Aaron Loupalo-Bi scored a hat-trick as Fulham’s under 21s smashed seven past Sutton United in the National League Cup this evening.

Hayden Mullins’ men made a superb start to the season in their new-look 4-3-3 system. There was a first competitive start for two years for Charlie Robinson at the heart of the Fulham back four, with the centre back wearing the captain’s armband. Eddie Nsasi switched to right back with Ollie Gofford at the heart of a midfield trio that also included Seth Rigeon and Terrell Works, whilst Tom Olyott, Farhaan Ali Wahid and Loupalo-Bi made up the Whites’ front three.

United, who had drawn 2-2 at York City in their opening National League fixture, handed debuts to goalkeeper David Aziaya and winger Jaiden White, traded early blows with their visitors. Loupalo-Bi looked sharp from the off in jinking past Jack Taylor and surging towards goal only for the striker’s shot to be blocked by Will Tizzard. Sutton did have the ball in the net in the twelfth minute but an offside flag cut short Kane Critchlow’s celebrations after nice interplay with Brandon Njoku. Taylor could have easily given the hosts the lead from close range a couple of minutes later but he dragged his shot wide of Alfie McNally’s goal when it seemed simpler to score.

Fulham took the lead midway through the first half when Ali Wahid played a beautiful ball through the home defence, releasing Olyott on the right. The winger made no mistake – with a composed finish into the top corner that gave Aziaya no chance at all. Sutton were far from cowed by that setback as White sought to bring his side level almost immediately, winning possession back from the goalscoring and drilling an effort over the crossbar – but Fulham looked dangerous on the break.

The Cottagers were beginning to zip the ball about with real intent and Ali Wahid twisted and turned his way beyond a pair of yellow shirts before firing straight at Aziaya. Robinson came close to a dream return to competitive football but he nodded Olyott’s precise corner just wide of the far post. The home side had a couple of headed openings of their own in the final ten minutes of the first half but neither Brandon Njoku and Taylor were able to test McNally.

Sutton made a couple of changes at the start of the second half, but Fulham were much more fluent after the break. It took them just two minutes to extend their lead when he lashed a lovely low finish into the bottom corner from twenty yards after more excellent approach play from Ali Wahid. The striker then claimed his second of the evening five minutes later from another Ali Wahid ball.

Robinson then produced an outstanding piece of defending to prevent Crichlow from touching home Njoku’s cross – and that proved to be the skipper’s final contribution before being replaced by Brad de Jesus. Nsasi then slotted in to his more natural home of centre back, allowing de Jesus to bomb forward down the right. The substitute played a big role in Fulham’s fourth goal, using all his strength to beat Eduino Vaz and Aziaya to what looked like a lost cause on the by-line and find Works, who found the net impressively as the Sutton defenders tried to crowd him out.

It took just one more minute for the Whites to score again. Olyott’s presence of mind helped him touch the ball beyond the last defender and thump a powerful finish past the diving Sutton goalkeeper. Fulham were now rampant and it was just a matter of how many goals Mullins’ men wanted to end up with. Loupalo-Bi claimed the match ball when he brought down a brilliant ball from substitute Macaulay Zepa and slotted home superbly.

Olyott had an opportunity to seal his own hat-trick after sprinting away from Vaz but he shot wide from a tight angle. Three minutes from time, French winger Zepa completed an impressive cameo by producing a firing a fine low finish past the unfortunate Aziaya after cutting in from the left flank.

This comprehensive 7-0 victory was the perfect start to the under-21s season and served as a lovely warm-up for the start of the PL2 campaign at Borehamwood against Arsenal on Friday night.

SUTTON UNITED (3-4-3): Aziaya; Tizzard, Taylor, Pruti (Eccleston 45); De Silva, Vaz, Odelusi (Woodyard 45), Wadham; White, Crichlow (Ogbonna 61), Njoku (Sandat 61). Subs (not used): Sims, Phipps.

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): McNally; Nsasi, Slade (Walters 80), C. Robinson (de Jesus 64), Araujo; Gofford, Ridgeon (Zepa 67), Works (White 80); Olyott, Ali Wahid (Wingate 80), Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Underwood, Nwoko.

BOOKED: Zepa.

GOALS: Olyott (22, 74), Loupalo-Bi (47, 51, 81), Works (73), Zepa (87).

REFEREE: Kirsty Dowle.

ATTENDANCE: 806.