Aston Villa U18 1-1 Fulham U18

Fulham Under-18s qualified for the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

An early Macaulay Zepa goal was cancelled out by Elijah Briscoe – but the draw was enough to see us reach the last eight with our Young Whites going unbeaten throughout the group stage.

After finding ourselves 2-0 up after 12 minutes against Brighton last time out, it was another fast start from the lads. We were a goal ahead after just two minutes as Zepa reacted quickest in the box after Tom Wingate had a shot saved by Owen Asemota.

Villa, knowing a win would see them qualify for the knockout stages, almost responded immediately as Junior Wilson crept round the back to meet a deep cross, but he poked a shot wide while at full stretch.

But it was Ali Melloul’s side who looked the more likely as Zepa tested Asemota with a shot from the halfway line, before a Farhaan Ali-Wahid strike defected gratefully into the arms of the Villa shot-stopper.

The hosts ended the half strongly, causing plenty of issues down our left side. Dino Kaiser gobbled up a weak shot from Vinnie Hayward – and our ‘keeper could only watch as Teddie Bloomfield’s left-footed volley whistled past the post.

That pressure eventually led to an equaliser as Briscoe headed home at the back post after Kaiser had initially done well to keep out a cross that threatened to fly over the keeper’s head and into the net.

Zepa nearly turned provider on the hour mark, making it to the byline after beating his man down the right, but his ball across the box bounced off Wingate and sailed wide.

Kaiser was forced into a couple of vital stops late on, getting down low to keep out Hayward and then a strong right wrist saw him deny a fierce Keilan Quinn strike.

The lads defended heroically towards the end, with several members of the side making important blocks and tackles.

Our U18s are next in action on Sunday 1^st December at Notts County in the FA Youth Cup Third Round, 12:30pm kick-off.