A youthful Fulham side were well beaten by Arsenal in Shenley this afternoon – as the Gunners took advantage of the majority of Fulham’s under 18 outfit being Stateside for the Dallas Cup by winning an open London derby 5-2.
Arsenal went in front from the penalty spot after twenty minutes when Chido Martin Obi drove home the spot-kick after the quick feet of Max Dowman eventually saw him felled in the area. Dowman was to the fore as the hosts doubled their lead twelve minutes later, dribbling away from two defenders before teeing up Martin Obi for a comfortable finish from close range.
To their great credit, Fulham kept playing their football and immediately got back in the contest when the lively MacAuley Zepa cut in from the right flank to score a superb individual goal beating Khari Ranson at his near post with a fierce left-footed drive. Arsenal quickly restored their two-goal cushion as Martin Obi completed his hat-trick with another penalty after the winger had been fouled in the box, but the visitors finished a goal-laden first half on the foot as Anand Batra bundled the ball home after more impressive wing play from Zepa.
Arsenal moved further clear on the hour mark with Dowman driving deliciously through the Fulham midfield to set up Louis Zecevic John who hammered home the Gunners’ fourth goal. Fulham kept plugging away but a spirited side, lead by under-16 coach Joe Antonelli, were breached again at the death as Martin Obi hit four for the second game in succession – guiding in Dowman’s corner with a clever header.
ARSENAL UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Ranson, Julienne, Clarke, Sweet, Chapman (Onyekachukwa 5) Ibrahim (Copley 67) Casey, Dowman, Zecevic John (Annous 67), Ferdinand (Bailey-Joseph 17) Martin Obi. Sub (not used): Asemota.
BOOKED: Sweet, Julienne, Martin Obi.
GOALS: Martin Obi (pen 21, 33, pen 45+4, 88), Zecevic John (60).
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Mayer; Conteh, Cliff (Morrison 58), Cooke, Faux; Schutter (Sandiford 80), Khan; Zepa, Cavell, Platel (Sutton-Bangura 80); Batra (Lubega 64). Sub (not used): Bagot.
GOALS: Zepa (45+3), Batra (45+7).
REFEREE: Matthew Ball.
