The second goal demonstrates 'desire' even if a wee two-way shove helped: [video=youtube;IWXiLhysrfY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWXiLhysrfY&feature=player_embedded[/video]
The game scheduled for today away to West Brom has been postponed because of an unplayable pitch. Whatever the results elsewhere, the lads will still be top of the League, however.
Manchester City 1 Fulham 3 (U18s)(FA Youth Cup) Dembele Double sees Fulham into Quarter Finals Steve Wigley put out his strongest team tonight, including bringing Moussa Dembele back into the fold. The team was: Rodak; Sheckleford, Donnelly, Burgess, Evans; O'Halloran, Hyndman, Sambou, Williams; Roberts; Dembélé Subs: Norman, Baba, Leacock-McLeod, Nabay and Walker Scorer: Liam Donnelly and Moussa Dembele x 2 Details Later
"After a deadlocked first half, Whites captain Liam Donnelly headed the Whites ahead in the Fifth Round tie but Thierry Ambrose hit back for the home side in the game at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park. It continued to be a closely-fought contest until Moussa Dembélé seized the initiative, reacting brilliantly to hook past City keeper Billy O’Brien after Patrick Roberts’ determined 78th-minute run. And Moussa Dembélé ensured victory was secure in this clash between the current leaders of the respective Northern and Southern sections of the Barclays U18 Premier League, with a crisp 84th-minute volley. Steve Wigley’s boys edged a seven-goal thriller when the teams met in a September league outing, and the danger signs for City appeared early on as George Williams’ header deflected narrowly wide. Moments later, Dean O’Halloran delivered another pin-point cross but Cameron Burgess headed the wrong side of the crossbar as the home side rode out the Whites’ pressure in the first five minutes. City’s first sight on goal arrived after a crunching tackle from skipper Donnelly resulted in a corner and Kean Bryan climbed highest but couldn’t direct his effort on target from 10 yards. With City growing into the game, the Whites were forced to defend more set-pieces and goalkeeper Marek Rodà k breathed a sigh of relief when Mathias Bossaerts nodded wide from three yards. Dembélé gave City a reminder of his presence, almost collecting Emerson Hyndman’s delicate pass, and keeper O’Brien had to back-peddle to push Jordan Evans' looping cross over. It was Rodà k who was soon outshining his opposite number, however, stopping Ambrose’s cross with his legs before reacting to make a double save from Olivier Ntcham’s eight-yard drive. The Whites were moving the ball well as the half hour passed and Roberts drifted into space on the left, only to be stopped by Bossaerts last-ditch tackle. The latest Whites youngster to sign a professional deal then ghosted to the right, his 25-yard strike missing the goalpost by a whisker. Home keeper O’Brien was made to dive full-stretch to stop Burgess’ towering far post header and Dembélé made City’s backline sweat again, this time Ashley Smith-Brown supplying the saving tackle. Dembélé’s threat continued after the interval and a minute into the second half the Frenchman had the ball in the City net but Soloman Sambou, who supplied the square ball, was flagged offside. Rodà k reacted brilliantly again when called upon to claw Jorge Intima’s jabbed six-yard shot away from his line on 55 minutes, and City paid the price for the missed opportunity moments later. A sweeping Whites counter earned a corner and Liam Donnelly wriggled free of his marker to power in O’Halloran’s inviting delivery. The Captain was soon making an impact at both ends, charging down Ntcham’s goal-bound 18-yard drive as City looked for a reply. The hosts continued to attack with intent, and Ambrose levelled the scores by glancing home J|ose Tasende’s out-swinging cross with the finest of touches. Jack Byrne spurned two decent chances to put City ahead, one scuffed at Rodà k, one driven over, and the Whites responded in the best possible way. Roberts had thundered down the right wing to open up room between City’s defenders but his pull-back from the by-line left Moussa Dembele with plenty to do in turning the ball past O’Brien with his back to goal. No sooner had the Whites gone ahead, gaps opened in their opponents’ half and O’Halloran exploited the space to find Moussa Dembélé, who again showed his striker’s instincts to rifle in his second of the night. City substitute Bersant Celina forced another good block from Rodà k in the closing stages but the Whites played out time to secure a Sixth Round match-up with Huddersfield Town, the shock conquerors of Manchester United in Round Five.
Another great win for our lads, A terific performance especially from Dembele and Roberts. Next season Dembele in our first team squad ? if so he would be the same age as Rooney when he made the break through,and the goal from Roberts some run.
