Reserves 2-0 Derby

Fulham brought out their big guns for this Reserve League match against struggling Derby County. The Rams had lost their previous two games by 5-0 and 6-0 margins but put in a valiant display.

But for a 10 minute period in which Fulham turned on the style, there was a sense that Derby might have frustrated the home side. As it was two excellent goals saw Fulham home and also gave some valuable game time to a number of the First Team squad.

Having been on the bench for the West Ham game, Kasey Keller was given 90 minutes tonight. In front of him an experienced back four, with Toni Kallio the only player without any minutes under his belt for the First Team; Elliot Omozusi, Chris Baird and Carlos Bocanegra made up the rest fo the defence.

Simon Elliott continued his comeback from injury, starting in strong midfield including Michael Timlin and Alexey Smertin in the centre and Seol and Hameur Bouazza pushing further forward on the flanks to almost make a front three alongside lone striker David Healy.

Despite having a strong XI on the pitch Fulham were quite subdued in the opening period. The Whites had the lion’s share of the possession but weren’t creating many openings up front. Their first chance of the evening came after 15 minutes when a perfectly weighted ball from Chris Baird dropped over the right back where Hameur Bouazza was lurking. The winger lifted the ball back over the defender’s head before firing a volley high and wide.

That effort on goal seemed to spark Fulham into life; good strength by David Healy held off a defender before finding Michael Timlin, who had overlapped him down the centre of the pitch, Timlin raced towards goal but with two defenders shadowing him he laid the ball out to Bouazza. The Algerian shot low and hard but directly at Jake Kean, the keeper parried back to Bouazza who dragged his second effort wide.

The chances were starting to fall for Fulham now and with Alexey Smertin and Michael Timlin controlling the midfield battle, the Whites were finding more gaps to play in the forward three in front of them. Seol had an effort scrambled off the line before Healy was clumsily fouled on the edge of the area. Bouazza placed the ball and curled an excellent free kick over the wall; the ball eluded the keeper but struck the bar and was cleared to safety.

In this time Derby had enjoyed bits of attacking play but Baird and Bocanegra had marshalled their strikers. However, the pace of Tyron Amory down the left had been causing problems from the first whistle and it was good work from him that allowed Derby a gilt-edged chance and arguably the best of the game so far. Omozusi and Amory ran full tilt for a ball played over the top; the Derby winger beat Omozusi to the ball but still had a lot of work to do. He managed to turn and muscle his way past Omozusi, got to the by-line, and crossed low across the box. Greg Mills ran in at the far post but fired his shot high over the bar from a very acute angle.

This chance once again spurred Fulham into action and they began to pick up the tempo once more, and in the form of Bouazza and Seol they had a constant outlet of pace and attacking threat. As half-time approached Fulham should have been a goal to the good but rushed shots from Seol and Bouazza meant that Kean was left untroubled.

Alexey Smertin was kicking himself on the stroke of half-time, some excellent work down the left by Bouazza and Timlin carved out a chance for the Russian. Stood almost alone 12 yards from goal, Smertin, not realising the time he had, dragged his shot wide of goal to keep the scores at 0-0 at the interval.

Buoyed by their performance in the first half, Derby came out after the break and put Fulham under pressure straight away. A succession of corners firstly saw central defender Miles Addison head over from close range and then a ball bounced around the Fulham area but was eventually cleared by Toni Kallio. It was a good spell for Derby, with the Whites looking jittery early on.

Despite being under the cosh, Fulham showed their class as they scored two quick goals to deflate Derby’s resistance and ultimately put an end to the game. Seol cut in from the right flank and dribbled the ball along the 18 yard line, he was upended by a defender but before the referee had the chance to put the whistle to his lips Alexey Smertin had smashed a shot past Kean in the Derby goal.

If the first strike had a slight touch of opportunism the second had a large serving of class. Looking to get back into the game, the Rams had pushed men forward to put the Fulham back line under pressure, but a swift counter attack from one end of the pitch to the other by Fulham culminated in a second and wonderfully crafted team goal.

The ball was played from defence; Seol sped out to the right and passed a ball inside. In one fluid motion Smertin shifted the play on to Healy. Timing his pass to perfection he released Bouazza down the left who beat his defender for pace, drove into the box and squared the ball to Michael Timlin who tapped home to round off an excellent flowing move.

After this double salvo by Fulham the game reduced in tempo, the young Derby side continued to fight and on another night might have had a one-on-one situation but the linesmen, perhaps incorrectly, ruled against them.

Billy McKinlay decided against making any changes and the strong Development Squad XI all played the full 90 minutes and earned another valuable three points.

Fulham: Keller; Omozusi, Baird, Bocanegra, Kallio; Seol, Timlin, Elliott, Bouazza; Smertin, Healy

Subs Not Used: Etheridge (GK), Ashton, Thompson, Anderson, Ehui