Blackburn U21 2-3 Fulham U21

Fulham Under-21s finished the regular PL2 season with a 3-2 win at Blackburn Rovers.

Seth Ridgeon’s first-half double, the first of which was a stunning strike from 18 yards, ensured we had a two-goal advantage at the interval.

Callum Osmand added a third from the penalty spot, although goals from James Edmondson and Aodhan Doherty made sure of a nervy ending.

Monday evening’s results confirmed our second-place finish in PL2, with Hayden Mullins’ side set to host the team who finishes 15^th in the first round of the Play-Offs.

Only 20 seconds were on the clock when Osmand was denied by the feet of Nick Michalski, and the striker then turned creator as he fed Ridgeon only a few minutes later, who fired powerfully past the near post.

The post denied Osmand midway through the first period. It was a deft touch that he got as he nodded Bradley De Jesus’ cross towards goal, but it bounced back off the woodwork.

Our youngsters got their reward shortly after as a Ridgeon rocket flew past Michalski. He connected beautifully with a half volley on the edge of the box, lashing the ball into bottom corner to make our early dominance count.

Alex Borto was scrambling across his line when Doherty shot wide from distance, but we immediately went up the other as Delano McCoy-Splatt stung the palms of Michalski with a fizzing strike.

Ridgeon was at the double shortly before half-time, meeting a through ball before the onrushing Michalski could get there and sliding a shot underneath the Blackburn goalkeeper.

Borto was tasked with keeping our half-time advantage at two – and smart saves to deny Matty Litherland and Igor Tyjon ensured it was a first-half shutout.

Our lead was extended just two minutes into the second period as Ridgeon was hacked down in the box as he was about to shoot. Osmand took the penalty and took his PL2 tally to 10 goals, sending Michalski the wrong way from 12 yards.

Despite our commanding lead, it wasn’t as if this was a quiet night for Borto, who had to be alert at his near post to beat away Doherty’s piledriver.

Luc De Fougerolles was denied a goal on his first start since October by the fingertips of Michalski, with the Canada international meeting a pinpoint Ridgeon cross with his head.

There was nothing a busy Borto could do about Blackburn’s first goal as Edmondson’s stunning strike from 25 yards nestled into the top corner.

This certainly wasn’t an affair short on chances, but both Imani Lanquedoc and Lemar Gordon were left frustrated as Michalski tipped their speculative shots wide for corners.

Tom Olyott was the next Fulham player to attempt to get on the scoresheet, curling a left-footed shot into the arms of Michalski.

But it was a nervy ending for our youngsters as Doherty’s header at the back post bounced into the turf, over the head of Samuel Amissah and into the net.

Olyott could have made it a slightly less nail-biting four minutes of stoppage-time, but he couldn’t keep his shot down when one-on-one with Michalski from a tight angle.

Our U21s are next in action on Tuesday 22^nd April as Olympique Lyonnais visit Craven Cottage in the Premier League International Cup Semi-Finals.