Fulham U18 0-2 Aston Villa U18

Fulham Under-18s fell to defeat at Motspur Park as they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa in a sunny midday meeting.

Cole Brannigan’s neat finish gave Villa the lead early on and the scoreline remained that way until the final ten, when TJ Carroll scored a second from the penalty spot.

Villa forced the first opening but when Brannigan’s effort came back out to Alfie Lynskey, the forward’s ambitious overhead kick was off target.

And the away side took the lead when left-back Teddie Bloomfield broke into the box, and Brannigan tucked home the rebound after the initial effort was blocked.

Ali Melloul’s side offered an instant response when Macauley Zepa made a driving run through the midfield, and Farhaan Ali Wahid’s driven cross had to be cleared by a Villa defender.

The balance of play was largely in Fulham’s favour, although Trai-Varn Mulley dragged a shot wide from Brannigan’s lay-off when the visitors broke.

A chance fell to Aiden Evans to equalise on the half-hour mark and although the forward was found in the middle by Luca Picotto’s pinpoint cross, he couldn’t direct it on target.

And the Whites couldn’t have come any closer to restoring parity when Brodie Dair did brilliantly to cut in from the left, smashing a right-footed curler against the woodwork.

After the break, Brannigan threatened again when a well-worked set piece routine led to the goalscorer sending a half-volley just wide of the bottom corner.

And there was another chance for the visitors to double their advantage when Carroll kept a deep corner alive at the far post, and a backheeled flick from substitute Junior Wilson whistled over.

Fulham were finally able to break through the Villa defence with some excellent one-touch play in the final third, but when Ali Wahid flashed a ball across the face of goal, there was no white shirt to tap in.

Visiting ‘keeper Sam Proctor made his first real save when Picotto’s corner fell to Kyle Grant, and the sub’s ferocious strike had to be batted away.

But in truth, Fulham failed to create the clear-cut chances worthy of a leveller, and Villa made the result safe on 83 minutes when Caroll cooly converted a spot-kick following a foul in the box.

There was still time for the hosts to create their final opportunity, but neither Tom Wingate or Evans could provide the telling touch when a corner caused a scramble in the box.

And it took some last-ditch defending from Logan Cooke to prevent a heavier scoreline, when an expertly-timed challenge stopped Markie Meade from finding the net after rounding the ‘keeper.