Spurs under 18’s 9-0 West Ham United: (match report)

An outstanding high energy performance from Matt Wells under 18 side on Saturday morning, saw Spurs overcome West Ham to record an emphatic 9-0 victory over the Hammers at their Little Heath sports ground. That win sees Spurs remain at the top of the southern division with an unsurprisingly healthy goal difference. On what was our under 18’s head coach Matt Wells’ 30th birthday, the young Spurs lads gave him a birthday to remember. Putting in an outstanding performance against our London rivals, Spurs played with an attacking intensity which totally blew away what was a strong West Ham team albeit with a couple of under 16’s. After a fairly even first half Spurs found themselves two goals to the good at half time. The first was slightly fortuitous after Emmanuel Longelo put Harvey White’s cross into the back of his own net on the stroke of halftime. Then deep into stoppage time Spurs made it 2-0 courtesy of a fine strike from Rodel Richards. However, it was in the second half that Spurs took real control of the game. Playing at a much higher intensity, Wells side looked far more energetic, they moved the ball around a lot quicker and managed to express themselves a lot more. We really turned it on in that second half and our superb intricate attacking football, masterful defending and domination across the centre of the park proved far too much for the Hammers. Our lads were quite simply unstoppable and some of the football that they played at Little Heath was absolutely glorious. Our seven goal blitz in the second half saw a wide variety of players get on the score sheet. The ever impressive Troy Parrott scored a brace before laying off two goals for his teammates, whilst the likes of Dilan Markanday, Harvey White and J’Neil Bennett added to their tallies this season to ensure that Spurs recorded one of their highest scoring victories at this level, and to make it even sweeter it was against one of our bitter London rivals in their own backyard.

Troy Parrott and J’Neil Bennett dropped down to the under 18 side for Saturday mornings game. Matt Wells side lined up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, in front of him was a back four made up of Tainio, Lyons-Foster, White and Cirkin. Jamie Bowden and the captain Armando Shashoua paired up in the centre of the park whilst an attacking trio of Markanday, Richards and Bennett lined up behind centre forward Troy Parrott who led the line. The home side got the game underway on a rainy autumnal morning at Little Heath. And both sets of players looked lively in the opening couple of minutes of the game. A well worked move from the Hammers almost caught us out after Sebastian Nebyla picked up Longelo’s pass out on the right wing. Nebyla continued forwards before squaring the ball to Vernon Parkes who was waiting inside the penalty area. Luckily for Oluwayemi, Parkes fired over from close range. Spurs then responded down the other end after Bennett cut inside from the left wing before curling a wonderful effort from around 20-25 yards out from goal on to Joseph Anang’s crossbar. Some good defending from Okotcha inside the West Ham penalty area prevented Parrott from connecting with Dilan Markanday’s cross shortly afterwards as both sides tried to take control of the game. 17 year old centre half Brooklyn Lyons-Foster headed Jamie Bowden’s free kick wide a couple of moments later. And Wells side went close again when Bennett fired a deflected effort narrowly wide of goal after receiving Markanday’s pass inside the six yard box. Tottenham skipper Armando Shashoua then saw his effort blocked by Jamal Baptiste with the ball rolling out to Markanday on the right flank. The forward whipped a menacing ball into the danger zone which took a hefty deflection off of a West Ham defender before troubling Anang who did just about enough on the line to palm the ball away to safety.

The young Lilywhites were seeing more of the ball in the opening stages however, it was an incredibly even and end to end game of football. Hammers fullback Will Greenidge had a penalty claim waived away by the referee Matthew Pollington after Cirkin had brought him down inside the penalty area. Josh Oluwayemi was forced into making his first save of the game shortly afterwards to gather Nebyla’s long range effort. Frustratingly for Troy Parrott his numerous well timed runs through the middle weren’t being picked up and this was evidently frustrating the Dubliner. We then had a scare after West Ham came close to opening the scoring. After having the ball fed into him by Nebyla down the right, Longelo squared it for Parkes who was lurking at Oluwayemi’s far post. However, the Hammers forward squandered the chance and ended up clipping the ball narrowly wide of the goal. Parkes had been allowed far too much space inside the six yard box. Our skipper Armando Shashoua picked up the first yellow card of the game shortly afterwards, after the 17 year old cynically tugged on the racing Jamal Baptiste’s shirt to break up a dangerous West Ham attack. A lapse in concentration from centre half Harvey White presented the home side with a promising chance a couple of minutes later. After the Tottenham man had mistimed a pass the lively Longelo was quickest to the loose ball. The winger managed to prod the ball through to Parkes inside the box. However, Oluwayemi came rushing out and managed to produce an important stop with his right foot to prevent the forwards low effort. Young J’Neil Bennett could be seen getting increasingly frustrated out on the left flank, the 16 year old was finding himself in acres of space out on that side but his teammates weren’t shifting the ball out to him enough. Matt Wells side produced an incisive attacking move after Shashoua received Parrott’s pass on the edge of the penalty area. The Tottenham captain spotted the run of Richards into the penalty area and fed a well weighted pass into him. Unfortunately the slightly rusty Rodel Richards couldn’t convert, with only the goalkeeper to beat. Richards had got his body shape all wrong and the 18 year old ended up scuffing his effort wide of Anang’s goal, much to the relief of the Hammers goalkeeper.

