Fulham U18 2-0 Reading U18

Fulham Under-18s joined the 21s in making a winning start to the season on Saturday, beating Reading 2-0 at Motspur Park.

A Tom Olyott goal in each half helped ensure the victory in what was a competitive, physical encounter.

Ali Melloul named four new scholars in his first line-up of the season, with Dino Kaiser in goal and Samuel Tabares, Bradley Slade and Josh King all outfield.

With last season’s Golden Boot winner Aaron Loupalo-Bi unavailable after picking up a knock, Welsh international Callum Osmand was handed the number nine shirt. He was joined by Lemar Gordon and Tom Olyott on the wings.

Ollie Gofford was given the captain’s armband and featured in midfield alongside Chibby Nwoko and Josh King.

We showed our threat just four minutes in, when Osmand released Gordon down the left. The nippy winger went for goal with his left foot, but Reading’s Shay Spencer lunged in to make a great block.

Osmand’s excellent pressing saw him steal possession and charge towards goal. Unfortunately, his ball across towards Gofford was cut out.

Reading’s Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith tried to deliver a ball from the left after some neat footwork on 26 minutes, but Kaiser was in position to claim it comfortably.

Tom Olyott put us ahead a couple of minutes later following an excellent flowing move. De Jesus hit a stunning diagonal ball to Gordon, who in turn delivered into the area. The ball bounced through to Olyott, who flicked it neatly onto his right before rifling home.

The young Whites were turning the screw after the goal, with both Gordon and Osmand taking aim and having their efforts blocked. De Jesus put in a decent delivery too, but nobody in white was there to apply the finishing touch.

Tabares played an excellent ball down the right-hand side to Osmand just before the half-time whistle, as we looked for a second. Our forward had King as an option to his left, but opted to go for goal instead and saw his effort blocked.

Olyott’s fine finish had us one goal up going into the break.

We had a big chance straight after the restart. Osmand powered forward before laying the ball off to King, but the midfielder’s effort was a tame one and comfortably saved by Harrison Rhone.

The visitors were enjoying their best spell for the few minutes that followed. William Ramirez brought the ball down on the edge of the area before trying his luck. Credit to our back line, who came charging out to block it.

Kaiser came to our rescue on 68 minutes, using his legs to block Jerae Jones’ strike after the winger coolly slalomed through a number of players.

We threw a punch of our own a few minutes later, when Olyott’s left-footed strike from range cannoned off the far post.

Gordon thought he had made it 2-0 with just under 10 minutes remaining, when his venomous right-footed strike from range was somehow tipped over by Rhone at full stretch.

Substitute Jayden Quashie should've added a second when the ball rolled through to the midfielder, who was perfectly placed right in front of goal. His effort was saved by the Reading stopper who charged out. 

The young Royals had their goalkeeper to thank again a few minutes later, when he made yet another impressive save. This time, the youngster stuck out a strong fist to deny Nwoko. Our lads were creating chance after chance but just couldn't find themselves that cushion with a second goal.

Thankfully, they didn't need to wait much longer. Olyott grabbed his second of the game in additional time, calmly slotting home after latching onto a decent through-ball from Farhaan Ali-Wahid, who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds.

A winning start for Ali Melloul's lads after an impressive opening day performance.