By Laurie Martin

Fulham Under-21s were defeated 2-0 by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League 2 Play-Offs Round of 16.

Despite a strong campaign in the regular PL2 season, goals from Forest's Esapa Osong and Ateef Konate saw us exit the Play-Offs at its first stage.

The first chance of the tie went the way of the visitors. Konate teed up Jack Nadin after pouncing on a loose pass from Delano McCoy-Splatt, but the midfielder flashed a shot wide.

A golden opportunity fell at the feet of Callum Osmand a couple of moments later, but he failed to keep his effort down when one-on-one with Aaron Bott.

Fulham U21s Callum Osmand shoots towards goal

Forest broke the deadlock after 17 minutes when Osong showed great composure to finish past Alfie McNally after racing through on goal.

The woodwork denied our Young Whites from equalising just four minutes later. Adrion Pajaziti was cruelly denied by the post from a free-kick.

Just before the interval, McNally made a smart block at his near post to keep out Konate from a tight angle.

Forest continued to frustrate during the second period as we struggled to create clear cut opportunities. Osmand flicked an effort past the post from a corner early into the second period, but that’s the closest we came to drawing level.

Matt Dibley-Dias in action for Fulham U21s

McNally was at his best again as he rushed out to deny Konate from doubling Forest’s lead.

From the resulting corner, Osong hit the post from just a few yards out after being picked out by a fantastic cutback by Kyle McAdam.

Konate finished a swift counter-attacking move in stoppage-time as our PL2 Play-Off journey came to an end. Our Young Whites are at Craven Cottage on Thursday 16th May as we face Tottenham in the Premier League Cup Final.

Fulham U21: McNally, Tanton, De Fougerolles, Dibley-Dias, Amissah (Esenga 74'), McAvoy, McCoy-Splatt, Works, Gordon, Pajaziti, Osmand (Loupalo-Bi 65')

Subs: Underwood, Esenga, Nwoko, Olyott, Loupalo-Bi

Nottingham Forest U21: Bott, Sinclair, McDonnell, Hanks (Powell 45'), McAdam, Jack Thompson, Nadin, Perry, Konaté (Gardner 95'), Perkins, Osong

Subs: Houston, Powell, Whitehall, Joel Thompson, Gardner