Fulham Under-23s left Middlesbrough empty-handed on Friday afternoon.
Joe Gibson’s 75th minute strike was all that separated the two sides in the end.
Fulham started brightly and created a good opportunity six minutes in. Sylvester Jasper’s free kick from the right landed at the feet of Connor McAvoy, who couldn’t get enough purchase on his effort.
Another even bigger chance came for the young Whites just after the 10-minute mark. Terry Ablade pounced on a loose ball back to Zach Hemming, but his shot was well blocked by the goalkeeper.
A few minutes later, Middlesbrough’s Gibson put in a teasing cross to Tyrone O’Neill, but the number nine couldn’t quite reach it.
The hosts were limited to shots from range, with Gibson trying his luck on the half-hour mark. His effort was too powerful and fired over.
Jay Stansfield tested the goalkeeper five minutes later. Ablade jumped highest to flick the ball onto Stansfield, but his right-footed shot from the edge of the box was smothered by Hemming.
Fulham would have been the happier of the two sides at the break, but it was all to play for in the second half, nonetheless.
Ablade was inches away from getting his side ahead on 58 minutes after a wonderful touch. The forward spun away from a defender after latching onto an Idris Odutayo drilled cross. His following left-footed shot from a tight angle rolled just wide of the far post.
The two sides were struggling to break each other down. Mark Pembridge and Colin Omogbehin looked to the bench for some inspiration in the final 20 minutes, with Adrion Pajaziti coming on for Jonathon Page.
Soon after the switch, Boro weren’t able to capitalise on an Ashby-Hammond dropped catch, with the ball somehow staying out of the goal despite an almighty scramble.
It took 75 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, with the home side finding the lead after Gibson slid the ball under our onrushing ‘keeper.
Ashby-Hammond made a great save to deny Gibson his second of the game minutes later. The pacey attacker fired a left-footed shot towards goal, which was well blocked before bouncing out for a corner.
Stansfield had a late volley whizz just wide, as the young Whites desperately searched for a late leveller. The full time whistle was eventually blown.
Team Lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; D’Auria-Henry, McAvoy, Idris, Murphy; Page (Pajaziti 76’), Francois, O’Neill (Tiehi 78’); Jasper, Stansfield, Ablade
Subs:
Fanshawe, Duru, Pajaziti, Tiehi
