Spurs under 18’s 1-2 Reading: (match report)

Our under 18’s were unlucky not to have gotten something out of their match against Reading on Saturday which they lost 2-1 on a day in which where they were the better side. Spurs started off well in the pouring rain at Hotspur Way and they wasted no time in looking for an opener as four minutes in Oliver Skipp passed to Duncan on the edge of the box, the midfielders fine effort striking the bottom of the left post. On 19 minutes the young Lillywhites were again denied by the woodwork after striker Kazaiah Sterling was denied by the Royals goalkeeper Luke Driscoll from inside the area twice in a matter of moments, with the second effort rebounding off of Sterling’s shin and on to the post. Shortly after the half hour mark the visitors came desperately close to taking the lead after House met Howe’s cross as he powered a diving header past Whiteman and onto the crossbar. With three minutes remaining until half time the Royals broke the deadlock with a somewhat fortuitous goal. Howe powered an effort at goal from the right wing as centre half Joy Mukena slid to block his effort Mukena unfortunately helped the ball into the back of the net to give the royals the lead. However, it was an instant reply from John McDermott’s side as just moments later midfielder Dylan Duncan pounced on to a loose ball inside the penalty area to cooly slot the ball past Driscoll and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The visitors started the second half the better of the two sides and their hardwork paid off as they regained the lead on 57 minutes after Shokunbi’s cross into the box was unfortunately bundled into the back of the net by Mukena. The players weren’t able to stamp their authority on the game in the minutes that followed with the game becoming messy and slow, despite a couple of half chances at both ends Reading won the match 2-1 in a game in which the young Lillywhites will be feeling disappointed after putting in a good, industrious performance. It was for the most part a good free flowing game of football and it was really nice to see so many good performances on the field, it was however evident that we missed our players that were on international duty. I thought midfielder Dylan Duncan had a very good game in the number ten position, Duncan constantly looked to get in to goal scoring opportunities and his relentlessness and hard work paid off after he scored just before the break. Samuel Shashoua has put in some exceptional performances of recent and the winger had yet another great game on Saturday. Shashoua was the most creative player on the field, his quick feet and excellent vision troubled the Reading back four and his eagerness to get forward posed a constant threat to the visitors. Young defender TJ Eyoma had a good game at right back, Eyoma was strong on the ball and his concentration and decision making were impressive. In addition schoolboy Oliver Skipp had a good game in the centre of the park especially in the first half where he had a very good game, Skipp really reminds me of a young Michael Carrick.

I managed to catch the first half of our under 15’s match against Milwall yesterday morning it was great to see this talented pool of players for the first time, although I wasn’t able to recognise a fair few players I did however recognise talented centre half Malachi Walcott who I was really impressed with, Walcott’s over all decision making was top draw and the composed defender is without doubt a hot prospect . I left the match at the start of the second half at which time the score was 2-1 to Spurs.

My man of the match: Goalscorer Dylan who put in an excellent shift behind the centre forward.
Spurs U18s: Whiteman, Eyoma, Tsaroulla, Skipp (Patterson 74), Mukena, Marsh (c), Shashoua, Oakley-Boothe, Sterling (Oteh 63), Duncan, Bennetts (P Maghoma 79). Substitute (not used): Freeman (GK).