Jake Hesketh was influential as always as he handed Southampton the lead at the Cottagers’ training ground with a powerful drive into the top corner before Fulham drew themselves back on terms on the stroke of half-time through Stephen Humphrey’s low finish.

The energetic Josh Sims swung a left-footed volley in to fire the visitors back in front before Will Wood ensured the victory with a late header.

Southampton began brightly but lacked the cutting edge required to take an early lead as attacking pair Hesketh and Ryan Seager hit shots wide and high respectively.

An slightly shaky start for the hosts was epitomised when, in the seventh minute, ‘keeper Magnus Norman failed to control captain Noe Baba’s backpass and saw his blushes only just spared as the ball trickled wide.

Baba was involved in the next notable piece of play for either side – this time in a much more positive manner for Fulham – when he headed a corner towards the diving Harry Isted’s left but saw it nodded off the line by Tom Leggett.

Saints found themselves in more trouble in the 26th minute when they could only watch as Mekhi Leacock-McLeod chipped a defence-splitting cross onto the chest of Fodan Nabay. Taking the ball into his stride, the midfielder hesitated with only Isted to beat and was punished as the ‘keeper made a point-blank save.

Ten minutes later, Seager and HESKETH combined – reminiscent of recent games – to hand the visitors the lead when the former pulled the ball back for the midfielder to slam it into the top-right corner.

Seager came agonisingly close to racking up a second assist as half-time approached when he and Marcus Barnes worked together to no avail.

The provider of the first goal laid the ball down the right flank to Barnes, whose side-footed effort ricocheted and looped over Norman and narrowly wide.

Seager then played the ball onto Barnes’ right foot for an attempt that was dragged beyond the far post.

Saints were made to rue not doubling the lead when Fulham struck in the third minute of added time in the first half.

Constant pressing in the box resulted in James Clarke’s drilled shot being parried by Isted before HUMPHREYS eventually snuck a rebounding effort along the ground and underneath the custodian’s arm.

HALF-TIME: FULHAM U18s 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON U18s

Josh Sims was showcasing his usual guile down the wing as he wriggled his way through the box and created space for a low shot that was smothered by Norman at the near post.

The ‘keeper was less assured when defending a Southampton corner soon after it swung past him and drew no contact until Barnes met at beyond the back post with a shot dragged back through the area.

After Aaron Redford flashed a shot past Isted and the far post from an acute angle, SIMS’ aiming proved to be much more accurate as the hour mark approached.

Isaac Nehemie’s cross deflected over the winger who turned and dragged a well-struck volley past Norman and into the far corner to re-establish Saints’ one-goal margin.

Isted was heroic in his attempts to stop Fulham from leveling terms yet again. Leacock-McLeod pulled it back for a side-footed effort by Clarke that the ‘keeper smothered and, with just under 20 minutes remaining, Isted’s last-ditch swipe of his left arm prevented Josh Walker from close-range after Shane Elworthy’s cross.

With three minutes left all three points were guaranteed when two substitutes – George Mells and WOOD – combined to grab Saints a third goal. The former swung in an inviting corner for the left-sider to nod in at the far post to ease any worries.

FULL-TIME: FULHAM U18s 1-3 SOUTHAMPTON U18s

Fulham U18s: Magnus Norman, Shane Elworthy (Marlow Fossey 79), Adetayo Edun, Elijah Adebayo, Noe Baba (c), James Clarke (Ravi Shansi 75), Mekhi Leacock-McLeod, Fodan Nabay, Stephen Humphreys (Josh Smile 75), Josh Walker, Aaron Redford. Unused substitutes: Josh Lukwata, Raheem Sheckleford.

Southampton U18s: Harry Isted, Tom Leggett (c), Josh Debayo, Alfie Jones, Isaac Nehemie, Armani Little (George Mells 81), Niall Mason, Marcus Barnes (Will Wood 62), Jake Hesketh (Chris Regis 76), Josh Sims, Ryan Seager. Unused substitutes: Dan Demkiv, James White.