Ronan Murray gave Town the lead from the penalty spot but Blues went out of the Youth Cup in front of 1500 fans at Portman Road.

Town had already played Fulham twice this season in the league, having lost both encounters and failed to make any change to that record.

The match started off an even encounter with most of the play coming in the centre of the pitch but it was Fulham who began taking control with two good early chances for Alex Smith, the first a good strike from outside the 18-yard box that went inches over the bar and the second a free-kick that went just wide of the left post.

Twenty minutes into the game Town started making an impression in the Fulham half after Billy Clark played a neat one two with Murray on the edge of the 18 yard box only to have his shot blocked by the leg of Cottagers' 'keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

A minute later Connor Wickham back-heeled the ball to Josh Carson inside the 18 yard box but the resulting shot was hit straight at the Bettinelli.

Town then had another flurry of chances with Wickham hitting his shot wide of the right post and then being tackled by Bettinelli in a one on one.

As Blues continued with their attacking pressure Smith was booked for a late tackle on Carson.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute after Murray was brought down in the area by Bettinelli and it was the Irishman who stepped up to finish in the bottom left corner of the goal.

Less than 10 minutes later the score was level after Courtney Harris pulled the ball back to Smith whose shot deflected past helpless Town 'keeper Mirko Ranieri.

Clark was booked for Town during a period of heavy pressure from Fulham and on 68 minutes Aaron Pierre put Fulham in front after Town failed to clear a corner.

David Cawley was booked for Blues after a late challenge and Fulham made their first change of the match with Richard Peniket being replaced by Paudie Quinn.

Murray was replaced by Caolan Lavery but on 90 minutes the game was over as Fulham were awarded a penalty after a push on Trotta. The striker dispatched the penalty to take his side into the quarter-finals.

Report: Blair Ferguson