Leicester City Res 2 Fulham Res 5
FA Premier Reserve League (Southern Section)
Fulham’s reserve team put in a performance that Manager Steve Kean could
only describe as “fantastic” on Monday evening after he watched his side
tear apart Leicester City 2-5 at Filbert Street.
The Fox’s First team caretaker manager Garry Parker took charge for the
match but could not prevent them from falling to their heaviest defeat
of the campaign so far.
An own goal from defender Ashley Lyth put the visitors on their way, before
a brace from lively striker Luke Cornwall and strikes from Eddie
Lewis and Calum Willock gave them a comfortable victory.
In an admirably spirited last five minutes City pulled two goals back with
a Martin Reeves free-kick and a Jonathan Stevenson tap-in, but it was too
little too late.
The home side began brightly enough, with winger Danny Thomas having
the first chance of the match when he found space on the edge of the box
but drove his shot straight at Marcus Hahnemann.
However, Fulham took the lead in the fifth minute with their first attack
when Andrejs Stolcers' cross was deflected into his own net by defender
Ashley Lyth.
Ade Akinbiyi had an opportunity to level matters immediately a minute later
when Matthew Piper found him in the box, but he headed wide of the target.
Stefan Oakes also came close after 13 minutes with a raking 25-yard effort.
City keeper Simon Royce had to be at his best after 20 minutes when he produced
a superb save to deny Cornwall, palming the striker's fierce shot onto the
bar following a neat pull-back from Stolcers.
David Sherman impressed in the first half for the home side and nearly hauled
them back into the game after 33 minutes when he forced a spectacular save
from Hahnemann with a well struck 20-yard effort.
City were punished for their failure in front of goal when Fulham notched
a second after 38 minutes, Stolcers' pinpoint cross finding Cornwall unmarked
in the box to head past a stranded Royce.
The home side started the second half in determined fashion, with Martin
Reeves driving a shot narrowly wide of the target on 51 minutes.
But Fulham again displayed the superior finishing, with Cornwall volleying
home his second after a mix-up in the Leicester defence.
Fulham then went 4-0 in front when Eddie Lewis side-footed the ball home
following a break from striker Calum Willock.
Willock bagged a fifth, sliding the ball neatly past Royce after
ghosting through the City defence in superb style.
Reeves gave the scoreline some respectability for the home team when he
curled home an impressive free kick with five minutes to go. Subsitute Stevenson
then added another seconds later when he tapped in a McSweeney header from
a corner.
Speaking after the game and obviously delighted with his team’s fine win
Reserve Team Manager Kean added:
“The players have a fantastic attitude here. I’ve never had a problem with
any one of them and tonight they were superb.
“It’s a great opportunity for some of the younger players to get some experience.
Tom and Mark did ever so well in defence, Kieran and Alan Neilson both came
back from injury and did a great job and the lads up front caused a lot
of problems.
“Every single one of the lads did well tonight.”
Asked if Kean would be sending a report to Jean Tigana he replied:
“I’ve already spoken to the Manager and Christian. They were pleased, and
will be getting a detailed report tomorrow. Roger Propos always likes a
call so that he can start planning if there are any injuries.”
LEICESTER CITY: Royce, Lyth, Smith, Impey, Ashton, Reeves, Oakes
(McSweeney 78), Sherman (Stevenson 55), Akinbiyi (Williamson 78) , Piper,
Thomas. Subs: Price, Noble.
FULHAM: Hahnemann, McClements, McAnespie, Hudson, Hutchinson,
Neilson (Shevel 46), Stolcers, Betsy, Cornwall (Green 82), Willock (Timlin
77), Lewis. Subs: Thompson.
Weather: Fine/Dry Attendance: (approx) 5,500
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