An accomplished hat trick by George Williams but it was Pat Roberts making the running. Here are video highlights of the goals - [video=youtube;Rp2rmc91VP0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp2rmc91VP0&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Fulham 1 Middlesborough 0 (U21s) please log in to view this image The team was - Bettinelli, Passley, Kavanagh, Vigen Christensen, Grimmer, Arthurworrey, Altman, Minkwitz, Woodrow, Williams, Tue Na Bangna Subs: Joronen, David, Islamovic, Banya The early sorties were all Fulham with Ronny Minkwitz making the play (as well as a pass which knocked the the ref over!). And indeed took an early lead (10 minutes) after a long ball beat the Boro off side trap for Cauley Woodrow to slide the ball home. Omri Altman and Lasse Christensen then missed easy chances to put the side further ahead. Boro started to come into it and made two or three half chances but the Fulham defence, marshalled by Captain Jack Grimmer, held firm. In what was becoming a tight game, the teams went in with Fulham ahead 1-0. Dino Islamovic came on for Cauley Woodrow at the start of the second and Chris David for Ryan Williams on the hour. Both defences were on top and the game at this point was a bit of a stalemate. Boro were the team going forward though. With 20 minutes to go Charlie Banya came for Minkwitz. Boro had much the better of the second half but the team held out to take another 3 pts. Footnote: Mesca played the full 90mins.
Brilliant news, good to hear Mesca played the whole game, albeit that almost certainly means he won't play in the senior side on saturday. Do you go to all the U21s games, C58? Because if you do, and you write all these reports off your own back you deserve a ****ing medal.
Missed this one Cottager,but nice to read your report.Who would you rate as our best player on the night.
Jack Grimmer. He so assured and a great reader of the game. I know it's taking a liberty but there's something of the Bobby Moore about him.
Totally agree with you on this one cottager,but there are also 4/5 great talents in this squad. could the press be saying in a couple of years the Fulham babes,and making comparisons with Man U of the 50s, "ah what a senario".
Here is a video of Cauley Woodrow's goal and a great forward pass from Sean Kavanagh. [video=youtube;u_qW9giDDUo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u_qW9giDDUo[/video] Just as an aside, I had a some doubts about Sean Kavanagh earlier in the season but he proved himself in the Dallas Cup games and has played really well in the two League games since. Which now raises doubts about where the likes of Alex Brister are going ??
Fulham 4 Bolton 1 (U18s) Flying High - Win Keeps U18s Top of their Elite Group The team today at Motspur Park was: Rodak; Baba, Burgess, Donnelly, Richards; Roberts, Hyndman, Sambou, Evans; Dembele, Williams Fulham started full of running but the passing/crossing in the final third was not as sharp as usual, while Bolton looked good on the break. Pat Roberts on the wing was at the heart of most things and together with Solomon Sambou in midfield kept Fulham on the front foot. One of Solomon’s tackles was so good even the ref acknowledged it! Despite plenty of half chances nothing was quite working for the side, so Kit Symons switch George Williams to the wing and moved Pat Roberts up front. Then 5 minutes before half time Moussa Demble shrugged off a defender to fire home a low shot from 25 yds. So the half ended with Fulham well on top but only 1-0 up. Switching Roberts inside paid off straight after the restart. Feigning to shoot he instead slipped it inside to Jordan Evans who found the corner of the net with a first time shot. And 10 minutes later it was Pat Roberts himself who volleyed into the net from a cross by Tom Richards to put Fulham 3-0 ahead. On the hour Lyle Della Verde came on for George Williams and with 25 minutes to go Dan O‘Reilly for Noe Baba. Bolton pulled one back when a deflected shot looped over Marek Rodak into the net. - Max Obershmidt came on for Rodak - nothing to do with the Bolton goal it’s just something (no idea why!) Kit Symons has done in the last 15 mins or so since the Dallas Cup games. Five minutes from the end a Jordan Evans shot hit the post and in the scramble that followed Lyle Della Verde hit the post and then a Bolton defender knocked it off his own player and into the net for an o.g. So it ended 4-1.
Here are video highlights of the goals - our first 3 are all corkers but Moussa's was my favourite [video=youtube;eKiBPJ5EU-A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eKiBPJ5EU-A[/video]
Here are video highlights of the goals - all of our first three are corkers but my favourite was Moussa's [video=youtube;eKiBPJ5EU-A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKiBPJ5EU-A&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Chelsea 1 Fulham 0 (U18s) A very late winner by Solanke got the points for Chelsea. Apparently a game of few chances but the best fell to us - Hyndman in the first half, Dalla Valle and Dembele in the second. Hopefully the Club will provide more detail.
