Our under-18s sustained a third straight defeat in all competitions following a 2-1 loss to Fulham on Saturday, October 25.
Fulham scored twice in the first half through goals from Khai Vally and Kyle Grant before Ceadach O'Neill got one back before the break, but an uneventful second 45 allowed the Cottagers to see the game out.
What Happened
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We started the game as the brighter of the two teams, with a close chance inside the first five minutes through Brando Bailey-Joseph, after Aleksander Marciniak had played him in behind, but our attacker's shot was parried behind for a corner.
We followed up moments later with another good opportunity, this time for Marciniak after a clever dummy link-up play between Ceadach O'Neill and Kyran Thompson, but the effort was smashed against the bar.
Khari Ranson was called into action for the first time after a quarter of an hour had gone, to make a save from point-blank range to deny Grant an opener.
Fulham did take the lead a few minutes later, however, when Brodie Dair played in a lofted cross which Ranson struggled to claim, before Vally nipped in ahead of him to head home.
And Fulham were at the double in quick succession, this time through a ball flicked in behind our defence by Dair again, for Grant to run into space and place his effort inside the bottom right corner.
Marciniak hit the frame again just after the half-hour mark, after he was found from a corner that was played to the back post by O'Neill, but the side-footed volley rattled the post.
As we pushed for a way back into the affair, chances from Thompson and Marciniak forced goalkeeper Oliver Mayer into some fine stops, but we did eventually find a route back via O'Neill. The Northern Ireland under-21 international was found by Bailey-Joseph, who had made a superb run to drive the ball upfield, before his cross was met well and directed beyond Mayer.
A quiet second half ensued after the interval, with Fulham happy to allow us the possession, but we lacked chances until our first attempt to equalise came with just five minutes from time. A dangerous ball was sent into the box by Bowen Phillips, but was cleared by Fulham's captain, Logan Cooke, before Thompson could pounce.
Deep into stoppage time, Ranson was given orders to join his teammates in Fulham's box in one last push to level the tie, but O'Neill's cross travelled over every player's head and out of play for full-time.
What’s Next
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Our under-18s continue their U18 Premier League South campaign when they host Aston Villa on Saturday, November 1.
Kick-off at the Sobha Reality Training Centre is at 12pm (UK time).
TEAM NEWS
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**Fulham XI:** Mayer, Benchaita, Schutter, Cooke, Gommins, Khan, De-Gale (Cavell 58), White, Dair, Vally (Kondau-Wall), Grant.
**Subs unused:** Platel, Hall, Lubega.
**Arsenal: XI:** Ranson, Julienne, Ogunnaike, Onyekachukwu, Chapman, Murisa (Owusu-Gyasi 71), Bailey-Joseph (Nwaneri 63), Hashi, O’Neill, Marciniak (Phillips 80), Thompson.
**Subs unused:** Lupinski, Tahou.
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