Fulham Under-18s came from behind to secure their first win of the season, overcoming Norwich Under-18s 3-1.
The game consisted of three penalties, shared between both sides, but two spot kicks from Harvey Elliott and a Fabio Carvalho strike saw the Young Whites over the line.
Two minutes in Norwich were awarded a penalty, Tristan Cover went through the back of Isak Thornaldsson in the area after a long ball. Anis Mehmeti’s penalty was saved low by George Wickens, but the forward dispatched the rebound.
Fulham recovered well from the early setback. Sonny Hilton intercepted a loose Norwich pass and rode a couple of challenges before firing over. A couple of neat passages of play followed the first chance as Ben Davis and Carvalho started to dictate the game.
Norwich created their next meaningful opening after 19 minutes. Wickens was forced into action to push Thornaldsson’s shot away from close range.
A deft touch by Hilton created an opening for Carvalho, his shot was easily gathered by Sam Blair in the Norwich goal.
Fulham huffed and puffed at the Norwich goal without creating clear cut chances, despite vast amounts of possession. Sylvester Jasper and Cover had a lot of joy down the left-hand side – their balls into the box put behind for a corner on numerous occasions.
Jasper then had his chance when a lovely Connor McAvoy ball over the top was misjudged by Ethan Vaughan, he raced clear and his shot was put straight at the goalkeeper.
Carvalho persisted with picking up dangerous areas in the Norwich half and tested Blair again. However, his strike lacked conviction making another comfortable stop. Terry Ablade was quiet for most parts of the first half, but he worked the goalkeeper after 40 minutes. Elliott’s channel pass forced Blair into a smart stop at his near post.
The Canaries had sparing chances throughout the first half, but wasted a golden opportunity just before the break. Saul Milovanovic slipped in Thornaldsson who should have done better from 10 yards.
Jasper caused more problems on the flanks – he sold Vaughan a dummy and curled an effort agonisingly over the bar. Elliott’s cleverly disguised free-kick needed pushing behind for yet another corner, but The Young Whites went in at the break behind.
Carvalho grew closer to his deserved goal into the second half. His volley from the edge of the box crashed against the underside of the bar and onto the line. Norwich got deeper as the half wore on and Elliott was finding more space on the flanks. He jinked his way inside and his strike was nearly gobbled up on the rebound by Ablade.
Wave after wave of pressure was applied by the Young Whites, but the equaliser still eluded them. Elliott floated a cross to the back post which Jasper could only loop a header over the bar.
The pressure told mid-way through the second half when Fulham were awarded a penalty of their own. Hilton released Ablade and Aaron Emukah could only bring the forward down. Young Harvey Elliott confidently dispatched the spot kick.
The winger was involved soon after when a sweeping move from right to left found Cover. His first time cross met Elliott at the back stick – his diving header sailed over.
The Fulham number ten Carvalho was rewarded 12 minutes from time. Davis won the ball and released Jasper – his perfect through ball was slid into the far corner.
Jasper was barged in the area which allowed Elliott to convert his second goal of the morning from the spot.
The final whistle shortly followed another routine Wickens stop and Fulham Under-18s held on for their first win of the season.