U23 (PL2) Team - Season 2017/18

The lads have 19 points out of a possible 21 from their last 7 games. Fancy watching them at the Cottage?

Friday's match (12th January) against Reading has been re-scheduled to the Cottage and should be a corker with them sitting one place above us in the League. Kick off is 7pm and it's free for season ticket holders or £3 for adults and £1 for golden oldies.

 

Fulham 2 Reading 2 (PL2)

The lads held onto their unbeaten run thanks to goals from Wee Georgie Williams. A number of changes in the team tonight with the likes of Tayo Edun and Stephen Sessegnon presumably with the 'big' team and U18 players slotting in:

Norman; Spence, Davies, Jenz, Nabay; Kait (Elstone 82'), Francois, Kiewniewski (Andrason 83'); Williams, Thorsteinsson (Pearce 53'), Graham

Unused sub: Wickens (goalkeeper)

The first half was pretty open with us on top in the first half hour in terms of chances. Reading came into the game much more after that with their No. 10 looking useful. Then two moments of brilliance. The first was an absolutely terrific goal line clearance by Djed Spence 5 minutes before the break. The second came 3 minutes later, when two passes from our own box out to Jordan Graham on the left saw him burst to the byline and whip the ball across for George Williams to slam it home from close in.

Reading started the second half the better, finding loads of space on the wings. And so it was from there, their left winger had a clear run before cutting inside and thumped home a terrific shot from the edge of the box. Not to be outdone the lads responded in kind, 4 minutes later. Matias Kait won a difficult ball in our half, sprinted forward and, with Graham drawing the defence, crossed to George Williams now out on his accustomed left hand side. Still with a bit to do however, Georgie controlled the ball with his left, feinted two defenders and calmly slotted it into the goal from just inside the box.

That was two goals inside four minutes in this half and Reading made it three, and their equaliser, just a few minutes later. Neat inter-passing on the edge of our box saw the same guy who got their first nip onto a through ball and slide it past Magnus Norman. Reading were on top for the rest of the game but our youngsters held out well and even created the odd half chance. All in all a fair result and a very decent game.

 

Middlesbrough 0 Fulham 2 (PL2)

What a great win over second placed 'Boro. Terrific also to see Marlon Fossey back in the mix after being out with injury all season and hey .. Sean Kavanagh making an unexpected appearance as well. Not so good though was wee Georgie Williams having off injured inside the first 10 minutes. The team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond; Spence, Davis, Atkinson, Kavanagh (Fossey 52'); Francois; Kait, Harris; Williams (Elstone 9'), Pearce (Nabay 85'), Thorsteinsson

Unused sub: Andrasson

Fairly even first half with both sides having chances in gale force conditions. The lads really took the game to them in the second though and went ahead two minutes in through Jon Dagur Thorsteinnsson who didn't need any help from the wind as he thumped the ball into the top right hand corner. Five minutes later a cross-cum-shot from Jayden Harris in off the post put the team 2-0 up. Numerous chances after that as we controlled the game, but none taken.

That's 9 games undefeated now and only 1 point off the top spot with a game in hand.

 

West Brom 2 Fulham 1 (PL2)

Luca de la Torre was given game time, having been with the main squad for the last few weeks, and 'celebrated' by getting our goal in the first half. However, two inside a minute right at the end of the match put paid to the team's unbeaten run of 10 games. The conditions didn't help but arguably both their goals could have been avoided, so disappointing result really.

The team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond; Fossey (Jenz 54'), Davies, Atkinson, Kavanagh; Francois; Kait, Harris, de la Torre; Elstone, Thorsteinnson (Pearce 48')

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Nabay and Andrasson

 

Fulham 0 Blackburn 1 (PL2)

A really uncharacteristic sloppy back pass by Tayo Edun gifted 2nd placed Blackburn with their goal in the first half. In the second it was all about Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson; shots, crosses, you name it. But a very robust Blackburn side held out. To be fair across the 90, they probably just deserved the result.

