Chelsea U18 2-1 Fulham U18

Fulham Under-18s suffered their first defeat since August, losing 2-1 at Chelsea.

After going seven games unbeaten, it was a tough 90 minutes for our Young Whites, as a goal from Frankie Runham and a penalty from Ollie Harrison gave Chelsea the three points, despite Tom Wingate reducing the deficit on the hour mark with a thunderous hit.

There was a welcome return in the starting XI as Quinn Schutter made his first appearance of the season following a long-term injury, while midfielder Ruban Khan was also handed his first start of the campaign, replacing Jayden Quashie, who missed out due to concussion protocols.

It was a fast-paced start to the derby and Marco Underwood would have been worried when Runham rolled a shot just past his post, before Kobe Barbour shot too high after cutting inside from the left.

Our defence was cut open when Sol Gordon threaded a pass through to Barbour, but Underwood rushed out to make a huge stop, making himself big when facing the forward one-on-one.

The deadlock was broken when, despite some more heroics from Underwood to tip a Runham header onto the post, the Chelsea number 10 was quickest to the rebound and tapped home from close range.

Runham was at the centre of Chelsea’s attacks – and he nearly curled one into the bottom corner on the stroke of half-time, only for the inspired Underwood to spring to his left to make another important save.

It was a nightmare start to the second period for Ali Melloul’s side, conceding a penalty just three minutes after the restart as Alfie White was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. The spot kick was converted by Harrison, who hit the ball hard and low in the bottom left corner.

An ambitious Macaulay Zepa curling shot, which forced Hudson Sands into a full stretch save, sparked our Young Whites into life. On the hour mark, a swift counter-attack, led by Zepa and Farhaan Ali Wahid, eventually found the feet of Wingate, who arrowed the ball into the bottom corner with a powerful strike.

There was a let off when Joseph Wheeler-Henry fired over the bar from close range after meeting Leo Cardoso’s corner, but we were nearly level when Ali Wahid found Wingate with a delicious ball over the top of the Chelsea defence, with the striker volleying into the side netting.

The final chance of the game fell on the head of Logan Cooke, but he couldn’t replicate his last-minute goal against Leicester last time out, with his effort falling wide.

Our U18s return to Motspur Park on Saturday 9th November against Brighton, 11am kick-off.