A fiery encounter at Motspur Park thawed what were icy conditions as an attacking and adventurous Fulham were held to a 1-1 draw against a determined Hammers side.
The Whites were unable to field of one of their regular reserve strikers as Collins John departed on a three-month loan spell with Championship side, Leicester City. Despite his absence Development Squad manager, Billy McKinlay, was able to call on a host of familiar names from previous games this season, including Adrian Leijer and Elliot Omozusi in central defence, Michael Timlin on the left wing and on-loan Crystal Palace striker, Shefki Kuqi, up front.
The Whites called upon Under 18s keeper Neil Etheridge for only his second start in the Development Squad and his first run out of the season; this was on the back of a number of strong displays for the Under 18s so far this term.
Familiar names in the Hammers line-up included Ghanaian defender, John Pantsil, as well as former Manchester United Academy graduate, Jonathan Spector. In the centre of midfield Nigel Quashie was used to marshall a young midfield quartet. Elsewhere Kevin Keen was eager to give youth a chance as a number of the younger players in his squad got starts as well as appearances in the squad for some Under 18 players.
It took the Whites just two minutes to register their first attempt on goal; Shefki Kuqi was scythed down on the edge of the area and Michael Timlin stepped up. It seemed as though the Irishman was shaping to shoot but instead he rolled it across the area and Wayne Brown drilled the ball from 25 yards out, sending it high and wide.
Despite this early chance Fulham were quite slow to get into the game, a number of passes lacking the pace to find their required target. One of these, a backpass from Adrian Leijer caught Neil Etheridge short. The youngster’s hurried clearance was charged down by Zavon Hines but thankfully went just wide.
After half an hour McKinlay was forced into making a substitution when Lewis Cumber picked up a head knock, Ashley Thompson replaced him. While the Whites tried to reorganise their defence, Kyel Reid used this opportunity to run hard down the left before whipping in a superb cross which evaded both defenders and strikers alike. The ball ran through to Jack Collison but his side foot effort was misplaced and Leijer cleared.
As half-time neared the Whites began to press further forward, an unsuccessful clearance by the Hammers defence was met magnificently by Wayne Brown on the half volley. Although a sweet connection, it skimmed the wrong side of the post as far as Fulham were concerned.
Three minutes of stoppage time were indicated to include the injury picked up by Cumber and it seemed like the time would elapse, as had the rest of the first half, goalless. However, the ever lively Bradley Hudson-Odoi picked up the ball in the right channel, cut inside before striking the ball on his left foot. His shot took a wicked deflection off a West Ham defender and the ball skimmed, this time in favour of Fulham, inside Marek Stech’s left hand post to give Fulham a perfect way to end the first half.
The Whites came very close to commencing the second half as they had ended the first, a fierce, low drive from Wayne Brown clipped the outside of the post.
Despite this early scare West Ham were still a threat in attack, most of the best work coming from Kyel Reid who swapped flanks for the second half. After Hines had been bundled over 25 yards out in a central position, Reid stepped up and floated his free kick over the wall but it hit the post and was cleared to safety. From the resulting corner confusion in the box allowed Reid to sneak in and slot home to draw the game level.
The goal came as a surprise to the fans that had braved the harsh conditions, but it didn’t seem to affect the Fulham players who went in search of the lead. Just past the hour mark some good work on the left from Nathan Ashton saw a cross knocked deep to the back post where Hudson-Odoi was lurking; the winger however scuffed his shot when he had time to do better.
Most of Fulham’s best work was coming down the left flank with Ashton and captain for the night, Michael Timlin, interchanging well. Not only was the best play occurring on the left side but some of the firmer challenges also. Both John Pantsil for West Ham and Timlin picked up yellow cards for somewhat over zealous challenges.
In the last 10 minutes both sides sensed that they might snatch victory and as such the play zipped from end to end. A neat ball from Reid played Jack Collison through, but Etheridge was alert to the danger and rushed from his line to block what was a great chance for the Hammers. Eventually though, with just a solitary minute of extra time to play the two sides had to be content with honours even.
Fulham: Etheridge; Cumber (Thompson 30), Leijer, Omozusi, Ashton; Hudson-Odoi, Brown, Milsom, Timlin; Kuqi (Uwezu 62), Ehui
