Report: Magpies 2-0 Fulham U21

 

Maidenhead United secured their first win of the new National League Cup over Fulham U21 at a chilly York Road on Tuesday evening. 

 

Goals from Shawn McCoulsky and Sam Barratt were enough to take all three points and go top of Group A in the inaugural night of the competition. 

 

The Magpies started the game stronger of the two sides, with McCoulsky’s powered strike drifting just wide of the post in the opening minutes. 

Efforts from Barratt and Tariq Uwakwe tested Fulham goalkeeper Alex Borto throughout the first 20 minutes, when Fulham came into the game during a hectic period of play. 

 

Lemar Gordon, who’d won the ball in the United half, forced a good footed save by Harvey Collins. On the subsequent counter-attack, McCoulsky was unlucky not to open the scoring in a one-on-one with the Fulham ‘keeper. Moments later, the visitors again threatened Collins’ net, although Callum Osmand was unable to convert. 

 

A goal was inevitable, and it wasn’t long before McCoulsky slotted one home. Minutes after having a half-appeal for a penalty denied, the striker found himself on the end of Barratt’s low-flighted cross after the Cottagers’ failed to clear their lines. 

 

The Magpies ramped up the pressure in the closing stages of the first half, and it wasn’t long before they doubled their lead. Barratt would add one to the goal column after capitalising on a defensive mishap by the visitors, allowing him to fire home a second on the cusp of half time. 

 

 

Chances were few and far between in a second half in which Collins would seldom find himself troubled until the closing stages of the game. 

 

Josh Esenga’s half-cross, half-shot glided over the top-right corner, although it would be Aaron Loupalo-Bi who would come closest for the visitors. A clever flick from within 12 yards was well-blocked by Magpies’ captain Alan Massey, but Loupalo-Bi’s final effort would go straight towards Collins down the Bell Street End. 

 

 

Speaking after the game, Assistant Manager Ryan Peters said it was a “mixed performance” for the Magpies against a “really good” Fulham U21 side. 

 

“We know they are a terrific academy,” Peters said of the visitors. “For us it was about mentality, [and] making sure there wasn't a shift from Saturday. It's another win, a clean sheet and we're going in the right direction. 

 

“We want to be able to bottle up that winning feeling, which we have for the past two matches, and we want to keep that going, and the only way to do that is to make sure nothing changes. Every competition is a chance for us to proceed and do more,” he added when asked about preparation for the new competition. 

 

“Everyone did quite well. Soul [Hale] did well. The academy boys that came in were particularly good. But, if everyone is putting in a shift, the gaffer is going to be happy. Soul came in at short notice and did well.” 

 

Magpies: Collins, Lokko (de Havilland 46’), Carvalho, Ferguson (Pettit 46’), McCoulsky (Abrahams 46’), Hale, Cochrane, Uwakwe (McMenemy 69’), Massey ©, Barratt, Ajose 

 

Fulham U21: Borto, De Jesus, Slade (Esenga 46’), Nsasi, Park, Nwoko, Olyott (Works 65’), Donnell © (Šekularac 46’), Osmand (Loupalo-Bi 46’), Quashie, Gordon (Ali Wahid 65’) 

 

Attendance: 210