Pleased to say the Club have amended the report on the official site and the correct line-up for the team that beat the Arsenal earlier today was: Norman; Fossey, Opoku, Jenz, Sessegnon; O'Riley, Nabay; Thorsteinsson, Kwietniewski, Paton; Adebayo
Video highlights. Not the most exciting of goals but well drilled formation and like the way the lads not on the ball take up position.
Seems like it's the pitches as much as the facilities that need a makeover at Motspur Park. Yet another match has been postponed because of water logged pitches - this time the U18s match v Brighton, due to be played this morning.
Chelsea 1 Fulham 0 (U18s) Guess that unbeaten run of eight games had to end sometime. No disgrace to lose to the table toppers though and the lads are still up there in 5th position with games in hand. The team was: Norman; Fossey, Opoku, Jenz, Sessegnon; O'Riley, Kait; Nabay (Paton 75'), Kwietniewski, Thorsteinsson; Walker (Adebayo 75') ” At a blustery Cobham, Chelsea went close to an early opener as Charlie Wakefield fed Mukhtar Ali down the right flank and the midfielder hit the base of the far post. Miro Muheim then forced Magnus Norman into a good save with a long-range drive, before Ike Ugbo went through but dragged his shot just wide. At the other end, Mikolaj Kwietniewski’s drive was deflected away five minutes before the break. The deadlock was broken on the hour mark by Chelsea. Fulham failed to clear their lines after giving the ball away and Muheim sent a low finish into the far corner. Substitute Jacob Maddox went close to doubling Chelsea’s advantage but could only poke over after Wakefield's strike had been parried. The hosts missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 with 10 minutes left when Dujon Sterling was upended in the box by Mattias Kait and the referee awarded a penalty. Ugbo took the spot-kick but saw his effort saved by Magnus Norman.” Were you there Doriley? Get the impression from elsewhere we could have got something from the game.
Hi All I was there..conditions werebad..its very exposed there and the wind was really strong. Played into it first half. Overall I would say a draw would have been a fair result.. We had some good opportunities and probably overlal the better ones..but an unfortunate goal (and good penalty save from Magnus) and a pretty even game. Judging by the cheer at the end from their supporters I got the impression they were pretty relieved and would have taken a point Still pleased with the team and of course the boy who played the full 90 and looked v comfortable!!
Fulham 3 Reading 2 (U18s) Great win over a strong team who knocked us out of the Cup just a couple of weeks ago. And the win puts us in 3rd spot, with a game in hand, which guarantees a play off place. Fantastic from Wigley's boys. The team was: Ashby-Hammond; Fossey, Davies, Opoku (Jenz 55'), Sessegnon; Adeniran, Nabay (Humphrys 55'); Harris, Kwietniewski, Thorsteinsson; Walker (Adebayo 63') Unused subs: Soutter, Dolan "Fulham started brightly, creating three early chances, before Taye Ashby-Hammond was called upon to make a save at the other end. The Royals went in front in the 15th minute. A cross from the right was only half-cleared and a Reading player fired home from inside the area. As the heavens opened, Fulham almost levelled in the 37th minute but an almighty goalmouth scramble saw a shot blocked and eventually headed clear by Reading. Fulham were level 15 minutes into the second half. Substitute Humphrys saw a goalbound shot blocked and Thorsteinsson was tripped as he closed in on the ball. Stevie Humphrys saw the resulting penalty saved but buried the rebound. Reading were back in front three minutes later with a curling shot into the far corner from the edge of the box but Fulham responded well and it was 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining when Dennis Adeniran bundled home after a corner caused confusion in the visiting box. Five minutes later and Fulham went in front for the first time as Mattias Thorsteinsson found the net to win it for the Whites."
Video highlights of the goals - their second is really good and while our three were a wee bit iffy - even the third - worth watching to see what that winner meant to the lads.
