Seth Ridgeon and Chibby Nwoko grabbed the goals as Fulham’s under 21s continued their flawless start to the PL2 season by beating ten-man West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at Motspur Park this evening.
The young Whites bounced back from being beaten at Truro City in the National League Cup on Tuesday night with a professional performance as they cruised to a comfortable victory despite Jayden Quashie missing a first-half penalty. Fulham were in control from the outset and the visitors failed to even test Alfie McNally in the home goal, but struggled to break through a resolute Albion rearguard for most of the first half.
Chances were at a premium until ten minutes before half time when centre forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi was brought down in the box. Quashie, whose penalty conversion record in the under-18s was superb, stepped forward confidently but saw his spot-kick superbly saved by the Baggies’ Irish goalkeeper Louis Brady.
But Fulham quickly shrugged off that setback and went in front five minutes later. Farhaan Ali Wahid unlocked the Albion defence with a clever pass to set Seth Ridgeon free and the teenage midfielder sauntered clear down the left flank before slotting a smart finish past the helpless Brady. The Albion goalkeeper spread himself superbly to deny Loupalo-Bi a goal – but the visitors’ task become herculean when central defender Jamal Mohammed was shown a second yellow card for dragging down the Fulham striker.
Ridgeon almost made the most of Fulham’s numerical advantage shortly afterwards, coming agonisingly close to doubling his tally with a lovely left-footed drive that drifted just wide of the far post. Brady then did brilliantly to deny the England youth international when Ridgeon spotted the West Brom goalkeeper off his line and tried a chip – and the youngster was disappointed to head wide from close range after leaping above the Albion defence to meet a lofted Bradley Slade cross from the left.
But the Whites made sure of all three points five minutes from time when substitute Tom Olyott’s pass gave Nwoko the opportunity to pick out the bottom corner with an assured low finish from the edge of the penalty area.
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally; de Jesus, Slade (Esenga 85), Amissah, Nsasi; Nwoko (Gofford 86), Quashie; Zepa (Olyott 79), Ali Wahid (Wingate 69), Ridgeon; Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Kaiser.
BOOKED: Olyott.
GOALS: Ridgeon (41), Nwoko (85).
WEST BROMWICH ALBION UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): Brady; Nelson, Humphries, Mohammed, Diomande; Amihere (Blackshields 79), Mfuamba; McDonald (Maughan 61), Ntege (Chimeziri 61; Ranger 67), Crowther, Bray. Subs (not used): Okonkwo.
BOOKED: Mohammed, Mfuamba.
SENT OFF: Mohammed.
REFEREE: Emily Heaslip.
ATTENDANCE: 172.
