Fulham end season on a high as Under 21s win cup final

Luton Town 2-4 Fulham
Fulham U21s 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur U21s

Fulham began the 2023-24 season with a win at Everton and concluded it with an away victory over Luton. In between those matches the travelling supporters have not had too much to celebrate apart from tasty performances at Manchester United and West Ham.

At least there was glorious weather for the final match of the season. Inevitably Marco Silva made changes to the side that had failed to lay a glove on Manchester City. He could have turned to the under 21s but I guess he felt they deserved a rest (see below) so he elevated Tim Ream, Harrison Reed, Adama Traore, Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez, who generally have to start a game atop the overcrowded bench.

Luton Town, virtually certain of relegation, showed no lack of spirit. Carlton Morris evaded Tim Ream and Calvin Bassey to draw a one handed save from Bernd Leno, and Tahith Chong had the ball in the net only to be declared offside. Fulham took a while to settle but in the 43rd minute Kenny Tete, replacing the suspended Issa Diop, latched onto an aimless clearance and found Harry Wilson, who provided Traore with a goal of sheer class.

The lead was wiped out almost instantly when Bassey gave away a penalty and Morris converted. There was still time for Raul Jimenez to restore the lead before the interval. The point was crafted by Harry Wilson and finished off in style.

After the break Jimenez doubled his tally, heading a Harrison Reed free-kick past Thomas Kaminski. It was a day when fouls were punished. Alfie Doughty's low free kick fizzed through a crowded penalty area. Harry Wilson produced arguably the best of Fulham's excellent goals making the final score 4-2 to Fulham. Luton would have been relegated whatever the result whilst the West Londoners finished 13th.

The amazing smile of Luis Boa Morte will be much missed next season. He endeared himself as a free-scoring player between 2000 and 2006 and subsequently becoming Marco Silva's lieutenant has deserved his share of the credit for making Fulham once again a true Premier League club. He is moving into management with Guinea Bissau's national squad.

Under 21s' cup final glory

I must not end the season without commending the outstanding recent results of coach Tom Hounsell's Under 21 players. They qualified for the Final of the Premier League Cup through beating Crystal Palace (home) by three clear goals and Chelsea (away) by four. The Final between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur took place on Thursday 16 May at Craven Cottage.

'Start as you mean to go on' is as good a maxim as any. In the second minute when Tottenham's Dante Casanova lingered on the ball Terrell Works, wrested it off him, advanced into the area and gave Callum Osmand the simplest of goals. Terrell is truly one of our own as he has been associated with the club since the age of nine.

A quarter of an hour later Matt Dibley-Dias performed a similar service allowing Osmand to speed past Casanova and notch his second. Spurs tried to respond but impressed neither in defence nor attack. The striker completed his hat-trick just before the interval with the assistance of Devan Tanton (from San Antonio, Texas, though he qualifies for Colombia).

The visitors rallied a little in the second half but their hopes were destroyed by a 56th minute strike from the Cypriot George Okkas, assisted by Terrell Works. Well done, George, but officials prefer you to keep your shirt on after scoring, even in Maytime cup finals.

Three wins, eleven goals scored, none conceded and the chance to pose for one of those ecstatic cup-winners' photos – what better way to conclude season 2023-24?