Fulham’s under 18s were held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa at Bodymoor Heath this afternoon – but the point was enough to ensure that the unbeaten Whites went through to the knockout phase of the Premier League Cup.
French winger Macaulay Zepa fired the Londoners in front inside three minutes after Owen Asemota had parried Tom Wingate’s effort. The home side nearly levelled immediately through Junior Wilson but he couldn’t guide his shot on the stretch on target. Zepa almost scored a second with an outrageous attempt from the halfway line and Farhaan Ali-Wahid’s deflected shot was gleefully grabbed by Asemota.
Villa came close before half time with Vinnie Hayward losing his composure when he shot tamely at Dino Kaiser before left back Teddie Bloomfield’s volley flew fractionally wide. The home side equalised ten minutes before the break when Elijah Briscoe headed into the net at the far post after Kaiser had clawed away a looping cross.
Zepa was a frequent thorn in Villa’s side and nearly set up Wingate to put Fulham ahead for a second time but the forward failed to make a telling connection with the wily winger’s cross. It was Villa who finished the stronger – penning the Cottagers deep inside their territory. Kaiser bailed his side out on two occasions in the closing stages, first denying Hayward and then getting his hands to a venomous drive from Keilan Quinn.
Logan Cooke made a brilliant block as time ticked away and Ali Melloul’s youngsters were pleased to keep their unbeaten record intact by the final whistle. The young Whites will now focus on the start of their FA Youth Cup campaign as they travel to Meadow Lane to take Notts County on Sunday lunchtime.
ASTON VILLA UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Asemota; Burgess, Bloomfield, J. Wilson (Asante-Boakye 80), Routh; Jenner, Quinn, Brannigan; Hayward, Mulley, Briscoe (Lynch 69). Subs (not used): Green, Houston, Moreland.
BOOKED: Jenner.
GOAL: Briscoe (35).
FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Kaiser; Schutter, Picotto, Slade, Quashie; Cooke, White; Zepa (Faux 83), Ali Wahid, Wingate (Evans 75); Lubega. Subs (not used): Varney, Cavell, Khan.
BOOKED: Cooke.
GOAL: Zepa (3).
The lads defended heroically towards the end, with several members of the side making important blocks and tackles.
Our U18s are next in action on Sunday 1st December at Notts County in the FA Youth Cup Third Round, 12:30pm kick-off.
