Skipper Shashoua spurs Under-18s to victory

Armando Shashoua was among the goals as our youngsters produced a comfortable 4-0 win over Fulham to continue their unbeaten run in the Under-18 Premier League on Saturday.

Skipper Shashoua got us on our way on 37 minutes as his spot-kick went in via a deflection off the goalkeeper after Rayan Clarke was brought down, before he doubled our tally when he tapped in eight minutes after the restart. Dilan Markanday then made it three on 65 minutes with a superb solo effort before substitute Elliot Thorpe completed the win with a fine headed goal with just 12 minutes remaining.

Despite the final scoreline, it was a tentative start at Hotspur Way as both teams struggled to create much of note in the opening exchanges. It took six minutes for the first chance to arrive but even then, it was not a clear-cut opportunity. Ryan De Havilland had stolen the ball off the toes of Markanday before threading the ball in to Timmi Abraham, but the striker sent his effort just wide of the post. 

It took time and patience for us to finally start making some ground in the game but, as Fulham’s defence started to relax, we began to make our quick passing pay dividends.

As we passed the half-way point of the first period, both Maxwell Statham and Markanday managed to register the first shots on target of the game. Initially, Statham had been neatly teed up by Shashoua but saw his effort saved by Luca Ashby-Hammond before some individual brilliance from midfielder Markanday was also thwarted by the Fulham number one.

Ten minutes later, however, we found our deserved lead. Clarke was brought down by Cody Drameh in the area and the referee was left with no choice but to point to the penalty spot.

Up stepped captain Shashoua to take the penalty and although his spot-kick cannoned out off the post, we had a spot of luck as it rebounded off the diving keeper and spun over the line.

That lead should have then been extended immediately after the restart but, finding himself just six yards out from goal, defender Luis Binks saw his fine strike saved well by Ashby-Hammond.

That save, as well as the half-time break, saw a rejuvenated Fulham start brightly in the second half but when Shashoua was alive to the rebound from Chay Cooper’s saved effort, we put ourselves firmly in control of the game thanks to the midfielder’s instinctive finish.

Markanday made it 3-0 with a fine solo effort curled in from outside the box but we then had the heroic Josh Oluwayemi to thank as he made two brave saves either side of the midfielder’s strike.

The game and points, however, were wrapped up on 78 minutes as substitute Thorpe rose highest in the box to head the ball into the far corner to seal the 4-0 win.

The result leaves us just a point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand on our north London neighbours ahead of our trip to face them on Tuesday.