Fulham Under-18s returned to the top of the table in style, coming out winners after a nine-goal thriller against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Matt Dibley-Dias, Kieron Bowie, Stefan Parkes, Mika Biereth and Jay Stansfield all got in on the act, helping put six past the south coast side, who netted three themselves.
Steve Wigley’s side got off to a dream start thanks to a moment of magic. Dibley Dias curled a long range free-kick into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Luciano D’Auria-Henry struck the post just minutes later after a lung busting run down the right-hand side, but the flag was soon raised for offside. The young Whites were getting the ball in some good areas.
Brighton created their first opportunity not long after, with Cameron Peupion’s effort from the edge of the penalty box well blocked by a number of defenders who closed him down quickly.
The visitors equalised on 18 minutes, with Zak Emerson slotting the ball past goalkeeper Dermott Mee from close-range.
The response from the hosts was instant, thanks to striker Bowie who converted after latching onto the end of a long ball over the top.
The game continued to twist and turn, though. Brighton’s Andy Moran helped his side level the scoring for a second time, just two minutes later. He played a neat one-two before sliding his effort into the far corner from a tight angle.
Mee was called into action just before the half-hour mark, diving to his right to keep out a stinging shot from Marcus Ifill.
The hosts regained the lead for the third time in the 34th minute, courtesy of defender Parkes. A free-kick was swung in from the right and Parkes was on hand to volley in at the back-post.
The away side very nearly scored soon after the break. A fizzing low cross was heading straight for Emerson, but Xavier Benjamin did excellently to read the danger and clear the ball. Moran’s follow-up effort crashed into the side netting.
Biereth, who was kept relatively quiet in the opening half, was given a chance to get on the scoresheet in the 54th minute from the penalty spot. His effort, however, was well saved by the goalkeeper who was at full stretch.
He made up for his miss soon after, though, smashing the ball in from a rebound after Bowie’s shot was blocked.
Bowie scored his second of the game on 63 minutes, calmly slotting his shot low and past the goalkeeper from a one-on-one.
The main story involved Jay Stansfield, who scored minutes after coming on having been out with injury for four months. Tyler Caton fired in an excellent cross, which the forward directed into the top corner with his head.
Cameron Peupion grabbed a goal back for Brighton, but it was too little too late.
Team Lineup:
Mee; D’Auria-Henry, Parkes, Bowat, Araujo; Benjamin, Dibley-Dias; Olakigbe, Lanquedoc; Bowie, Biereth
Subs:
Glover, Antonsson, Caton, Wildbore, Stansfield