A Kristian Sekularac double and an assured finish from Callum Osmand guided Fulham’s under 21s to their sixth win from seven Premier League 2 matches as Hayden Mullins’ men eased to a 3-0 win at West Ham United tonight.
The young Whites showed commendable character to respond to their Football League Trophy battering by Birmingham City in midweek with an impressive away performance at Rush Green. Fulham made the perfect start when Sekularac turned home a cross from Terrell Works after five minutes and, after Osmand had doubled the visitors’ after the break, the Swiss youth international rounded off the scoring with a superb late strike strike.
The Cottagers made a fast start to the London derby when Sekularac, operating in a deeper midfield role than normal, was on hand to open the scoring after a brilliant mazy dribble from Works. The winger raced all the way to the byline along the left flank and his measured ball across the box left the former Juventus man with the simplest of finishes to give the young Whites a dream start.
Works proved a constant menace to the Hammers’ defence all night and right back Ryan Battram was fortunate not to concede a spot kick when he seemed to have brought down the Fulham man inside the penalty area, but referee Callum Walchester waved away vociferous Fulham appeals.
The home side gradually got into the contest after the shock of conceding that early goal with Josh Briggs driving wide after brilliant approach play from Favour Fawumni before Fawumni beat Alex Borto with a brilliant effort that cannoned back off the crossbar. The Fulham goalkeeper recovered quickly to keep out Lewis Orford from the rebound.
The hosts continued to press for an equaliser and might have drawn level right on the cusp of half-time when the increasingly influential Orford went for goal from 25 yards out but the midfielder’s strike flew fractionally over Borto’s bar.
Fulham came out for the second period reinvigorated and looked for the second goal that would likely kill off their opponents. Sekularac came close after embarking on a superb solo run but his eventual finish lacked the direction to seriously trouble goalkeeper Finlay Herrick. West Ham were still a threat themselves with the eye-catching Fawunmi posing problems for the Fulham back four before shooting narrowly wide and Borto had to be both quick off his line and brave in diving at number ten Daniel Rigge’s feet.
Eight minutes after the interval, the in-form Osmand doubled Fulham’s lead. The Welsh youth international was in the right place at the right time to fire emphatically beyond Herrick after being brilliantly picked out by Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who enjoyed an effective evening on the right wing. Osmand should have doubled his tally shortly afterwards but only headed into the side netting after brilliant play from Lemar Gordon.
The Hammers came again with Fawunmi only denied a deserved goal by a brilliant block from centre back Sam Amissah and Borto pulling off a superb save as he got fingertips to a venomous blast from Battrum. Their hopes of conjuring up a late comeback evaporated when left back Lewis Brown was shown a stoppage time red card for hauling down Gordon as he raced through on goal. Sekularac capped a brilliant evening with a sweet strike from long range in the seventh minute of added time to make it 3-0.
Mullins’ start now sit third in the emerging PL2 table, a point behind second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion and three back from leaders Manchester City with a game in hand. The young Whites are back in action at Wealdstone on Tuesday night in the new National League Cup competition when they will look to pick up points after a disappointing defeat at Maidenhead in their opening fixture.
WEST HAM UNITED UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Henrick; Battrum, Brown, Luizao, Briggs; Akpata (Tarima 69), Orford (Scarles 69); Fawumni (J. Robinson 81), Moore, Rigge; Dolaghan (Swyer 69). Subs (not used): Terry.
Fawunmi’s dazzling feet were proving a threat as he dragged another shot just wide of the post, before Borto showed demonstrated his bravery when rushing out to claim the ball at the feet of Daniel Rigge.
We doubled our lead when Osmand timed his run into the box to perfection and finished expertly past Herrick, meeting Loupalo-Bi’s dangerous cross.
There was a swagger and confidence about our play in the second period and that was on show when Lemar Gordon put in a delicious cross for Osmand, only for his header to nestle the side netting.
Mullins’ men remained strong at the other end, with Samuel Amissah making a big block as Fawunmi looked to guide an effort into the top corner, while Borto made a stunning fingetip save to deny a powerful Battrum drive.
Hammers defender Luis Brown was shown a straight red card in stoppage-time after pulling back Gordon as he was closing in on goal – and we took full advantage with just seconds to play as Šekularac swept the ball into the bottom corner from range.
Our U21s are next in action on Tuesday 5th November with a trip to Wealdstone in the National League Cup, 7pm kick-off.
WEST HAM UNITED UNDER 21s: Herrick, Battrum, Briggs, Luizão, Brown, Orford (Scarles 69), Akpata (Tarima 69), Fawunmi (Robinson 81), Rigge, Moore, Dolaghan (Swyer 69). Subs (not used): Terry, Scarles.
BOOKED: Moore.
SENT OFF: Brown (90+5).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Gofford, Esenga, Nsasi, Amissah; Donnell, Sekularac; Loupalo-Bi (Olyott 90), Gordon, Works (Park 90+3), Osmand. Subs (not used): McNally, White, Zepa.
GOALS: Sekularac (5, 90+7), Osmand (53).
REFEREE: Callum Walchester.
