West Ham United edged out Fulham’s under 18s 4-3 after an entertaining London derby at Motspur Park this afternoon.
Callum Osmand and Tom Olyott twice put the home side ahead in the first half but Ali Melloul’s side went 4-2 down and couldn’t find a dramatic equaliser after Olyott’s second of the afternoon made it 4-3.
The in-form visitors made an enterprising start with centre half Eddy Nsasi employing all of his strength to hold off Dan Brigge as the attacking midfielder bore down on goal. Fulham’s first opportunity arrived after Lemar Gordon injected some energy into a counter-attack with Olyott seeing an effort blocked after being teed up by the winger and Gofford denied by visiting goalkeeper Fin Herrick from the rebound.
Herrick wasn’t the only goalkeeper performing heroics as Dino Kaiser made two fine stops in the space of a minute to preserve parity. The Fulham number one did brilliantly to keep out a fierce drive from Josh Ajala before dashing from his line and making himself big to prevent Tyron Akpata shortly afterwards.
The young Whites hit the front in the 29th minute. England youth international Chibby Nwoko beat his opposite number with a sublime piece of skill before finding Osmand. The Welsh forward made no mistake as he placed a precise finish past Herrick. But West Ham were level within four minutes when Rigge rifled past a helpless Kaiser after collecting a pass from Emeka Adiele and cutting inside onto his favoured right foot.
But the hosts got a great opportunity to go back in front almost immediately after the restart. Ma’kel Bogle-Campbell showed commendable commitment to chase a ball he didn’t appear favourite for and was barged over in the box, with referee Colman O’Meara pointing to the penalty spot. Olyott coolly converted the spot-kick to restore Fulham’s lead. The Hammers equalised again four minutes before half time when Ajala produced a brilliant bit of control before turning in a cross from the lively Adiele.
Gordon was quick to test Herrick in the early exchanges after the interval and Sam Amissah held his head after nodding over when he latched onto a free-kick from Olyott. Fulham were having the better of the chances and Osmand almost grabbed a third having fashioned a good chance all of his own accord by beating two defenders, but the forward’s shot was well smothered by the West Ham keeper.
The Irons ruthlessly made Fulham pay for their prolificacy – with Bogle-Campbell shooting wide after another prolonged period of home pressure – when Ajala drove home his second of the afternoon to finish off a fine counter-attack having been set up by a brilliant bit of vision from Akpata. Akpata himself added a fourth seven minutes when later when he seized upon a loose ball and beat the disconsolate Kaiser at the goalkeeper’s near post.
Osmand restored Fulham’s hope of a fightback with eleven minutes to play when he lashed home a good cross from Bradley Slade but he was denied a late leveller by a smart save from Herrick deep into added time.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Kaiser; de Jesus, Slade, Amissah, Nsasi; Nwoko, Gofford; Olyott (Quashie 74), Gordon, Bogle-Campbell (Ali Wahid 74); Osmand. Subs (not used): Park, Tabares, Wingate.
GOALS: Osmand (28), Olyott (35).
WEST HAM UNITED UNDER 18s (3-4-1-2): Herrick; Mayers, Briggs, Oyebade; Medine, Adiele (Umolu 55), Caliste (Dike 68), Akpata; Rigge; Sowummi (Kamara 68), Ajala (Halim 81). Subs (not used): Abraham.
BOOKED: Umolu.
GOALS: Rigge (32), Ajala (42, 66), Akpata (73).
REFEREE: Colman O’Meara.
