U18 Report: Fulham 5-1 Saints

Two first-half goals from Sylvester Jasper and Terry Ablade left Saints with it all to do at the break, and despite Jack Turner pulling one back, Jasper grabbed a third before Fabio Carvalho’s strike was added to late on by Mika Bierith.

The hosts were quickest out of the blocks and Carvalho was first to test Ollie Wright, with a low, right-footed effort towards the near post.

But the deadlock was broken on 12 minutes when Terry Ablade was set free down the left, got in behind Ryan Cluett, and found Jasper inside the box. The forward took a touch before neatly dispatching the ball into the far corner.

Just two minutes later, that combination was reversed as Jasper slipped the ball into the path of Ablade, who ran on to finish low past Wright.

Further chances came, but Paul Hardyman’s young charges had their first opening soon after. A neat interchange between Seamas Keogh and Marco Rus helped tee up James Morris, but the full-back’s shot was well blocked.

Rus was involved again just before the break. Jayden Smith set the ball into his path on the edge of the area and he took a touch to set himself before striking a left-footed shot that was comfortable for George Wickens.

On 54, Morris’s deep cross from the left was only half-cleared and Turner hit a sweet strike from distance to reduce the deficit.

Buoyed by that, a spell of pressure followed. Saints were almost level when Kazeem Olaigbe’s clever backheel allowed Morris to drive a low effort across the face of goal and agonisingly wide of the far corner.

Turner almost had his second on the hour mark when he raced into the box, only to be thwarted by the onrushing Wickens at close quarters.

Fulham were to extend their advantage though. On 69 minutes, Carvalho played Jay Stansfield in down the right and his cross was finished off by Jasper.

Further goals from Carvalho and Bierith late on completed the scoring on a tough day at Motspur Park.