Fulham Reserves 1 Portsmouth Reserves 0

Last updated : 16 April 2010 By The Cottager
Thanks to the official Fulham website for this match report;

After a tentative start, Billy McKinlay's young Fulham gradually grew in confidence, with Matthew Briggs and Keanu Marsh-Brown driving forward down the flanks, and Christopher Buchtmann pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

Bright play saw Michael Uwezu find space and fire at goal, while Courtney Harris also forced Portsmouth stopper Liam O'Brian into action again following a curled shot from the left early on.

Marsh-Brown then teased his way into the visitors' box before shooting narrowly over, with a David Elm strike ruled out for offside.

The Swedish striker then moved O'Brien into another routine stop when well-placed, with the hosts impressing with their pass and move football.

With just under 30 minutes played, Buchtmann broke from the midfield and after carrying the ball into the final third, Elm could only direct the German's cleverly weighted pass into the arms of O'Brien.

Up until that point Portsmouth had rarely threatened, although Nadir Ciftci's glancing header from Tero Mantyla's deep cross from the left did go close.

The visitors finished the half on top though, with Neil Etheridge claiming Perry Ryan's hopeful long pass under pressure from Ciftci's powerful run and Cheick Toure blocking an effort from James Hurst.

That said, the Whites should have entered half-time in front, with Elm's stooping header from a Cristian Marquez-Sanchez cross falling inches wide.

Fulham certainly could have had more to show for their endeavour, and started the second-half in positive fashion.

Marsh-Brown delivered two dangerous crosses, while Briggs cantered down the left only to be denied by Billy Tsovolos' last-ditch tackle.

It was another promising showing from the Fulham captain, with another cultured display catching the eye once more.

With an hour gone, Hurst weaved inside Josh Pritchard and Buchtmann to shoot from distance, Etheridge claimed with ease, but had to be at his best moments later making a stunning stop to turn away Cifti's stinging close-range drive.

At the other end O'Brien had to be alert to Marsh-Brown from 20 yards, with the England youth international unfortunate not to take advantage of Mantyla's uncertainty shortly after.

However, Fulham's bright play was rewarded on 68 minutes, with Uwezu's pull-back from the right rolling into the path of substitute Marcello Trotta.

Keeping his cool, the Italian striker picked his spot and finished well. Trotta almost made it two for Fulham moments later, breaking free before firing into the side netting.

It was a shining impact by the 17-year-old, who has scored for fun for the Under-18s this season.

Marquez-Sanchez thwarted Ciftci with an expert intervention inside the last 15 minutes, before Etheridge kept the visitors out further with another excellent save, this time from the boot of Jordan Hughes.

Marshalled impeccably by the growing talent of Cheick Toure, Fulham's defence held firm to secure a valuable win and deserved three points.

McKinlay's side travel to Stoke City on Monday, before completing the 2009-10 Barclays Premier Reserve League South season eight days later making the trip to Bishop's Stortford to face West Ham United.

Fulham Reserves: Etheridge; Marquez-Sanchez, Pierre, Toure, Briggs; Pritchard (Payne 90), Marsh-Brown, Buchtmann, Harris; Uwezu (Frei 83), Elm (Trotta 62). (Sub not used): Bettinelli.

Portsmouth Reserves: O'Brien; Tsovolos (Tallack 60), Mantyla, Wilkinson, Ryan; Pack, Hurst (Walshe 70), Goddard, Stockford (Bennett 76), Hughes; Ciftci.