Ten-man Southampton came from behind to beat Fulham’s under 18s in their season opener at Staplewood this afternoon thanks to a brace from Nicholas Oyekunle.
The young Whites, debuting the club’s new purple third strip, went in front through Seth Ridgeon in the sixth minute but their quest for a positive result on the south coast was hindered after central defender Bradley Slade received a second yellow card. Oyekunle, a constant threat throughout who could have completed a hat-trick late on but for a goal-line clearance, eventually made the Saints’ numerical advantage pay on an ultimately frustrating afternoon.
The hosts could have gone ahead inside the first minute but Marco Underwood saved smartly from Hansel Adjei-Afriyie after the right back took aim from distance. Fulham scored from their first attack with Ridgeon, who enjoyed an excellent pre-season, found the bottom corner with an assured finish having been found in space along the left flank by Farhaan Ali Wahid.
Harley Platel made have might it two but the winger flashed his shot wide of the near post having been picked out by Tom Wingate. Fulham were made to pay for that miss when Oyekunle scored the equaliser midway through the first half, spinning to finish emphatically past Underwood after a surging run from Sufianu Sillah Dibaga had opened up the Fulham defence.
Centre half Logan Cooke made a timely block to deflect James Martin’s drive over his own crossbar after the midfield had embarked on a mazy dribble and the game arguably turned on a controversial decision just before half time. Midfielder Aston Daley was dismissed for hauling down Ridgeon inside the area, but the referee gave a free kick outside the box, which Jayden Quashie curled into the wall.
Saints made light of their numerical disadvantage when Oyekunle pounced from close range to put the home side ahead five minutes after the interval – heading in a cross from Tommy Dobson-Ventura. Fulham’s woes deepened when Slade was sent off for bringing down the striker and Underwood kept his side in the contest by brilliantly turning aside another venomous strike from Adjei-Afriyie.
Oyekunle then saw his effort bundled off the line before substitute Nsemi Bassega struck the post. Fulham roused themselves and could have grabbed a point late on only for Saints keeper Khiani Shombe to keep out Ridgeon’s finish superbly with his legs after the midfielder had been set up by  Bashil Lubega.
Ali Melloul’s men will look to bounce back when they take on Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby at Motspur Park next Saturday.
SOUTHAMPTON UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Shombe; Adjei-Afriyie, Goremusandu (Okonola-Matthews 81), Dobson-Ventura, Fry; McMullan (Pitts 69), Daley, Martin; Gathercole (Bassega 85), Sillah Dibaga, Oyekunle. Subs (not used): Abbotson, Frederick.
BOOKED: McMullan, Adjei-Afriyie, Oyekunle, Gathercole, Martin, Pitts.
GOALS: Oyekunle (22, 51).
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Underwood; White, Morrison (Picotto 65), Cook, Slade; Khan (Lubeca 58), Quashie, Ridgeon; Platel (Zepa 45), Ali Wahid, Wingate (Faux 55). Subs (not used): Varney.
BOOKED:
GOAL: Ridgeon (6).
