Forest U23 1-2 Fulham U23

Fulham Under-23s secured their 10th successive league win on Monday, edging past Nottingham Forest with a 2-1 win.

Kieron Bowie put us ahead with a brilliant goal before the home side found an equaliser soon after the break. Jay Stansfield later popped up to bag what proved to be the winning goal.

With a few of our Under-23s heading away to pick up loan experience, Head Coach Steve Wigley named a slightly different side as our lads got their 2022 under way.

Goalkeeper Alfie McNally made his Under-23 debut and Under-18s defender Charlie Robinson started just ahead of him, making his sixth appearance at this level.

Stansfield returned after a period on the sidelines with injury, while centre-back Ibane Bowat, who was also out for the same reason, began on the substitutes bench.

The young Whites came out stronger and very nearly took the lead a couple of minutes in. Stansfield’s low effort from the right-hand side of the penalty area rolled just wide of the far post.

The hosts nearly took the lead themselves on 12 minutes, when Lewis Salmon appeared to be in on goal. The attacker fell after feeling contact from Idris Odutayo, but the referee rightly waved play on.

Both sides saw chances in quick succession around the 20-minute mark. Down one end, Matt Dibley-Dias put his body on the line to block a shot that was heading towards goal. Then, Adrion Pajaziti’s venomous strike whizzed agonisingly wide of the far post.

Our lads went in front on 27 minutes, thanks to an excellent solo goal from Bowie. The Scottish forward made a powerful run before planting a low shot into the far corner. Advantage Fulham.

We almost doubled our lead just a minute later, when Ollie O’Neill’s powerful header whacked the post before being cleared.

McNally needed to be alert 10 minutes before the break and was, diving to his right to claim a long-range shot from Forest’s Julian Larsson.

Will Swan watched an effort fly wide for the home side just a few minutes later, as the young Reds pushed for a leveller.

The two sides went in at the break with the score at 0-1. 

Forest found themselves an equaliser five minutes after the restart, and again, it was a great solo goal. Ateef Konate dodged a couple of tackles before curling a left-footed strike into the far top corner.

The young Whites regained the lead on the hour mark, and it was Stansfield who struck. Bowie’s low ball from the right was missed by O’Neill but fell to Stansfield who made no mistake.

The second half saw little in terms of chances, with the only two real opportunities being taken in clinical fashion.

Stansfield should’ve grabbed his second and Fulham’s third on the 73-minute mark. Forest goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth stepped up for his team to deny the forward’s shot with his legs before claiming.

Our lads kept control of the game after scoring and Hilton came close with seven minutes to play. The winger had a lot to do, with the angle very tight, and his low hit skid inches wide of the far post.

We were awarded a penalty in the dying moments when Hogarth came rushing off his line before tripping Bowie. The Forest ‘keeper made up for his error, diving to his right to keep out Hilton’s spot-kick.

The hosts created one last chance before the end of the game. With seconds remaining, a low ball from the left rolled past the six-yard box but no Forest man was able to get a touch on it.

The final whistle soon followed and our lads secured a great three points to start the year.