finish from new signing Tommy McDermott and could easily have rounded off their Cup campaign with a win as captain Will Hugill missed a great chance in stoppage time, firing into the side netting when well placed, but this performance will have given manager Andy Farrell plenty of confidence for the remainder of the season.
The hosts began brightly, inspired by an enterprising run from Hugill, and visiting goalkeeper Alfie McNally produced a superb stop to keep out Logan Pye’s header. The home side took a deserved lead on 35 minutes when former Port Vale midfielder McDonald curled a sensational strike into the top corner that left McNally with no chance. Fulham’s resilience was underlined just four minutes later as Avenall, allowed to play in this fixture due to the terms of his loan deal with Walton and Hersham, headed home a cross from Matt Dibley-Dias to level matters.
Fulham fashioned the first chance of the second half with Chris Casper palming away a fierce drive from Adrion Pajaziti before McNally denied the prominent McDermott with his feet. The point means the Whites finish top of the group with eleven points from six matches and progress into the last sixteen.
BURNLEY UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Casper; Healey-Byrne, Ashton (Ward 61), Grant, Pye; Hugill, McDermott; Poure-Siewe (Adekoya 86), Parker (Pimlott 45), Francis-Burrell (Torraj 45); Bevan. Subs (not used): Moss.
BOOKED: Hugill.
GOAL: McDermott (35).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally; Tabares, Parkes (Slade 45), Avenall (D’Auria-Henry 61), Araujo; Okkas, Dibley-Dias (McCoy-Splatt 45); Olyott, Works, Pajaziti; Wingate (Ali-Wahid 75). Subs (not used): Borto.
BOOKED: Pajaziti, Tabares.
GOAL: Avenall (39).
REFEREE: Zac Kennard-Kettle.