The FFC report is in fact quite flimsy, so here is the one from Chelsea (neither report gives the Fulham line-up regretably) -
Fulham 2 Aston Villa 0 (U21s) Kerim Frei got another work out today. The starting line-up was - Etheridge, Passley, Kavanagh, Christensen, Arthurworrey, Grimmer, Na Banga, Tankovic, Woodrow, David, Frei Subs: Joronen, Minkwitz, Altman, Banya, Williams ( R) In a lively opening period Villa created the more chances but on 25 minutes Stephen Arthurworrey scored with a glancing header from Sean Kavanagh's inswinging free-kick Kerim Frei was enjoying himself and just after the half hour he blasted a left-foot half-volley from around 20 yards - unfortunately high and wide! Although Neil Etheridge was the busier of the keepers, the Fulham CBs were strong and keeping Villa mostly to efforts outside the box. In a fairly even and at times robust first half, the team went in 1-0 up. Kerim Frei got back into the act with a stunning effort 5 minutes after the restart - he controlled the ball on his chest before volleying against the bar. Villa kept creating chances though. And then we got the all important second goal. On 75 minutes Jack Grimmer got forward to help Cauley Woodrow's cross-shot over the line. The Villa team didn’t give in but we were quite comfortable by now. Omri Altman, who came on as sub, nearly making it three when he thumped the bar 5 minutes from the end. And then again right on the whistle forcing a great save from the Villa keeper with a curling shot.
Another great match to watch,somehow thought Frei was a bit of an enigma, some moments looking to good and yet still lacking that something. Grimmer solid once again,must be given some 1st team time before season ends. Now joint top with Everton, but the toffees having games in hand.
Watch Jack Grimmer 'act like Berba' - [video=youtube;DLtwzq4Z95U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLtwzq4Z95U&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 1 (U18s) The team was - Rodak; Passley, Arthurworrey, Donnelly, Richards; Sambou, Hyndman, Roberts, Della Verde; Woodrow, Tankovic The opening goal was scored by Muamer Tankovic after 15 minutes. While the team dominated the first half they failed to take their chances and Palace equalised 5 minutes before half time after our defence failed to clear a corner. Again starting brightly, Pat Roberts forced a save from the keeper early in the second period. Wonderful play by the Tank and Cauley Woodrow but still no goals. Moussa Dembele came on for Lyle Della Verde after 65 minutes with Palace beginning to get the better of play. Strangely though Fulham then started to carve out the chances; first Dembele with a brilliant turn and chip just wide, then Richards put the Tank through but he also shot wide. Ten minutes from the end Emerson Hyndman showed how to do it, cool as a cuc slotting the ball home to take the points and keep the team top of their Elite Group.
U21s let in a last minute equaliser at home to Sunderland. They go second for the time being, but Villa just need a point to reclaim second place.
Good game though Tosh and we fielded a number of U18s. Fulham 2 Sunderland 2 (U21s) At the Cottage tonight 16 year old Moussa Dembele got a massive step up tonight, being on the bench for the U21s. The team was - Joronen, Christensen, Musa, Grimmer, Kavanagh, Minkvitz, David, Williams ( R), Banya, Islamovic, Altman Subs: Oberschmidt, Burgess, OâReilly, Baba, Dembele The team really looked like they wanted this one and after 18 minutes got just reward when a fierce cross from Sean Kavanagh was turned into his own net by a Sunderland defender for an own goal. They should have gone further ahead when Omri Altman was brought down in the box. Altman took the penalty himself but his weak shot was easily saved by Pickford in the Sunderland goal. Sunderland got back into the game and looked the stronger side in the last 10 minutes of the half but the sides went in with Fulham 1-0 ahead. On the hour Cameron Burgess ( a 17 year old) came on for James Musa at CB and almost immediately Sunderland stunned Fulham getting the equaliser. Their No. 9 hitting a brilliant curling shot into the roof of the net. Ten minutes later Fulham got their second penalty when Pickford brought down Ryan Williams. Chris David who had looked good all night, took this one and slotted it home comfortably. Quarter of an hour from the end Moussa got his chance coming on for Dino Islamovic. However it was Sunderland who nearly scored but a terrific save from Jessse Joronen saved the day. Noe Baba (another 16 year old) came on for Ryan Williams but it was the away team the were on top and in extra time their No 8 scored with a stunning long range shot that gave Joronen no chance. So that was it, honours even at 2-2. Not the strongest U21 team perhaps but they played well and were a tad unlucky not to get the win. Also, given that we couldnât catch Everton at the top of the League, it was good to see U18s getting a start and look forward to next season. As it is the U21s will finish in second or third place (depending on the result of Villaâs final game), winning 5 drawing 4 and losing 3. Not a bad return at all for Kit Symons and the lads.
