Fulham U18 1-1 Arsenal U18

A late Arsenal goal meant Fulham Under-18s had to settle for a point on Saturday.

Olly Sanderson gave us a deserved lead in the first half, but the away side clinched a late leveller through Charles Sagoe Jr.

We made a few changes following our FA Youth Cup defeat. Defender Stefan Parkes got to finish 2021 as captain, with our usual leader Devan Tanton absent. Lemar Gordon was given another start for Ali Melloul’s side in place of Jaylan Wildbore, while under-16 Chibby Nwoko made the bench.

The lads created a decent opportunity on the 8-minute mark after some excellent build-up play. Luc De Fougerolles found Michael Olakigbe on the right with a brilliant pass and the winger then fired a low ball across the six-yard box.

A couple of minutes later, Delano McCoy-Splatt tested Arsenal goalkeeper Remy Mitchell with a header at the back post. His attempt was comfortably caught.

The young Gunners looked good on the ball, but it was our 18s turning the screw. Olakigbe was particularly involved and watched as his stinging shot from the right was deflected just wide of the far post.

Olly Sanderson was inches away from putting us ahead on 20 minutes. Gordon poked the ball towards the forward on the edge of the box and his half volley flew past the wrong side of the post.

Up the other end, Arsenal’s Khayon Edwards found himself charging towards goal 37 minutes in, but Xavier Benjamin and Harvey Araujo worked together to stop the physical forward in his tracks.

The deadlock was eventually broken six minutes before the break, with Sanderson slamming home after connecting with an Olakigbe pull-back from the right. With chance creation in mind, it was a deserved lead.

That strike meant the young Whites went in at the break ahead.

The start of the second half saw little in terms of goal-mouth action, as our 18s looked to try and find a cushion. The visitors improved as the half progressed and began to gain some control, winning a few corners in the process.

It was the 70th minute before we saw the first shot on goal, with Allen doing excellently to parry a great strike from Arsenal’s Jack Henry-Francis.

The young Gunners came even closer a few minutes later and our lads had the crossbar to thank. Taylor Foran’s powerful header rattled the upright before bouncing out.

Sanderson thought he’d bagged his second of the afternoon on 82 minutes, smashing an effort into the top corner. Unfortunately for our number nine, the flag had already been raised for offside.

After controlling much of the second half, Arsenal found an equaliser with five minutes to go. Charles Sagoe Jr found the bottom corner after getting on the end of a cross. It was a very similar goal to ours earlier in the game.

Our lads nearly conceded another soon after but again, the crossbar denied the visitors. Henry-Francis' powerful strike was inches away.

In the end, Arsenal's late goal was enough to see the points shared, which was probably fair. Our 18s return to action in the New Year, with Brighton and Hove Albion next up.