Derby County U18 4-0 Fulham U18

Fulham Under-18s were knocked out of the Premier League Cup on Wednesday afternoon, falling to a 4-0 defeat at Derby County.

Despite a largely controlled performance in the first-half by the hosts, we were still well in the tie at the interval, with Owen Eames’ goal the only difference between the sides.

The Rams added a flurry of late goals though, as three strikes in a 14-minute spell killed the contest.

Goals have been a major theme of Derby’s games this season – they’ve scored and conceded a combined total of 106 in their 20 matches – and that tally would have been added to had Dino Kaiser not made an excellent one-on-one save to deny Jerome Richards after just seven minutes.

A long-range Macaulay Zepa strike, comfortably gathered by Harley Price, was as close as our Young Whites came in the first period.

It was a game controlled by the hosts from that moment, as we had the post to thank after Eames’ cross took a nick off Bradley Slade and onto the woodwork.

Shortly after, powerful striker Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu rattled the side netting.

The pressure became too much just after the half hour mark, as Eames’ deft touch saw him loft the ball over Kaiser and into the net.

After the break, the hosts threatened to immediately increase their advantage. Demiane Agustien fired well over the bar, but should have done better from a promising position in the box after neat build-up play down the left.

Justin Oguntolu then dragged a shot wide of Kaiser’s far post after shifting the ball onto his left foot.

The floodgates then began to open as the impressive Eames rounded Kaiser and finished into an empty net to make it 2-0 on 76 minutes.

Two late goals meant the game finished with a one-sided scoreline, as Richards squeezed the ball in from a tight angle, before James Ward applied a smart finish in stoppage-time.

Our U18s are next in action on Tuesday 18^th February as West Ham United visit Motspur Park, 6pm kick-off.