Fulham’s under 21s lost their first National Group group fixture this evening as they were beaten 2-0 at Maidenhead United.
The Cottagers fell behind to first half strikes from Shawn McCoulsky and Sam Barratt as the National League outfit made the stronger start. The hosts could easily have gone behind from the hosts’ very first attack at York Road but McCouslsky somehow contrived to miss the target altogether when he connected with a cross from Soul Hale six yards out.
Fulham goalkeeper Alex Borto gratefully grabbed a header from Kevin Lokko as United continued to press and a long-range effort from Barratt flew just wide of the near post. Borto did well to keep out a free-kick from Tariq Uwakwe that deflected off the head of Chibby Nwoko and nearly wrongfooted the American goalkeeper.
The young Whites had shown little as an attacking force until Lemar Gordon pinched the ball off the Maidenhead backline and progressed towards goal. The winger tried to find Jayden Quashie but, after a defensive interception saw the ball bounce to his feet, went for goal himself but was denied by a good save from Harvey Collins.
Borto then made himself big to brilliantly thwart McCoulsky in a one-on-one, whilst at the other end Callum Osmand failed to hit the target after latching onto a lovely ball from Brad de Jesus.
Alan Devonshire’s side hit the front ten minutes before the break when McCoulsky finally beat Borto by bundling in a cross from Barratt at close quarters. The striker almost doubled the lead from United’s next attack by pulling the trigger from a long way out and seeing shot fly just wide of the far post.
Barratt did make it two just before half time through a composed finish and driving beyond the Fulham goalkeeper after seizing on a mistake at the back.
Fulham had a number of decent chances to reduce their arrears after the break but couldn’t find the goal to bring them back into the contest. Aaron Loupalo-Bi saw a header from Quashie’s corner cleared off the line by Alan Massey before Jon Esenga went close with a looping cross that almost embarrassed Collins and the goalkeeper grasped a snapshot from Loupalo-Bi after the striker had turned sharply in the area.
Hayden Mullins’ men will look to bounce back from this derby in Friday night’s PL2 SW6 derby against Chelsea.
MAIDENHEAD UNITED (4-2-3-1): Collins; Cochrane, Hale, Lokko (de Havailland 45), Massey; Ferguson (Petitt 45), Uwakwe (McMenemy 65); Ajose, Barratt, Carvalho; McCoulsky (Abrahams 45).
GOALS: McCoulsky (35), Barratt (45).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; de Jesus, Slade (Esenga 45), Park, Nsasi; Nwoko, Donnell (Sekularac 45); Olyott (Works 64), Gordon (Ali Wahid 64), Quashie; Osmand (Loupalo-Bi 45). Subs (not used): McNally, de Fougerolles.
BOOKED: Donnell, Nwoko.
REFEREE: Ross Martin.
