Fulham U18 3-2 Southampton U18

Fulham Under-18s kicked off the year with a narrow 3-2 win over Southampton on Saturday.

Lemar Gordon, Farhaan Ali-Wahid and Bradley De Jesus all got themselves on the scoresheet before the visitors scored late to make it a nervy ending.

In relation to team news, young goalkeeper Marco Underwood started in goal for our 18s for the first time after a successful trial period with the club.

Callum Osmand teamed up with Farhaan Ali-Wahid up top and Jayden Quashie started in midfield alongside Chibby Nwoko. Friday night’s Under-21 hero Samuel Amissah found himself straight back in the action, starting in the centre of defence.

The first chance of the game went our way just three minutes in, when Quashie powered through midfield before finding Tom Olyott down the right. The winger crossed towards Osmand and his effort was well saved.

The visitors responded with a chance of their own soon after, when captain Tommy Dobson’s free header from a free-kick sailed just over.

Osmand came close again on 17 minutes, rifling just over with a half-volley after the loose ball came bouncing out to him just outside the area.

Our number nine was getting closer and closer. This time, his powerful strike heading towards goal was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Dylan Moody.

It was all Fulham, but we found ourselves behind just past the 20-minute mark. Striker Josh Pitts twisted and turned inside our area before sliding a pacey left-footed effort into the bottom far corner.

The young Saints still threatened going forward and were causing problems on the counter-attack. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan pushed the ball onto his right before firing just wide of the far post 10 minutes before the break.

We got ourselves level up the other end just moments later, when Gordon neatly cut the ball onto his right before calmly finding the bottom corner. Just what Ali Melloul's side needed.

Underwood came to his team's rescue just before the break, reacting quickly to save Ehibhatiomhan's stinging near post effort.

After a competitive opening half, the two sides went in at the break with the score at 1-1.

A combination of Underwood and Amissah saved us from going behind again seconds after the restart. After our ‘keeper saved an initial strike, the latter was perfectly placed to clear a rebound off the line.

We were presented with a huge chance up the other end, when the Saints stopper passed the ball straight out to Ali-Wahid. The nippy winger blasted over from just a few yards out.

Some would’ve let that miss affect them, but Farhaan didn’t. He gave us the lead a minute later when his excellent cross from the right travelled through a sea of bodies before finding the far bottom corner.

Another massive chance came our way on 56 minutes, when Nwoko showed great willingness to win the ball off the last Saints defender. After charging through on goal, he chose to unselfishly play the ball across to Osmand and his strike was saved.

We extended our lead just past the hour mark, thanks to a moment of pure individual quality from De Jesus. The right-back controlled the ball from far out before smashing a stunning half-volley into the far corner. Some breathing space for our lads.

Ali-Wahid did brilliantly to win the ball inside the Southampton area with just five minutes remaining. He chose to play it to Osmand instead of going for goal himself and the chance went begging.

Southampton pulled one back in additional time, with Max Fry heading in at the near post.

We very nearly threw it away and conceded again straight from kick-off, when Underwood's long kick was blocked and travelled back towards our own goal. Massive credit to substitute Samuel Tabares, who rushed back to intercept just before the Saints man could tap into an open goal.

A winning start to the year for our Under-18s, who now prepare for an FA Youth Cup fourth round tie against Swansea City next Wednesday.