Fulham 0 Manchester Utd 0 (U18s) The U18s kept a tight grip at the top of their Elite Group tonight The team was - Rodak; Passley, Donnelly, Arthurworrey, Richards; Roberts, Sambou, Hyndman, Della Verde; Tankovic; Woodrow Subs: Oberschmidt, Burgess, O'Reilly, Baba & Dembele And here is the report from the Club - A win in the last game, at home to Everton on Saturday, should clinch the title. Only Reading who are 3 points behind and a game in hand can catch them. Reading play Crystal Palace tomorrow night and are away to Chelsea on Saturday, but have a much inferior goal difference. COYYW
Reading U18s beat Crystal Palace 2-1. So it's down to a nail biting Saturday to see who takes the title.
I know we need points,but it would be nice to see a couple of our young lads getting a run out on saturday,if only for 10 or so minutes.
I know we need points,but it would be nice to see a couple of our young lads getting a run out on saturday,if only for 10 or so minutes.
The U18s get ready for the big one tomorrow v Everton as they go head to head for the title with Reading. please log in to view this image
Fulham 2 Everton 0 (U18s) CHAMPIONS!! For this deciding match, Pat Roberts dropped to the bench after a hard game earlier in the week against Man Utd, Cauley Woodrow and Josh Passley were unavailable. The team was - Rodak; Baba, Donnelly, Arthurworrey, Richards; Della Verde, Sambou, Hyndman, Evans; Tankovic, Dembele Subs: Oberschmidt, Burgess, O'Reilly, Roberts and Sheckleford A gift of a goal when the Everton keeper let a free kick from Lyle Della Verde slip through his hands gave Fulham the winner. So, who cares how they come ! Fulham won a penalty 5 minutes from the end but the keeper made amends by saving the Tank’s shot. Three minutes later however, Pat Roberts (on as sub) put Emerson Hyndman through and he poked it home for Fulham’s second. In THE other game, Reading beat Chelsea 3-0. Only losing out on the top position to us on goal difference. [Our match details to follow]
Here is the match report from the Club - We are now automatically in the semi-final. We will face the winners of a play off between Sunderland and Man City (who each topped their secondary groups 1 and 2). The other semi-final will be between Reading and Man Utd (who were second and third in our Elite Group).
Here is a link to video highlights of the goals - the first was flukey but brilliant work-up play for the second - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/07/u18s-2-everton-0
The U18s will play Sunderland in the semi-final on Wednesday (at Motspur Park 7pm ko). Source: http://www.safc.com/news/reserves-and-academy/2013/may/u18s-seal-shoot-out-win
That's good. I think Villa were dark horses - they did very well in the "next gen" series - alright it's under 19, but I suspect that this is the reason why they ended up in the third tier - through fixture pressures early on. Optimistic about the lads. COYW
please log in to view this image "Having claimed a third straight academy league title last week, Fulham Under-18s face Sunderland in the National Play-Off Semi-Final at Motspur Park on Wednesday evening (7pm). After beating Everton 2-0, the Whites topped the Elite Group on goal difference and now face the Wearsiders after they defeated Aston Villa 4-2 on penalties in the Group 1 and 2 Play-Off - following a 1-1 draw after normal time - on Sunday. The winner will advance to the National Final, due to be played next weekend. Hopes are high for the young Whites, as many of them enjoyed summer success at the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup in America having won the National Final last year. However, Under-18s manager Steve Wigley is keeping his feet on the ground. “Every game for the last few weeks has been a big game as we had to keep winning to qualify, so we’ve not been preparing any different for this one,” he said. “This was always the end game, to get into the Play-Offs and to extend the season as long as we could. I certainly wouldn’t have liked to have come to this stage of the season with nothing to play for, so that is testament to the boys. “We’re minus two at the moment: George Williams and Dean O’Halloran, who is slightly long-term at the minute, but other than that we have everyone available. Tiredness isn’t a factor as we played five games in eight days in Dallas, so once you’ve done that it cures you of any thoughts of tiredness.” Fulham’s Under-18s have not played against Sunderland this season, but the Under-21s saw both of their league games against the northerners finish 2-2 after late equalisers went against them. “I’m expecting a tough game,” Wigley added. “If you look how the Play-Offs have finished then I’m expecting tough opposition in every game. At this stage it’s ‘winner takes all’ and the lads have to experience that because it’s like that in First Team – you go out there on a Saturday and everything is at stake. When you’ve worked as hard as they have all year, you don’t want to fall short.” Academy Director Huw Jennings echoed those sentiments and is confident that if Fulham concentrate on their own game then they will find success. “As always we will take one game at a time,” he added “Sunderland are a good