Early goals from Logan Cooke and Tom Wingate lifted Fulham’s under 18s to second in the Premier League South table as the young Whites eased past Brighton and Hove Albion at Motspur Park earlier this afternoon.
Ali Melloul’s side were 2-0 up inside twelve minutes after spurning early openings with Bash Lubega seeing a shot blocked and Wingate missing the target from the ensuing corner. Macauley Zepa saw his half-volley palmed aside by Alfie Mansell in the Albion goal but the young Whites went in front from the ensuing set play with captain Cooke converting from Zepa’s delicious delivery.
Brighton’s deficit swiftly doubled. Left back Luca Picotto advanced down the wing and picked out Wingate in plenty of space in the middle of the area. The young forward slotted superbly beyond a helpless Mansell to make it 2-0. The visitors tried to fight their way back in the match, with Aiden West testing Dino Kaiser but finding the Bosnian goalkeeper’s reflexes in good order. Fulham’s belief in playing out from the back got them in trouble on a couple of occasions, with Shane Nti curling an effort wide of goal, and Layth Gulzar also not testing Kaiser from distance.
The hosts’ advantage could have been even stronger before half time. Zepa’s cross from the right was scrambled away from danger by Mansell and the pattern of play continued after the interval. Wingate whistled a drive wide from Picotto’s cross and, after Ronnie Gorman had missed the target for the Seagulls, Darius Lane went on a jinking run and unleashed a powerful drive – only for Kaiser for make a good stop.
Farheen Ali Wahid nearly stole the show with what would have been a sensational individual strike, but Brighton finished the contest looking more likely to find the net. Nehemiah Oriola saw a goalbound effort deflected into Kaiser’s grasp and West volleyed wastefully over the bar.
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-4-2): Kaiser; Schutter, Picotto, Cooke, Slade (Taylor 45); Quashie, White, Zepa (Cavell 76), Ali Wahid; Lubega, Wingate. Subs (not used): Varney, Platel, Khan.
GOALS: Cooke (5), Wingate (12).
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Mansell; Hayden, Anah (Outen 70), Alakiu (Cullinane 89); Gulzar (Middleton 45), Lane; West, Oriola, Nti (Ibrahim 89); Gorman. Subs (not used): Rutter.
REFEREE: David Spain.
