Aston Villa U23 1-1 Fulham U23

Fulham Under-23s were made to settle for a point against Aston Villa on Friday night.

Connor McAvoy put us ahead from the spot before the hosts grabbed one back through Caleb Chukwuemeka.

Steven Sessegnon was drafted in to play in midfield, while Taye Ashby-Hammond started in goal. Ben Davis featured on the bench alongside Under-18s centre-back Charlie Robinson.

Not many had even taken their seats when the first goal went in. It took just 30 seconds for the deadlock to be broken, and it came the way of Fulham. Terry Ablade was bursting through towards goal before being tripped in the box. Captain McAvoy smashed the resulting penalty past goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.

The young Whites thought they should have had another penalty just seconds after. Ablade’s pace was causing the Villa back line all sorts of problems, and he appeared to be shoved to the ground. Despite the appeals, the referee waved play on.

It was all Fulham in the opening 20 minutes, with our wing-backs Marlon Fossey and Ziyad Larkeche getting themselves in promising positions down the flanks. A series of their pacey crosses were well defended.

Villa created their first real opportunity just after the 20-minute mark. Sil Swinkles received the ball on the left before finding Tristian Goodridge in the middle. The attacker got a shot off at goal but it trickled just wide of the far post.

After growing into the game, the hosts found an equalizer after a calamity at the back. Confusion between Taye Ashby-Hammond and his defence presented Caleb Chukwuemeka with an easy finish.

The two sides went into the break with it all tied.

The young Whites started the second half well, with Ollie O’Neill and Ablade both having decent headers hit the roof of the netting. The home side responded though and were denied a second after some excellent defending by McAvoy. Chukwuemeka charged towards goal and his following effort was denied by our goalscorer who was at full stretch.

Sonny Hilton had an effort on goal 60 minutes in after being fed the ball by Ablade. His effort had the power but was straight at the goalkeeper.

The game was paused for a lengthy period after McAvoy made a crunching tackle on Swinkles. Our centre-back won the ball, but the impact left both players on the deck.

Fulham took more control as the second half progressed and definitely should have gone back in front on 84 minutes. Ablade did some excellent work, sprinting down the right before firing in a low cross. The ball found Luke Harris at the back post but despite finding himself unmarked, his shot flew just wide.

Straight after, Hilton watched as his effort from the right fizzed wide of the far post.

The young Whites pushed and pushed, but couldn't take any of their many late chances.