How's this for ball control (third goal)? [video=youtube;EpAOCAEDoyQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EpAOCAEDoyQ[/video]
We need more under18 games at the cottage on Friday nights, to allow our supporters to see what could be a bright future
Fulham 0 West Ham 2 (U18s) The tean was: Norman; Sheckleford, Baba, Burgess, Evans; Sambou, Nabay, Hyndman (Roberts 55); Leacock-McLeod (Dembélé 55), O’Halloran (Redford 75), Williams "Fulham Under-18s suffered an FA Youth Cup hangover as West Ham United emerged 2-0 victors in their Barclays U18 Premier League fixture on Saturday. Following the excellent midweek cup victory at Manchester City, Steve Wigley shuffled his pack as Patrick Roberts and Moussa Dembélé were rested and took their place amongst the substitutes. The Whites actually started fairly brightly and could have taken the lead when a chance fell to George Williams inside the penalty area, but the forward snatched at his shot slightly. West Ham were keeping a strong shape and began to control proceedings, which resulting in Jordan Brown putting the East London outfit ahead. 10 minutes into the second half Roberts and Dembélé were introduced, with the latter coming close to an equaliser soon after. That miss proved costly though as the Hammers countered to double their advantage through Diair Parfitt-Williams. Fulham then had a shout for a penalty fall on deaf ears, before Solomon Sambou had an effort cleared off the line as the Whites pushed for a way back into the game. West Ham were able to see the game out, though, and secured a big three points in the title race."
Losing to title rivals doesn't make the best of viewing. The lads however are still at the top, 3 points ahead of West Ham and Spurs (who have a game in hand). Fair play to the young Hammers though with two well taken goals - [video=youtube;KzqeGV0VeFg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzqeGV0VeFg&feature=player_embedded[/video]
The U18s FA Youth Cup Sixth Round tie with Huddersfield Town will take place at Craven Cottage on Tuesday 18th March, kick off 7pm. Good move by the Club. http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/27/youth-cup-confirmation
Norwich 0 Fulham 2 (U18s) Youngsters Bounce Back The team was: Norman, Sheckleford, Donnelly, Baba, Edun, Sambou, Smile, Williams (Elworthy 70), Hyndman, Evans, Redford (Leacock-McLeod 60). "An Aaron Redford strike and an [/B]Emerson Hyndman[/B] penalty earned Fulham’s Under-18s a 2-0 win at Norwich City on Saturday. On a cold afternoon at Norwich’s Colney training centre, Fulham made a bright start. Jordan Evans had the ball in the net early on but saw his effort ruled out for offside. George Williams then forced the Norwich keeper into a save with a 20-yard drive, before Fulham went in front in the 41st minute. The Whites broke quickly and a sublime pass from Hyndman found Aaron Redford who fired home a fine left-footed finish. The second half continued in much the same vein, with Fulham dominating proceedings. However, they failed to create any clear openings until after the hour mark when a couple of good chances went the way of the Whites. Hyndman saw a free-kick well saved, before Williams burst clear in the 70th minute but elected to square the ball and saw his attempted pass miss the advancing Evans. Fulham’s pressure finally told, though, and they were awarded a penalty in the 79th minute when Norwich failed to clear a corner and Josh Smile fed Noe Baba who was tripped in the area. Emmerson Hyndman stepped up to confidently score from the spot to make sure of the points."
Watch out for Aaron Redford (another for the future) and his wonderful opening 'team' goal: [video=youtube;z8qoJgatUQk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z8qoJgatUQk[/video]
Under 18's playing Chelsea as we speak, 2 nil up to the whites away at cobham, Dean O'Halloran and PAtrick Roberts with the goals.
No Dembele in the starting line up fueling fire that he may be going with the first team to cardiff !!!
Chelsea 0 Fulham 3 (U18s) Derby Romp The team was: Rodak; Sheckleford, Adebayo, Burgess, Evans; Smile, Sambou, Roberts, Hyndman; O’Halloran and Williams (Redford came on as a sub) Scorers: Dean O’Halloran, Pat Roberts and Aaron Redford Details Later
Chelsea made a lively start but it was Fulham who had the ball in the net in the 23rd minute only for Roberts to see his effort disallowed for offside after good work by Ryheem Sheckleford and Emerson Hyndman. Five minutes later, however, the Whites were in front when a long diagonal pass from Cameron Burgess sent Jordan Evans in down the left and his cross was converted by Dean O’Halloran. Chelsea had a good chance to level in the 32nd minute but Jay Dasilva headed over from Charlie Wakefield's cross. Fulham started the second half poorly but increased their lead out of nothing on the hour mark when Pat Roberts went on a solo run, cut inside from the edge of the area and scored from 20 yards. It was becoming the Roberts show. The winger then drove between two Chelsea players but was foiled by Blues goalkeeper Bradley Collins when one-on-one. O’Halloran should have added a third but saw his effort saved by Collins, before Dom Solanke headed wide from Nathaniel Chalobah's excellent cross. Substitute Aaron Redford made sure of the points late on, dancing around the goalkeeper and slotting in from an acute angle after a defence-splitting pass from Josh Smile.
A take on our performance by the opposition and in particular that goal by Pat Roberts: "Bolkiah injected more of the same attacking flair that Dasilva had already provided, but Chelsea’s attacking quartet weren’t quite clicking in the manner Fulham’s were, and that would be further evidenced by the all-important second goal just shy of the hour. This time it owed everything to Roberts, who moved from right to left with poise and grace, beating two before drilling low and hard past Collins and into the bottom corner." And here is a link to a more detailed account of the game from the same source: http://thechels.net/2014/03/under-18s-chelsea-0-3-fulham/
I played up the Pat Robert's goal. In fact all three are very well made and taken - [video=youtube;2xAaGd78gGE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xAaGd78gGE&feature=player_embedded[/video]
