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MATCH REPORT: Fulham U21s (H)

Things started off fairly evenly between the two sides who both had a chance of advancing into the National League Cup’s Knockout Stages. Tyler Frost got under a shot and fired over the bar in the tenth minute as a Luke Jenkins slide tackle superbly disrupted Fulham’s first foray into the Shots box three minutes later.

Maxwell Mullins was lining up against the side managed by his Father, Hayden Mullins, and keen to impress, he could have given the Shots the lead after receiving the ball from Jack Barham, but his shot was well blocked as it looked to be on target.

The Shots deservedly took the lead in the 20th minute via an unlikely source as Dejan Tetek’s deflected effort found the top corner. Barham was found in space down the right and his low-cross was cleared only as far as Tetek on the edge of the box whose powerful effort was probably heading in despite the extra help from a Fulham defender.

Aldershot’s physical superiority over the young Fulham side was evident early on and the home side were dominant from set-pieces. Mullins came close to doubling his side’s lead in the 27th minute as he rose highest in a sea of bodies but his header was very well saved by Alex Borto.

There was some very nice football on display at the EBB Stadium and there was a clear gulf in quality between the two sides as Aldershot began to control the game. Jack Barham and Maxi Mullins linked up to find Aaron Jones on the right but his effort was blocked on the half-hour mark.

HALF-TIME

The Shots continued their dominance into the second-half and were continuing put on a good display as Tyler Frost’s deep cross was headed down by Aaron Jones for Cameron Hargreaves to half-volley an effort at goal that had to be headed over the bar by a Fulham defender.

And another unlikely source doubled the Shots lead on the hour mark as Christian Maghoma turned in a goalmouth scramble. Luke Jenkins’ header from a corner had to be cleared off the line and after a scramble to turn the rebound in ensued, it fell to Maghoma to bundle in at the far-post.

Mullins was continuing to do well with a rare start and almost scored a wonderful goal 10 minutes later. Driving down the left and cutting in onto his right-foot, he curled an effort towards goal that was off target by a whisker and had Borto scrambling.

Fulham finally sent a warning that they were still in the game in the 76th minute as Aaron Loupalo-Bi did really well to advance down the right and to the byline where he pulled it back for Callum Osmand, but the substitute could only scuff his effort wide from just a few yards out.

And the Premier League youngsters had a route back into the game through Loupalo-Bi as a rare lapse in concentration from the Shots saw the attacker pounce on a soft pass and skipping past Jordi van Stappershoef to finish into an open goal.

Attendance: 367

Shots lineup: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 4. Luke Jenkins (20. Haydon Vaughan, 74′), 5. Christian Maghoma, 7. Cameron Hargreaves (6. Theo Widdrington, 81′), 8. Tyler Frost, 11. Ryan Jones, 17. Aaron Jones (C), 18. Olly Scott (10. Josh Barrett, 81′), 22. Jack Barham (19. Jonny Stuttle, 55′), 24. Maxwell Mullins, 34. Dejan Tetek.

Subs not used: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 27. James Henry, 40. Morgan Elliott.

Fulham lineup: 1. Alex Borto, 2. Olly Gofford, 3. Bradley De Jesus (15. Jon Esenga, 87′), 4. Samuel Amissah, 5. Eddy Nsasi, 6. Chris Donnell (C), 7. Lemar Gordon (16. Tom Olyott, 61′) , 8. Chibby Nwoko, 9. Aaron Loupalo-Bi, 10. Imani Lanquedoc (14. Callum Osmand 61′), 11. Terrell Works.

Subs not used: 13. Marco Underwood, 17. Alfie White, 18. Tom Wingate, 19. Damon Park.