Second half strikes from Delano McCoy-Splatt, Lemar Gordon and Josh King saw Fulham’s under 21s cruise to a comfortable win over Newcastle United this morning.
This was a textbook away display from Hayden Mullins’ men as they defended diligently as well as dominating in the first period before ruthlessly exploiting the Geordies’ attempts to push on after the interval with three well-worked goals. Scottish centre half Conor McAvoy got through 58 minutes on his return from a year on the sidelines after injury cut short his loan spell at Partick Thistle last term. Most of the action occured in the other box with Aaron Loupalo-Bi denied by a superb save from Josh Smith early on and seeing a snapshot deflected over the bar by a brave Leo Shahar.
The hosts had chances too, with Alfie McNally saving brilliantly from Alfie Harrison after he had fisted away Miley’s corner. The Fulham goalkeeper read the danger impressively when Lucas de Bolle delivered a devilish through ball – but after Loupalo-Bi’s snapshot was deflected over the bar in injury time, Mullis might well have called for a killer touch in the final third.
It arrived just after the hour mark when Gordon’s gorgeous pass put McCoy-Splatt through on goal and the Jamaican international placed a precise finish into the bottom corner. But Fulham’s lead lasted mere minutes with Newcastle levelling through midfielder Jamie Miley, who finished off a clever counter-attack. The lively Diallo sprung the visiting offside trap with alarming ease before firing a ball across the six-yard line for Miley to hit home. Newcastle’s best spell of the contest saw Samuel Amissah smother a shot from Scottish under-21 international de Bolle and Harrison’s follow-up cannon off Harvey Araujo.
But Fulham scored twice in the final eight minutes to return to winning ways. March’s PL2 player of the month Adrion Pajaziti played the pass that put Gordon in the clear and the substitute shuffled onto his left foot before lashing a low finish through a packed penalty box and beyond Smith. The classy Josh King made saw all three points would be heading back to London by firing home in the last minute of normal time when the ball broke kindly to the teenager.
NEWCASTLE UNITED UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Smith; Thompson, Charlton, Heffernan, McArthur; Sharar (Brayson 74), Harrison, J. Miley; Turner-Cooke, de Bolle (Hackett 84), Diallo. Subs (not used): Powell, Harris, Palmer.
BOOKED: J. Miley.
GOAL: J. Miley (64).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally; Tanton, Okkas, Amissah, McAvoy (Gordon 58); McCoy-Splatt, Dibley-Dias; Works (Osmand 45), Pajaziti, King; Loupalo-Bi (Araujo 58). Subs (not used): Underwood.
BOOKED: McAvoy, Tanton.
GOALS: McCoy-Splatt (62), Gordon (80), King (90).
REFEREE: Lauren Impey.
