We visited Fulham just before Christmas but an own-goal in the first half gave our neighbours the upper hand. Joe Haigh found the net 16 minutes from time as we showed signs of recovery but Fulham’s Oliver O’Neill got the winner one minute before the whistle to snatch the points.

Ahead of the first whistle we sat seventh on 36 points and a win would see us conclude our season in fifth place. Meanwhile, Fulham are in second place on 53 points, three behind league leaders Crystal Palace. With a significantly higher goal difference than Palace a win would see our visitors lift the league title.

The first half ended in Fulham’s favour but that was far from the story of the opening 45 minutes of football. We started well and looked bright up until and after we conceded, but struggled to turn our possession into chances as the visitors were happy with their lead.

A half-time team talk from Ed brand saw the team return to the field full of energy and register a host of chances, getting closer to a goal each time. While we attacked Fulham waited for the opportunity to counter and were clinical on the two occasions they managed to breach our back line.

Fulham’s three-goal lead clinched them the league title and we finished the season in seventh place on 36 points.

Starting XI

Ed Brand named a strong Under-18 side to take on Fulham this morning. In came Lucas Bergstrom, Lewis Bate, Harvey Vale and Myles Peart-Harris, all who have played the majority of their football with the development squad of late. On the bench Prince Adegoke and Aleksi Heino returned to the match day squad.

First move Fulham

Conditions at Cobham were overcast as there was a lot at stake for visitors Fulham, we started well and Harvey Vale dragged the first attempt of the game wide of the target from range.

Fulham grew into the game soon after and Charlie Wiggett and Alfie Gilchrist were both required to throw their bodies on the line to keep Lucas Bergstrom out of harm’s way for as long as possible, until the away side eventually found the net.

A cross from the right was palmed away by Bergstrom but only into the path of Jay Stansfield in the centre. The forward was forced wide by the keeper but tucked the ball away at the angle for the first goal of the game.

Fulham’s net remained untested and Brand opted for a change in formation to try and get us back into the game. Dion Rankine moved into a more offensive position with Vale now occupying left wing-back. Myles Peart-Harris played furthest forward.

As we approached the break possession was in our favour but the score line and game weren’t. With their advantage, Fulham were happy to defend their one-goal lead and stamp out any Chelsea attacks before they reached the halfway line. 0-1 Fulham at the interval.

Change in the second half

After the break we made the first change of the game. Luke Badley-Morgan was replaced by Charlie Webster and he was straight into the thick of the action. A more forward-thinking Blues won a corner-kick which Webster took. Haigh flicked it on at the near post but it was a little too high to hit the target.

However there was danger when the visitors caught us on the counter with a few too many men forward. A low cross into the centre was fired on to the bar from close range. It was a chance Fulham should have scored.

Closer with every chance

The change made a difference, we looked dangerous in attack with Peart-Harris, Vale and Lewis Bate all testing Alex Borto. Bergstrom remained alert to any danger though, making a good stop with his left foot from a rapid Fulham counter-attack.

It was all Chelsea and our best chance came just before the hour. When Josh Brooking raced forward on the right, it seemed as though the defenders made way for the wing-back. The ball eventually dropped for Haigh but flying save from Borto denied us a goal.

Counter-attacks count

Again Fulham soaked up the pressure and hit us on the counter and again it was another unbelievable opportunity missed. Played in by Mika Biereth, Ollie O’Neill found himself with just Bergstrom to beat. Unselfishly he cut it back for the players in the middle and it was goalscorer Stansfield who eventually had the shot which cleared the netting behind the goal.

With the previous attack, the theme of the game changed and Fulham were in the hunt for some breathing space which they soon found. Biereth raced on to the end of a long ball forward behind our defence and finished coolly for his team’s second of the afternoon.

Their third came seven minutes later and it was substitute Luke Harris who hit home a cross from the right after the visitors stole possession off the Blues high up the pitch. It was a disappointing end to our season and the game ended in Fulham’s favour 0-3.

Chelsea Lucas Bergstrom; Alfie Gilchrist, Charlie Wiggett (Josh Tobin 82), Bahsir Luke Badley-Morgan (Charlie Webster 46); Josh Brooking, Bashir Humphreys, Lewis Bate (c), Dion Rankine; Joe Haigh, Myles Peart-Harris (Aleksi Heino 82), Harvey ValeUnused subs Derrick Abu, Prince AdegokeBooked Wiggett 69; Gilchrist 71; Tobin, 90, Brooking 90

Fulham Alex Borto, Stefan Parkes, Ibane Bowat, Luci D’Auria-Henry, Idris Odutayo, Matt Dibley-Dias, Ollie O’Neill, Jay Stansfield, Adrion Pajaziti (c), Mika Biereth, Kieron BowieSubs Ben Roberts, Jay Williams, Olly Sanderson, Luke Harris, Imani LanquedocBooked Biereth 68Scorers Stansfield 21; Biereth 67 Harris 73