Belmont scores first PL2 goal but Albion beaten by Fulham

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Welshman on target in defeat to Cottagers.

Charlie Hanson

2025-03-14T21:00+00:00

Joe Belmont's goal wasn't enough to help Albion get a positive result. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Joe Belmont scored his first Premier League 2 goal for our men's under-21s but it proved to be just a consolation as Albion lost 3-1 to Fulham on Friday.

Without a win in four and playing their second game in 72 hours, head coach Shannon Ruth made four changes to the team that lost 2-1 to Braintree Town on Tuesday with Samy Chouchane – who is on a season-long loan with Northampton Town – coming into the starting line-up.

Thomas Olyott put the visitors in front after 21 minutes when he tapped in at the back post from Imani Langquedoc’s cross. The Albion defenders appealed for offside, but the Cottagers forward had managed to stay onside.

Joe Belmont was making his third start in Premier League 2. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Yussif Owusu was millimetres from getting contact with a close-range header before Albion levelled with half-time approaching.

Wales youth international Belmont showed a striker’s instinct when he raced onto Harry Mills’ defence-splitting pass and curled confidently into the bottom right corner.

The Cottagers restored their lead after 64 minutes when Charlie Penman flicked towards his own goal at a corner and Owusu couldn’t get his feet sorted to clear off the line.

Samy Chouchane has made 22 League One appearances for Northampton Town so far this season. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Ruth had made a triple change just before Fulham’s second goal and one of his substitutes nearly made an immediate impact. Jamie Mullins went on a scintillating run down the middle before teeing up Josh Robertson who took a touch and sent an effort towards the bottom left corner, but keeper Marco Underwood pulled off a terrific diving save to keep Albion at bay.

Fulham sealed the points with 20 minutes to go when Aidan West brought down Callum Osmand and Osmand sent Killian Cahill the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 3-1.

Albion have a relatively quick turnaround beforer their Sussex Senior Cup semi-final against Horsham on Tuesday. The game is taking place at Culver Road, Lancing, and kicks off at 7.30pm.

Albion team: Cahill, Mackley (sub: Tasker 62), Simmonds, Penman, Mills, Howell, Chouchane (Nti 81), Owusu (Moulton 72), Bashir (West 62), Mullins, Belmont (Robertson 62).