side, otherwise they wouldn’t have made it this far. It’s a repeat of the National Play-Off Semi-Final from a few years back, when we beat them on penalties. “They may well have a few players available that have been playing for their Under-21s too, including the Frenchman Mikael Mandron who has even been on the bench for the first team this season. “But we just need to concentrate on ourselves, I’m sure that our counterparts at Sunderland will be looking at two or three of our boys with interest. All we can do is make sure that we focus on our game and ensure that we play to the best of our potential. “Recently we’ve noticed that a few teams that we have faced have had a certain game plan against us. That’s been a good challenge for our boys because we’ve had to work very hard and react to different styles of football. “It’s been very positive, and let’s not forget that we enter Wednesday’s game on the back of two consecutive clean sheets, which has been a first for us this season. If we keep a clean sheet, we know that at the other end, we will always cause teams problems. “We’re playing at Motspur Park so hopefully our fans will come down in their numbers again and cheer the boys on in what we hope is a good result for the Academy and Club.” The National Semi-Finals contain the top three clubs from the Elite Group and the winner of the Play-Off between the top clubs from Group 1 and 2: Sunderland. The second and third-placed teams from the Elite Group, Reading and Everton, will go head-to-head in the second Semi-Final. If Fulham advance to the Final, then it will be played at Craven Cottage. If you wish to attend Wednesday’s game against Sunderland at Motspur Park you can come along for free and tickets will be issued on the gate."
They scoreline makes it look harder than it really was Surly, albeit a tad sqeeky bum time at the end. Fulham 4 Sunderland 3 (18s) The Young Whites Are In The Final - Just Fulham fielded a strong side tonight, with the âmighty duoâ of Roberts and Hyndman in the middle. The team was - Rodak, Passley, Richards, Donnelly, Arthurworrey, Sambou, Roberts, Hyndman, Woodrow, Tankovic, Dembele Subs: Oberschmidt, Burgess, Baba, Della Verde, Evans The team started really briskly and Sunderland had trouble getting out of their own half. Pat Roberts was causing all sorts of problems and nearly put Cauley Woodrow through. But the Fulham opener came from a pass by Josh Passley - met by Moussa Dembele who fired home. Then in the 20th minute Pat Roberts made a jinking run before giving a slide rule pass to Cauley Woodrow who slotted it home. The whole team passed the ball superbly and were in total control, with only fine saves by Sunderlandâs goalie keeping the score down to 2-0 at half time. At the start of the second half Sunderland made a double sub to try and get back into the game but, for them unfortunately, it had no effect. Just 5 minutes in Emerson Hyndman put a lovely pass through to Pat Roberts who casually lobbed the keeper to make it 3-0. There was a bit of complacency at the back on occasion. However every time Fulham went forward another goal looked to be on the cards. And one came in the 70th minute when Stephen Arthurworrey poked the ball home from an Emerson Hyndman corner. The lads took their foot off the pedal after that and quarter of an hour from the end Sunderland pulled one back with a beautiful shot from outside the box and high into the corner of the net. Then 5 minutes from the end sloppy defending let Sunderland score another from close range. And going into extra time they gave another one away. WELL, that all ended a bit nervy and unnecessary. The 4-3 result flattered Sunderland but hopefully the youngsters will have learned that they need to concentrate for the full 90 minutes. In the final we will face Reading, who beat Everton 4-0 earlier today.
Thanks once again Cottager for your informative report, sadly had to miss this one. When is the final. Being played at the Cottage I understand.
Yes, maybe I could have phrased my thoughts better. Maybe "making it much more nerve-wracking at the end than it needed to be"? C58, what are your thoughts on Hyndman? I saw him for the first time in the Dallas Cup games and I've been impressed with with I've seen. He needs to mature a bit, but he looks versatile enough to step into a CM/AM role in the future. This has also been the first season in a long time with no Americans in the squad; feels strange to be without one!
He's certainly got the skill and aptitude, Surly. Obviously his stature is against him at the moment for a major step up but he's got plenty of time to stretch and bulk up a bit. The good news is that his recent contract is (I believe) for 5 years. My understanding is that Pat Roberts has signed on a for a similar period and him I really rate. Still to be confirmed rosc, but I believe it is this Sunday (19th May) at the Cottage ko 1pm. Which is a bit of a pain in the whatsit for me and my son cos we've got tickets for the 4th day of the Test Match. Booo!!
It does appear that our final acadamy match is at the Cottage 1pm Sunday. If any of you postees can make it I am sure thatyou will be plesantly surprised at the talent this young squad has.