Fulham 1 Brighton 1 (U18s) Another point in the bag for the lads, consolidating their position in the top four and a play off place. Highlight of the game was probably that man O’Riley taking corner kicks and the lowlight him not getting the winner late on. Decent game as well from my fave Harrison Paton by the sounds of it. The team was: Soutter (Lukwata 46'); Fossey, Jenz, Davies, Mundle-Smith; O'Riley, Harris; Paton (Felix 67'), Kwietniewski, Thorsteinsson; Adebayo (Thompson 77') Unused sub: Kelly “The Whites were in front with less than six minutes on the clock when Harrison Paton’s well-weighted through ball sent Elijah Adebayo in, and the powerful striker made no mistake as he fired low and hard into the far corner. He had two more chances to double the lead soon after. First, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson slipped him in but his shot was easily saved by Robert Sanchez, before he nutmegged a defender in the area, only to have the ball taken off his toe by another to prevent him getting a shot away. Paton and Adebayo were then denied clear openings by some dogged Brighton defending, and the visitors then had their first half chance when Thomas Byrne sent a looping header towards goal, but it was no trouble at all for Jake Soutter. Five minutes before half-time, Aron Davies thought he’d made it 2-0 when he got a thumping connection on a dangerous Matthew O’Riley corner. His header was sailing into the top left-hand corner until the imposing Sanchez got fingertips to it at full stretch. The Albion stopper continued his storming game after the break, turning an outswinging Jayden Harris volley from 20 yards onto the post. The Fulham midfielder went close again midway through the second half as he took aim through a raft of bodies with a shot that deflected wide. Not long after, Brighton were level with a goal very similar to that which Fulham scored earlier in the contest. Ajboye got in behind the Whites backline and sent a low shot across Josh Lukwata, who had replaced Soutter at the break, to restore parity. It could have been worse for Steve Wigley’s boys had Isaac Hutchinson not blazed over soon after, although it was Fulham who had the best chance to win it when O’Riley glanced his header just off target from a great Joe Felix cross at the death.”
It was a strange game..their keeper was MOTM with some superb saves..not least the header..Matt actually started the move that nearly got the goal but I think he was stretching like hell to get on the end of the cross and could only glance it..still 8 wins 1 draw and 1 loss in the last 10 league games...
Video highlights - goals only unfortunately but worth a watch to see a lad from both sides stretching their legs.
The lads finished third of their group in phase one, so are joined by Chelsea, Reading and West Ham from the South, along with Northerners Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Everton in the final stage. The first game is away to West Ham this Saturday (27th February). We lost away to them back in October in a tight affair when a 90th minute goal gave the Hammers a 1-0 win. Countering that we had a fine 3-1 at home in the first game of the season.
You must be used to marathon round trips by now Doriley. Just hope the senior railcard is still valid.
still a few more years before I can get that!! Was hoping for Everton/Liverpool away as family are all from there..FFC would have had a huge away following !! A load of them watched them in the 16's prem tournament at Liverpool's academy..all wearing Everton Kit and shouting for Fulham..very strange!
Changes to the fixture dates - presumably because of our involvement in the Dallas Cup (?) "The home match with Liverpool, originally scheduled for Saturday 5th March, will now take place on Saturday 2nd April (11am), while the Manchester City fixture has been postponed."
West Ham 2 Fulham 2 (U18s) A strong team put out by Steve Wigley: Norman; Fossey, Jenz (Opoku 65’), Davies, Sessegnon; O’Riley, Adeniran, De La Torre; Humphrys (Walker 60’), Kwietniewski (Nabay 80’), Thorsteinsson No report yet from the Club. However the lads went ahead after 15 minutes with a goal from Lucas De La Torre, then fell behind until deep into injury time Ryan Sessegnon got the well deserved equaliser.
Brief report from the Club: "On a cloudy and cold day, the Whites opened brightly but neither side were able to create any clear-cut chances. However, the deadlock was broken five minutes later when a superb Fulham team move involving Dennis Adeniran, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson and Sessegnon was finished off by de la Torre. A low cross from Sessegnon was met by Luca de la Torre. His shot was parried by the West Ham keeper and then hacked away, but the effort was adjudged to have crossed the line. The Whites came close to doubling their lead in the 25th minute as a superb throughball by Matt O’Riley found Sessegnon but his rasping shot was palmed clear by the Hammers keeper. With the Whites firmly in control West Ham mustered their first effort on goal in the 35th minute when a free-kick went wide of the post. With the Hammers growing more into the game they were back level when some positive play on the right wing resulted in a simple finish for their striker at the near post. Just before the half-time whistle, de la Torre was close to bagging his second goal of the game when his angled shot flashed just wide of the post. Fulham were back at it again just after the break as a Stephen Humphrys header forced a fingertip save, Moritz Jenz headed straight at the keeper from a good position and Mikolaj Kwietniewski forced another solid stop. The polish midfielder was involved again minutes later as he sent a half-volley narrowly wide. Fulham hearts appeared to be broken in the 85th minute as a half-volley from a free-kick flew in for the Hammers. However, displaying true grit, determination and commitment, Fulham were back level in the 92nd minute when Ryan Sessegnon smashed home a volley on the edge of the box".
Video of the goals - what an equaliser - Tom Cairney, Delle Ali and that bloke from Barcelona can go sing the blues.
