McFadden salvages point for Under-21s at Fulham

A second-half equaliser from Max McFadden earned our Under-21s a battling point from a 1-1 draw at Fulham in the Premier League 2 on Saturday afternoon.

After a first half that won’t live long in the memory at Motspur Park – both sides failing to register a shot on target – the game burst into life just two minutes after the restart when Farhaan Ali-Wahid was in the right place at the right time to convert from close range after Tom Olyott’s curling effort struck the woodwork.

Our young side responded well and deservedly got back on level terms in the final quarter-of-an-hour as a well-worked move down the left was capped off with a lovely header by McFadden from the centre of the box to level the scores with his first goal for the club. The two teams traded opportunities in the closing stages of the contest, with the home side going closest to a late winner, but we held on to earn a point on the road in south-west London.

Oliver Irow sent a low drive from the edge of the box just wide before, at the other end, Olyott curled wide from the right side of the box as both sides searched for a breakthrough in the opening quarter. Those turned out to be the only notable opportunities until the half-hour mark when Jonathan Esenga curled a free-kick from a central position, about 20 yards out, narrowly over the crossbar.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi then flashed an effort from just right of the area wide of the near post as Fulham, enjoying an unbeaten start to the campaign in the league, were the side in control of the contest towards the end of the first half, but both teams couldn’t be separated in a period that lacked quality in the attacking areas.

However, just two minutes after the restart, the hosts found the breakthrough as Olyott’s curling effort from the right edge of the box struck the post and the ball fell kindly to Ali-Wahid to convert the rebound, despite appeals for offside against the forward. Aaron Maguire had to be alert shortly after to keep the deficit at one, getting down low to his right to push away Olyott’s free-kick from 25 yards out.

Tynan Thompson was introduced 10 minutes into the second period and the winger went close to finding a leveller on the hour mark as, after cutting inside from the left, his effort from edge of the box deflected off a Fulham defender and struck the outside of the post. Our first shot on target was recorded on 69 minutes when a poor clearance saw McFadden regain possession outside the area and his right-footed curler forced Marco Underwood into a diving save while, at the opposite end, Oliver Gofford headed over from close range.

Our positive response after falling behind was eventually rewarded on 76 minutes as good link-up play down the left saw Thompson advance to the byline before lifting the ball into the centre of the box and McFadden was there to guide his header into the back of the net.

Irow went close to putting us ahead five minutes later, his left-footed strike from inside of the box taking a slight deflection before going wide. But it was Fulham who should have won it late on with two big opportunities, first Gofford racing behind our back line before flashing a shot into the side-netting, then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Esenga’s cross from the right was met by Samuel Amissah at the back post but he sent his header from the left side of the six-yard box wide, as we withstood late pressure from the hosts to take home a well-earned point.

‘Pleased to come away with a point’

Under-21s Coach Wayne Burnett felt we didn’t manage to create as many chances as we have done in some of our recent games, but was left feeling positive after the final whistle.

“It was a very tough game, a very tight game, both teams had chances but we’re pleased to come away with a point against a very good Fulham team,” he said.

“I thought we had some good performances and as a collective we were very good. We probably didn’t create as many chances as we have done in previous games, but we’re pleased with the point in the end.”

Match data

Goals: Fulham - Ali-Wahid 47; Spurs – McFadden 76.

Referee: James Oldham.

Venue: Motspur Park.

Weather: Sunny, 14 degrees.