Fulham U21 3-1 West Ham U21

Fulham Under-21s got their PL2 Division One campaign off to a winning start, beating West Ham United 3-1 on Friday afternoon.

Sylvester Jasper fired us ahead before Ollie O'Neill and Callum McFarlane added another couple later in the game.

Head Coach Steve Wigley made a few changes to the side that dramatically beat Brentford B in their final pre-season friendly. Charlie Robinson, Connor McAvoy and Stefan Parkes all came in at the back, while Matt Dibley-Dias replaced George Okkas in midfield.

The young Whites started quickly and dominated the ball early on. Terry Ablade used his blistering speed to force Angelo Ogbonna into an error, before Jasper’s effort was headed clear by the senior centre-back.

West Ham’s 21s grew into the game after soaking up some early pressure. A series of corners were well cleared, with Ablade rising highest to clear the most dangerous one.

The biggest chance the game had seen went the way of the visitors on 28 minutes. Ademipo Odubeko flew down the right before squaring the ball to Divin Mubama, who somehow blazed his effort over.

We went in front five minutes before the break, courtesy of Jasper. The tricky winger made his way into the box and, after having his first effort blocked, coolly tucked his second attempt past goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi and into the bottom corner.

His strike was all that separated the two sides at the break.

We almost doubled our advantage straight after the break from a set piece. O’Neill curled into the box from a free-kick, before Ablade’s strong header was excellently saved by Hegyi.

West Ham’s Dan Chesters was on the end of another great chance 57 minutes in. After some neat play down the left, the ball was played across to the winger but he couldn’t get a clean connection on the ball. The ball bounced towards our goal before being claimed by Wickens.

The away side were finding success on the counter. Odubeko took aim from the edge of the area but Wickens was equal to it, getting down quickly.

O’Neill doubled our lead just past the hour mark, and it was one of the strangest goals you’ll see. His attempted cross from miles out floated over Hegyi and nestled into the top corner. Even the Motspur Park crowd couldn’t tell if it was a goal, as there was little to no celebration on the pitch.

We couldn’t enjoy the two-goal cushion for long, with Odubeko cutely chipping over Wickens to pull one back for his side. Game back on.

It all started to come to life. Jasper’s left-footed shot from a tight angle was excellently saved immediately after.

We eventually grabbed our third, when substitute Callum McFarlane prodded home from an O’Neill cross on his PL2 debut.

An excellent win to start the season against a strong West Ham side. Our lads now look ahead to Chelsea.