Match Centre

Sutton’s hopes of repeating last season’s run in the National League Cup started in chastening fashion as Fulham’s Under 21 side stormed to a crushing victory with six second half goals added to Tom Olyott’s first half opener. In terms of possession there wasn’t a great deal in the game, but as with Millwall in the pre-season friendly a fortnight ago, when a Sutton attack broke down the speed of Fulham’s attack proved too much for U’s, Aaron Loupalo-Bi helping himself to a second half hat-trick as the visitors ran riot.

U’s gave a start to several players who hadn’t been involved in Saturday’s Enterprise National League draw at York, and it was two who had come on as substitutes, Brandon Njoku and Kane Crichlow, who combined to good effect, a quick exchange sending Crichlow through to beat goalkeeper Alfie McNally but an offside flag cutting short the supporters’ celebrations. Midway through the half Fulham went in front when Farhaan Ali Wahid’s crossfield pass sent Olyott through in acres of space to shoot past the advancing David Aziaya.

Sutton had their moments, with Njoku and Jack Taylor both sending headers over the bar, Taylor disappointed not to have hit the target with his effort from Jaiden White’s corner, but the closest to a second half goal came at the other end when Loupalo-Bi glanced a header from Bradley Slade’s corner just wide.

The striker had been a threat throughout the first half, and had his reward within ninety seconds of the restart at the start of the second half when Terrell Works found him on the edge of the penalty area, and his low shot beat Aziaya low to his right. Four minutes later Loupalo-Bi had doubled his tally, a neat passing move between Slade, Works and Ali Wahid close to the left corner flag ending with Ali Wahid’s low cross being turned in by Loupalo-Bi from close range.

Sutton continued to look for a way back and almost found it on the hour mark when Njoku beat the offside trap on the right to race clear and cross low, and Crichlow looked set for a tap-in until Fulham captain Charlie Robinson produced a superb clearance at full stretch. It was the last involvement for both Njoku and Crichlow, Henry Sandat and David Ogbonna replacing them.

That was the closest Sutton were to come to making any impact on the score, and matters became worse when a mix-up between Aziaya and Eduino Vaz saw the two collide, allowing Brad de Jesus to pull the ball back from the by-line, and Taylor’s clearance was volleyed back in to the net by Works. Fulham then matched Sutton’s achievement at Hampton of scoring twice without any of their players other than the scorers touching the ball between the goals as, from the kick off, Jack Wadham’s misplaced pass was seized on by Olyott, who raced clear and never looked like missing.

Sutton still pushed forward without any end product, and had three defenders in or around the Fulham penalty area when one attack broke down, leaving them short at the back as MacAulay Zepa’s long pass was controlled superbly by Loupalo-Bi, and again in a one-on-one with Aziaya there was little doubt about the outcome as the striker completed his hat trick. Zepa himself completed the rout three minutes from time, Loupalo-Bi returning the favour with a pass that sent him clear on the left to shoot across Aziaya in to the net.

Sutton: D Azaiya, W Tizzard, J Taylor, E Pruti(sub J Eccleston H-T), J Wadham, S Odelusi(sub A Woodyard H-T), J White, K Crichlow(sub D Ogbonna 61), B Njoku(sub H Sandat 60), E Vaz, D De Silva. Subs n/u J Sims, H Phipps.

Fulham: A McNally, E Nsasi, B Slade (sub J Walters 80), H Araujo, C Robinson(sub B de Jesus 63), O Gofford, T Olyott, S Ridgeon(sub M Zepa 67), A Loupolo-Bi, T Works(sub A White 79), F Ali Wahid(sub T Wingate 79). Subs n/u M Underwood, C Nwoku. Booked: Zepa

Referee: K Dowle

Attendance: 806

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin