By Laurie Martin

Fulham Under-21s began their pre-season campaign with a comeback 3-2 win at Charlton Athletic.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi had given us an early lead, but we were behind at the break after the hosts scored two goals in a five-minute spell at the end of the first-half.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi in action against Charlton Athletic Under-21s

But our Young Whites hit back with two quickfire goals of our own as Tom Olyott and Olly Sanderson completed the turnaround.

Loupalo-Bi’s opener after just four minutes was set up on a plate by Tom Wingate, with his low flash across the box met at the back post by the striker to tap home.

Wingate was released down the right again just a few minutes later, finding Farhaan Ali Wahid at the back post, but he saw his shot blocked.

Water breaks were a must on a baking afternoon in South East London – and Luke Harris had a chance to extend the lead not long after the first hydration interval, slicing his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Fulham Under-21s enjoy a water break against Charlton Athletic

But we found ourselves down at the break as a smart free-kick from Charlton’s number eight nestled into the bottom corner beyond Marco Underwood, before their number 12 rounded our shot-stopper to convert into an empty net on the stroke of half-time.

10 changes were made by Hayden Mullins at the midway point, with the likes of Sanderson, Olyott and Terrell Works introduced.

Trialist B was also among the fresh changes, but when freed down the right with space in front of him, he fired straight at the Addicks shot-stopper.

Our Young Whites grew into the half, and it was an incisive reverse pass from Works that found Olyott in a promising position in the box, with the 19-year-old bringing us level with a low, crisp finish on his left foot.

The turnaround was complete just minutes later as Sanderson pinned his marker in the box, rolled the ball onto his right foot and drove a strike into the bottom corner.

Olly Sanderson in action for Fulham Under-21s v Charlton Athletic Under-21s

He could have had another in the latter stages, although the striker was unfortunate not to get a toe on Olyott’s flash across goal.

First-half XI: Underwood; Gofford, Nsasi, Esenga, Schutter; Nwoko, Trialist A, Harris; Wingate, Loupalo-Bi, Ali Wahid.

Second-half XI: Kaiser; De Jesus, Cooke, Amissah, Slade; Nwoko (Gofford 70'), Trialist A, Olyott; Trialist B, Sanderson, Works.