West Brom U23 2-4 Fulham U23

Fulham Under-23s battled to a 4-2 win over fellow Premier League 2 high-flyers West Bromwich Albion on Monday evening.

It was an exhilarating 90 minutes of football played at New Bucks Head but goals from Adrion Pajaziti, Sonny Hilton and a double from Ollie O’Neill meant that we were able to bring home the three points.

Steve Wigley made a number of changes to his side from the young Whites’ previous outing, the Premier League Cup tie against Southend United U23s, with George Wickens, Charlie Robinson, Ziyad Larkeche and Matt Dibley-Dias all returning to the starting eleven.

Fulham dominated the early proceedings with long spells of pressure, which nearly led to an opener when Kieron Bowie rounded young Baggies ‘keeper, Alex Palmer, but his effort was smashed wide of the post.

The deadlock was eventually broken in fashion, when Pajaziti sweetly struck a volley into the corner of the net, giving no chance for Palmer to prevent it.

The hosts eventually found the leveller late in the first half through Mo Faal, who easily slotted home the chance that was squared to him from Reyes Cleary.

It wasn’t long before we took the lead again, when Hilton made the most of a defensive mistake to fire his side back ahead.

The drama wasn’t over there however for the first half, as West Brom won a penalty after the dangerous Cleary was pulled down in the box to level the score once again, just before the referee blew his whistle to end the half.

A reserved second half followed but it was Ollie O’Neill to the rescue, striking a low effort into the Baggies goal before stretching the lead again just minutes later.

The win means that Wigley’s side now sit 11 points clear the top of the Premier League 2 Division 2 table.