Fulham Under-18s won their third game in a row on Saturday, with a 2-0 victory against Southampton.
Luke Harris put us in front midway through the second half before Mika Biereth secured the three points late on. The result puts us top of the table on goal difference.
Fulham showed promising signs early on, controlling the game in the opening 10 minutes. A succession of corners were dealt with by the Southampton defence and the young Whites came close to going in front on seven minutes.
Luke Harris sprinted down the left-hand side before squaring the ball to Ollie Sanderson. His side-footed effort was blocked and Mika Biereth’s follow-up attempt was well saved by goalkeeper Olly Wright.
The hosts had their first chance in the 11th minute, when Stefan Parkes was dispossessed by Marco Rus who sprinted towards goal. Our young defender did excellently to make up for his error with a strong sliding tackle.
The chances kept coming for the young Whites, this time it was centre-back Ibane Bowat who nearly put us in front. Adrion Pajaziti curled in an excellent free-kick but Bowat’s bullet header was straight at the ‘keeper.
Our attacking threat showed no signs of dying out, with another big opportunity created three minutes before the break. Biereth’s low right-footed shot from the right fired just wide of the far post.
The two sides went into the break level, with neither able to break the deadlock.
Fulham enjoyed most the possession after the break, but struggled to break down a resolute Saints defence.
Southampton got forward in the 59th minute though, through Luke Pearce who found himself charging towards goal, but Bowat rescued the situation with an excellently timed slide tackle.
Pearce came even closer just minutes later, capitalising on a slip from Parkes. His slotted effort was brilliantly saved by Alex Borto, who was off his line quickly to block.
Our pressure finally paid off in the 64th minute, with Luke Harris bagging his fourth of the season after latching onto an Ollie O’Neill cross at the back post.
Rus nearly levelled the scoring immediately down the other end. He took the ball past Borto and, despite looking towards an open net, slipped and the chance went begging.
In the 68th minute, Biereth saw another right-footed shot skid just wide of the far post, this one was even closer than the last.
Biereth finally got his reward though, putting the game to bed in the dying embers after slotting the ball into the far corner following an interception at the back.
The final whistle was blown seconds later.
Team Lineup:
A Borto (GK), L D’Auria-Henry, S Parkes, H Araujo, I Bowat, L Harris, O O’Neill, M Dibley-Dias, M Biereth, A Pajaziti ©, O Sanderson
Subs:
A McNally (GK), I Odutayo, G Okkas, J Wildbore, T Antonsson