Fulham’s under-21s produced a flawless away display as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 at Stevenage last night to record their third consecutive league win.
Fresh from appearing for the first team in the League Cup at Preston North End last night, Martial Godo opened the scoring in his first outing for the under-21s this season, before a double from captain Chris Donnell put clear water between the two teams and Aaron Loupalo-Bi completed the rout in stoppage time.
Tottenham began brightly at Broadwall Way with the dangerous Will Lankshear, last season’s leading scorer in this competition, sending an early free-kick just over the bar. But the visitors – in their striking deep purple kit – took the lead from their very first attack. Sam Amissah sent a lovely lofted ball over the Spurs defence to release Callum Osmand and Godo tapped home from the Welshman’s well-weighted cross.
Hayden Mullins’ could have put the contest to bed inside the first ten minutes but Tottenham goalkeeper Luca Gunter made excellent reaction stops to deny Osmand and Godo. The former Margate winger then had a curling effort saved by the Spurs custodian before he turned over a piledriver from right back Ollie Gofford.
Jon Esenga sent a free-kick fractionally wide ten minutes before the break as the away side finished on top and they extended their lead after the interval. Midfielder Donnell burst onto a flick on from Osmand and impudently chipped Gunter with an impressive finish. But Spurs quickly hit back when central midfielder Callum Olusesi halved their arrears by punishing a defensive mistake two minutes later – and it looked as if this watchable London derby was heading for an absorbing finish.
Godo and Gofford were once again thwarted by a superb double save from Gunter but the Spurs stopper was punished for flapping at Esenga’s corner when Donnell headed home his second of the evening from close range. The margin of Fulham’s victory could have been much more emphatic but Gunter did well to thwart Kristan Sekularac and Loupalo-Bi as time ticked away before the striker made it four by finishing from close range in the second minute of added time.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR UNDER 21s (4-3-3): Gunter; McKnight (Irow 73), M. King, Andiyapan (Robson 75), Cassanova; Kyerematen (Black 61), Olusesi, Hall; Ajayi, Akramrich, Lankshear (Williams 45). Subs (not used): Maguire.
BOOKED: Hall, Olusesi, Black.
GOAL: Olusesi (52).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally; Gofford, Slade, Amissah, Esenga (de Fougerolles 78); Nwoko, Donnell (de Jesus 82); Works (Gordon 78), Godo, Sekularac; Osmand (Loupalo-Bi 78). Subs (not used): Allen.
BOOKED: Esenga, Gofford.
GOALS: Godo (4), Donnell (48, 60), Loupalo-Bi (90+2).
REFEREE: Allan Young.
