A second half strike from substitute Tom Olyott was enough to edge Fulham under 21’s past Crystal Palace and secure an eighth successive victory for Hayden Mullins’ men in the PL2 clash at Gander Green Lane this evening.
The winger settled an evenly-matched contest in the 70th minute with an fine curling finish from the edge of the area after his first strike at goal had been blocked. The derby victory puts the young Whites level on points with Manchester City at the top of the PL2 table following the winter break.
In an even opening to a keenly-contested match, both sides carried an early threat. Callum Osmand got on the end of a long ball from Samuel Amissah but his shot was well held by the birthday boy Louie Moulden in the Eagles goal. Palace came close when the league’s top scorer Jemiah Umolu unleashed an ambitious shot across the goalmouth that was deflected behind for a corner. Osmand was soon involved once more, his presence attracting attention in the Palace box, before the Welsh forward’s shot broke kindly for centre back Eddy Nsasi – but his attempted backheel was blocked by Caleb Kporha.
At the other end, Fulham goalkeeper Alex Borto was equal to a twenty-yarder from Asher Agbinone before Terrell Works bent a brilliant right-footed effort towards the far corner with ten minutes to play before the break only for his strike to bounce back off the upright. It was goalless at the interval, but certainly not for the want of trying.
Palace almost went ahead straight after the resumption when right wing-back Kporha latched onto a cross from the left and tried a shot on goal that flew fractionally wide. Osmand had another opportunity on the break but sent a tame shot straight at Moulden, before the young Eagles stepped up the pressure. Sean Grehan found space at a corner but saw his snapshot blocked and Jadan Raymond rattled the near post when he attempted to turn home an inviting cross from Kporha.
The right wing-back looked like Palace’s best source of an opener and produced a brilliant individual run that took him beyond three white shirts but his shot was narrowly off target. It took the introduction of Olyott, who replaced Chibby Nwoko just after the hour mark, to break the deadlock. The Irish under-19 international found the bottom corner with a fabulous finish that proved to be the game’s decisive moment.
Palace pushed for an equaliser in the closing twenty minutes but Fulham’s resolute defence stood firm to keep an impressive clean sheet and secure a precious three points. The under 21s are back in action on Friday night when they travel to the Snows Stadium, home of AFC Totton, to take on Southampton – with kick off at 7pm.
CRYSTAL PALACE UNDER 21s (3-4-2-1): Moulden; Grehan, Brown, Riad (Rodney 63); Kporha, Raymond (Cardines 64), Wells-Morrison, Devenny; Agbinone, Mustapha (Gibbard 83); Umulu. Subs (not used): Grante, Eastwood.
BOOKED: Agbinone, Wells-Morrison, Devenny.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Gofford, Esenga, Nsasi, Amissah; Nwoko (Olyott 63), Donnell; Loupalo-Bi, Works (Park 89), Sekularac; Osmand (de Jesus 76). Subs (not used): Underwood, Wingate.
BOOKED: Esenga.
GOAL: Olyott (69).
REFEREE: Aaron Farmer.
