A superb goalkeeping display from Norwich City goalkeeper Henry Bullen kept Fulham’s under 18s at bay during an entertaining goalless draw in Norfolk this lunchtime.
The visitors began brightly and could have taken the lead from an early corner but Brad de Jesus saw his shot well saved by Canaries keeper Bullen. The home custodian then thwarted Seth Ridgeon from the ensuing corner. Norwich didn’t just put men behind the ball, however, and had their moments of promise during an open first half. Alex Roberts rattled the woodwork from a free-kick and Errol Mundle-Smith extended Marco Underwood with a rasping drive.
Tom Wingate then failed to hit the target having been played through by Tom Olyott after the winger had seized upon a poor pass out from the back by Bullen. The Norwich goalkeeper then saved smartly from the influential Olyott, but Norwich hit the frame of the goal for a second time before the break as the lively Mundle-Smith struck the crossbar after more intelligent play.
Olyott tried his luck with a curler early in the second half but once again found Bullen equal to the task and the Norwich goalkeeper denied Ridgeon shortly afterwards. He produced a wonderful reaction stop to keep out a goalbound header from Samuel Amissah. Norwich saw more of the ball in the closing stages but it was Fulham who came closest to finding a late winner when a long kick from Underwood found Ollie Gofford, only for the midfielder to fire wide of goal.
NORWICH CITY UNDER 18s: Bullen, Simbai, Keita, Doy, Williams, Sealey, Djedje, Chilvers, Daley, Mundle-Smith, Roberts. Subs: Owen, Ofori-Manteaw, Rowland, Mundle, Corke.
FULHAM UNDER 18s: Underwood; de Jesus, Slade, Amissah, Nsasi; Nwoko, Quashie; Gofford, Olyott, Ridgeon; Wingate. Subs: Varney, Tabares, Schutter, White, Platel.
