A late strike from Lemar Gordon helped Fulham’s under 21s come from behind to kick off their Football League Trophy campaign with an impressive win at Shrewsbury Town tonight.

The Premier League academy made a strong start at the Cloud Meadow with Aaron Loupalo-Bi spurning a good chance when he saw a shot from inside the six-yard box deflected over the bar. Shrewsbury gradually started to gain a foothold in the contest but Alex Borto clawed away a header from George Lloyd and Harrison Biggins headed over after Charles Nsiala found the dangerous debutant Charles Sagoe Jr and the winger whipped over a cross.

The hosts had the better of the closing stages of the first half and went close before the break as Sagoe Jr sped away from two defenders and drilled just over the crossbar.

Paul Hurst’s side emerged after the half term interval with renewed intent. Attacking midfielder Tommi O’Reilly had effort deflected a whisker wide and Aaron Pierre, appearing against the academy he graduated through, almost gave Town the lead with a rising drive that just cleared the crossbar.

It only seemed a matter of time before the League One outfit took the lead and they went ahead when Jordan Shipley’s corner caused confusion in the Fulham area and Nsiala beat Borto from close range. It could have been two moments later but Sagoe Jr. played in George Lloyd only for the striker to see his shot well saved by Fulham’s American goalkeeper.

Fulham were handed a great opportunity to haul themselves level just before the hour when Josh King was brought down by Mal Benning but Callum Osmand’s spot kick was superbly stopped by Shrews stopper Taby Savin. That miss didn’t deter Osmand, with the fortune that deserted him from the penalty spot soon returning as his next shot from the edge of the area took a massive deflection and looped over the stranded goalkeeper.

Shrewsbury thought they had regained the lead with a quarter of hour remaining but referee Paul Marsden ruled that substitute striker Joshua Kayode’s shot hadn’t crossed the line. That decision appeared more than debatable – but Fulham found a winner with two minutes to play when King spotted an intelligent run from substitute Gordon and the winger did wonderfully to hold off the attentions of Luca Hoole and shoot past Savin.

SHREWSBURY TOWN (4-1-4-1): Savin, Hoole, Pierre, Nsiala, Benning, Winchester (Perry 41), Biggins, Bloxham, O’Reilly, Sagoe Jr (Kayode 74), Lloyd. Subs (not used): Young, Marquis, Cairns. 

BOOKED: Benning, Lloyd.

GOAL: Nsiala (51).

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Gofford, Esenga, Slade, Nsasi; Donnell, McCoy-Splatt (Nwoko 45); Sekularac (Works 85), Osmand (McFarlane 85), King (Tabares 90+3); Loupalo-Bi (Gordon 65).

BOOKED: Sekularac, Osmand, Slade.

GOALS: Osmand (60), Gordon (88).

REFEREE: Paul Marsden.

ATTENDANCE: 1,206.