Under-18 report by Ali Bunker

George Williams' second-half strike was not enough to prevent Mike Dove's Under-18 side being narrowly edged out by Fulham at Woughton on the Green on Saturday.

Goals from strike pairing Richie Barroilhet and Kerim Frei secured the three points for the visitors in a match that could have gone either way.

The game started at a fast pace with Ryan Plowright combining well with Charlie Collins down the left before crossing well to the back post where Fuad Ahmed was lurking. The right midfielder, however, was unable to convert the chance, instead firing inches over the bar.

In what was a bright start by both sides, it was the Dons who fashioned the next opportunity and it was almost a carbon copy of the first. Once again Plowright found space down the left-hand side and delivered an excellent cross to the back post which sat up too high in front of the onrushing Ahmed.

The visitors looked dangerous on the attack but had yet to test Daniel Glass in goal for the Dons. That changed after Charles Banya's well-struck effort from the edge of the area brought a smart stop from Glass, and moments later the visitors were ahead.

The increasingly influential Frei worked some space for himself down the left side on 12 minutes and fired in a low cross towards Albert Owusu-Ansah who's scuffed shot fell at the feet of Barroilhet, who had the simplest of tap-ins from six yards.

The goal seemed to take its toll on the home side as the Cottagers began to control possession and slow the game.

Collins did, however, combine well in the middle of the pitch with Igor Coronado before unleashing a stinging shot from 25 yards that Jesse Joronen did well to tip round the post for a corner.

Mike Dove's youngsters enjoyed a number of first half chances against Fulham.

Collins found himself in a similar position two minutes later but this time his curled effort didn't test Joronen, instead drifting narrowly wide.

Both sides had been restricted to long-range efforts as the half drew to a close, Joshua Pritchard came close to extending the visitors' lead when his shot hit the post before cannoning back off Glass, who was down well to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Collins once again found space outside of the Fulham area but his half-volley flew over the bar on 40 minutes before the referee brought the half to a close.

The Cottagers came out the stronger side in the second half and they were rewarded with a second on the hour mark as Barroilhet worked an opening down the Fulham right. The striker got his head up well and picked out Frei at the back post who finished well to double the lead.

The response from Dove's side was positive though and they managed to pull one back just five minutes later. Coronado's delivery from a free-kick towards the right-hand side was inch perfect and Williams stole in unmarked to prod the ball home from six yards.

Liam McGovern had a long-range effort deflected just over before his delivery from the resulting corner found Collins at the back post. The Republic of Ireland Under-19 striker was unable to direct his header goalwards though.

The visitors controlled possession well in the second period but with the game nearing its end Williams' excellent low cross from the right found Plowright in the middle. Once again though the ball didn't bounce kindly for the Dons and Plowright's effort flew over the bar in what the last significant action of the game.

Dove said: "I'm disappointed today but that's a good sign isn't it?

"This is all about learning and we wanted to put in place today a better second-half performance than we did last time out. I think we had that performance in the first half though.

"Overall I was very impressed though and there were lots of positives, particularly down the left side. But we'll take a look at the video of the game and work on some things and, as long as they learn from their mistakes, we'll be fine."

Dons (4-2-1-3): Glass; Williams, Flanagan, Milton (c), Walster; King, McGovern; Coronado (Gyasi 85); F.Ahmed (A.Ahmed 60), Collins, Plowright.