The team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond; Fossey, Davies, Jenz, Atkinson; Francois, Edun, Harris; Pearce (Spence 62'), Elstone, Thorsteinsson

Unused subs: J Schwarzer, Nabay and Andrasson

 

Stoke 4 Fulham 1 (PL2)

In the euphoria of the Cottage result completely missed this one, also from this afternoon. Almost inevitably Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson got our goal which made it 1-1. Disappointing though, given we had a pretty strong team out there -

L. Ashby-Hammond; Atkinson, Davies, Jenz; Fossey, Francois, Edun, Sessegnon; de la Torre, Santos-Clase (Elstone 69'), Thorsteinsson

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Harris, Nabay and Pearce

 

Norwich 0 Fulham 3 (PL2)

Terrific win and attitude from the lads to bounce back from last week's Cup disappointment. The team dominated the game throughout and all the goals had an element of quality. Our first came after only 6 minutes when young Tyrese Francois sprinted in on a cross ball from de la Torre - it ended up as a simple tap in for Tyrese but his anticipation and speed made it special. The second was a thunderbolt from Rob Atkinson, his first for the Club (I think). Last but not least, a brilliant through ball from Stephen Sessegnon saw Luca de la Torre confidently left foot home.

Great to see Marlon Fossey back in the side after his long lay off with injury and showing how good he really is. Interesting also to see Stephen Sessegnon moving forward with Marlon taking the right back slot. The team was:

L. Asby-Hammond; Fossey (Mundle-Smith 86'), David, Jenz, Atkinson; S. Sessegnon, Edun, Harris; de la Torre, Santos-Clase, Francois

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Nabay and York

 

Fulham 0 Wolves 3 (PL2)

Under the radar there was a game at the Cottage yesterday. Despite having most of the play and pressing throughout the lads were caught on the break twice by Wolves in the first half. While continuing to play catch up in the second half, it was really a replica of the first.

Reading between the lines there was a bit of a mis-balance in the side. For instance bringing in Marcello Djalo (who only lasted the first half) and playing Stephen Sessegnon at left wing back. Unfortunately, the result makes a big dent in the side's push for the play offs. The team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond; Atkinson, Davies, Djalo (De Havilland 46'); Fossey, Edun, Francois, S. Sessegnon; de la Torre, Santos-Clase, Harris

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Felix and Jenz

 

Fulham 0 Southampton 2 (PL2)

It's been a long lay off since the lads last played and boy did their rustiness show. A sloppy back pass inside the 1st minute allowed the opposition in to score. Things were fairly even after that with both Jayden Harris and Nicolas Santos- Clase missing chances. A strong Southampton side, which included the likes of Obafemi, were more than holding there own however. And then the match exploded !



In going for what appeared to be a 50/50 ball, the athletic Marlon Fossey was adjudged by the ref to be a tad too enthusiastic and shown red. That was in the 70th minute. Not long afterwards 5 yellows were shown; two of them to Moritz Jenz who joined Marlon in an early bath. Somewhere between those two reds Southampton got there second.

Not a great return to League football for our young team, unfortunately. Although it was good to see Jon Dagur Thosteinsson back after a groin injury. The team was:

Norman; Fossey, Atkinson, Davies, Jenz, Sessegnon; De Havilland, Edun, Harris (Thompson 55'); Adebayo, Santos-Clase (Thorsteinsson 55')

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Mundle-Smith and York

 

Newcastle 1 Fulham 1 (PL2)

In their last game of the season the lads just failed to get all the points which would have given them an outside chance of promotion. It was a game of two halves in a way. In the first, Fulham dominated but our goal machines Cameron Thompson (back from injury) and Elijah Adebayo (back from loan) just couldn't find the net. The second saw Jaydn Mundle-Smith go off with a hamstring right at the start and the reshuffled side - Steven Sessegnon moved to LB - couldn't get going. The equaliser didn't come till the 2nd minute of extra time, Tayo Edun doing his bit.

With a fair few 'big names' missing (red card suspensions mainly), we shouldn't forget how young this side is however and all credit to them for determination in getting a result. The team was:


Norman; S. Sessegnon, Davies (c), Atkinson, Mundle-Smith (de Havilland 46'); Hilton, Edun, Harris; Thompson, Adebayo, Thorsteinsson

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Davis, and Santos-Clase