Fulham Under-21s put in an impressive display to defeat Brighton 3-1 at the AMEX Elite Performance Centre on Friday evening.
Tom Olyott opened the scoring for Hayden Mullins’ side, but despite a blistering start, we failed to add to our advantage in the first-half, and Joe Belmont levelled terms seven minutes before the break.
A fortuitous own-goal and a calm Lemar Gordon penalty in the second period saw us claim the victory as we stayed second in the PL2 table.
Seth Ridgeon, fresh off receiving another England U17s call-up, drove us forwards early on, gliding through the middle of the pitch before teeing up Olyott, but the winger saw his shot blocked.
Brighton were comfortable in possession and their patience eventually worked a good opportunity on 17 minutes, but Belmont couldn’t finish from close range when found by a fizzed Harry Mills cross.
Olyott made no mistake when picked out at the other end from a similar position. Imani Lanquedoc found his fellow wideman with an incisive pass – with Olyott finishing into an empty net.
Only the slightest of deflections prevented us from doubling the lead soon after, with Chibby Nwoko’s low strike trickling past the post after hitting a Brighton man.
Our youngsters were putting the hosts under all sorts of pressure as Ridgeon’s header from a deep cross was hooked from the line.
The first-half was a story of two top assists. Mills threaded a 20-yard pass beyond Samuel Amissah, allowing Belmont to run onto the ball and finish coolly past Marco Underwood.
There was certainly some good fortune surrounding the goal which saw our Young Whites take the lead. The telling touch came off Brighton defender Charlie Penman after Eddy Nsasi had flicked Ridgeon’s corner into a dangerous area.
This momentarily sparked the hosts into life, with Joshua Robertson showing great composure to shift the ball onto his left foot in the box, but Underwood was equal to his effort.
Substitute Gordon was tripped in the box just a few minutes later, and he got up to take the spot-kick that he had won, sending Killian Cahill the wrong way.
Our U21s are in action again on Monday evening in the Premier League International Cup as Sporting CP visit Craven Cottage, 7pm kick-off.
Possession
47%Shots
11Shots On Target
5Corners
5Fouls
72
0
Cards
1
0
Brighton and Hove Albion U21: Cahill, Mackley (Tasker 62'), Penman, Simmonds, Mills, Chouchane (Nti 81'), Owusu (Moulton 72'), Howell, Mullins, Bashir (West 62'), Belmont (Robertson 62')
Subs: Robertson, Moulton, Tasker, Nti, West
Fulham U21: Underwood, Gofford, Amissah, Nsasi, Brad de Jesus, Nwoko (Works 72'), Donnell (McCoy-Splatt 62'), Olyott (Dibley-Dias 62'), Ridgeon, Lanquedoc, Osmand (Gordon 62')
Subs: Kaiser, Dibley-Dias, McCoy-Splatt, Works, Gordon
