Under-18s edged out by Fulham in first game of the season

A spirited second-half display from our Under-18s went unrewarded as we lost out 4-2 at Fulham in Saturday’s Under-18 Premier League opener.

Trailing 2-0 and then 3-1, we produced some bright spells of play and deservedly got the scoreline back to 3-2 when Jaden Williams swept home a low cross from the influential Jamie Donley, who had earlier converted a penalty.

Fully in the ascendancy, we pushed for an equaliser, but a late strike from Michael Olakigbe – his second of the game – put the result beyond doubt for the hosts.

New Under-18s Coach Stuart Lewis named a new-look team at Motspur Park, but it was Fulham who forged ahead inside nine minutes, Oliver Sanderson curling into the top corner from 18 yards. Goalkeeper Adam Hayton got his fingertips to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

Renaldo Torraj’s low shot was tipped around the post by Cottagers goalkeeper Alex Borto, who then blocked one-on-one from Rio Kyerematen following a fine reverse pass from Donley, but it was 2-0 on 33 minutes when Delano-McCoy Splatt cut back for Imani Lanquedoc to fire home, despite Donley’s best efforts to slide in and block the shot.

Centre-back Alfie Dorrington did just enough to poke the ball away from Lanquedoc as he went through on goal just before the break but we came out on the front foot after the restart and pulled one back from the spot on 53 minutes, Donley slotting home after the lively Williams was fouled in the area.

Fulham quickly restored their two-goal cushion, Lanquedoc cutting back for Olakigbe to crash a first-time shot into the top corner on 56 minutes, but we replied three minutes later when Donley slid the ball across the six-yard box from the left and the arriving Williams rammed home. We had the wind in our sails at that point and looked likely to get something out of the game, but when Olakigbe fired in from a tight angle on the left with six minutes remaining for 4-2, there was no way back, although Donley did have a near miss in stoppage time when he volleyed into the ground but just over the bar from Jahziah Linton’s cross.

‘Disappointing scoreline after some good play’

Reflecting on his first league match in charge, Under-18s Coach Stuart said: “I thought we dominated in large parts of the game, scored a well-worked goal, but it’s obviously disappointing defensively to concede four. Both boxes are so important when you’re playing football, so it’s been a good learning experience in that respect. The majority of the first-years were playing their first Under-18s game so they’ve been able to see the next level, the pace of the game and the demands as the level increases – I thought Jaden Williams in particular was outstanding, he led the line, was a real thorn in Fulham’s side throughout and deserved his goal. Overall I was disappointed with the scoreline because there was some really good play on show.”