A DEPLETED Saints B side managed to net an 87th minute winner and topple Fulham – who have been steaming ahead at the top of Premier League 2 Division Two – 2-1 at Snows Stadium.

Dom Ballard’s chipped opener looked to be the difference with only 20 minutes remaining of the contest but the London outfit found a headed equaliser just five later through Jean-Pierre Tiehi.

However, 19-year-old Belgian youth international Kazeem Olaigbe continued his fine goalscoring form to bag with a late finish across the keeper.

The effort made it Olaigbe’s sixth goal in his last six Premier League 2 matches, a run that stretches back to an EFL Trophy clash versus League Two Crawley Town in which he also scored two and assisted.

Saints B were without suspended Dynel Simeu after his straight red card last time out, while the likes of Thierry Small and Oludare Olufunwa were absent and Caleb Watts has gone out on loan to the EFL.

Dave Horseman had to start three under-18s in his first XI, playing up an age group, while the entire bench was also made up of players from the group below.

The visitors are 14 points ahead of second-place at the top of the table and went into the match having only drawn one and lost one each all campaign.

Horseman’s opposite number at Snows Stadium was former Southampton boss Steven Wigley, who managed the club in 2004.

The Cottagers had the better of the chances in the opening half, before Saints were forced into a switch at the break to further reduce the ranks.

Young full-back Sonnie Davis slotted in at centre back for Ethan Burnett who picked up an injury.

Horseman’s side were dealt another injury blow just five minutes into the second half, Jack Turner coming off and making way for Cam Bragg.

But the young Saints side were undeterred and twice took the lead against the runaway leaders for a huge three points, taken them to eighth in the table with 20 points from 16 played.