The 18 year old forward who had looked lively in the opening stages to say the least, then glanced a dangerous looping header across the face of Anang’s goal after going to meet Bowden’s excellent, pacy cross in the box. The uneven and slightly frantic nature of the game continued, West Ham defender Jamal Baptiste’s ball over the top of the Spurs defence, caused a few problems for Lyons-Foster as Nebyla raced past the Tottenham defender to find himself one on one with the Spurs goalkeeper. Oluwayemi had come rushing off his line as Nebyla tried to delicately dink the ball over the Spurs goalkeeper. Thankfully the effort lacked pace and Lyons-Foster was able to get back to clear the ball to safety before it crossed the line. An injury sustained by the referee shortly afterwards meant that the players had a good four minute break. I couldn’t help but noticing goalkeeping coach Rob Burch giving Oluwayemi advice. Harvey White forced a decent stop out of Anang shortly after play got started up again. After receiving Bennett’s pass on the edge of the West Ham penalty area White hit a powerful low effort at goal which was comfortably gathered by the West Ham United goalkeeper. The alert Lyons-Foster nodded over White’s corner kick a couple of moments later as our intricate attacking football continued to show no real signs of bearing fruit, against what could only be described as a very solid West Ham defence. Spurs were continuing to test Anang in the West Ham goal. After being slipped in down the left wing by Richards the speedy J’Neil Bennett whipped the ball into the danger zone but it was deflected out into the path of Bowden who was waiting on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder tested Anang with a stinging first time side footed effort which the 18 year old managed to tip over the bar. Troy Parrott should have gotten on the scoresheet a couple of moments later, after the Irishman was played through on goal by Rodel Richards. With Parrott one on one with Anang from only six yards out you’d have expected the net to bulge. However, the 16 year olds rather tame effort was easily gobbled up by the West Ham goalkeeper as Parrott looked to the sky in desperation.

Emmanuel Longelo cut inside from the right wing before testing Oluwayemi in the Spurs goal shortly afterwards, as both sides continued to go for the game. Right back Maximus Tainio sustained a head injury a couple of minutes later this caused a short delay to proceedings. The potent Markanday forced a good move shortly after the restart when he passed to Parrott on the edge of the penalty area. Parrott laid the ball off to Richards but Greenidge managed to get in front of him to make a crucial interception. Just when it appeared that both teams were going to head into the break all level, Matt Wells side took a slightly fortuitous lead right on the stroke of halftime. Central defender Harvey White picked the ball up on the right wing before sending a typically inviting cros into the danger zone on his left foot. White’s curling cross unsettled the West Ham defenders who were trying desperately hard to mark Parrott, and White’s cross ended up coming off of the leg of West Ham’s Emmanuel Longelo with the ball managing to creep inside the bottom left hand corner of Anang’s goal, 1-0. This seemed to spur Tottenham on and only a matter of three minutes later and deep into stoppage time, Matt Wells side doubled their advantage. It was a devastating attacking move from Spurs as Markanday passed the ball to Richards inside the penalty area. The forward took a good first touch before slotting the ball around the West Ham United goalkeeper and into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Richards did well to stay on his feet after being taken out by Okotcha’s sliding challenge in the process, 2-0. It would be fair to say that the scoreline somewhat flattered the young Lilywhites as they went into half time with a healthy two goal cushion. Spurs got the second half underway as the rain continued to pour down in east London, and it was quite evident from the opening 30 seconds of the half that Spurs had started with a different energy about their game. The ever impressive Jamie Bowden curled a free kick narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area less than a minute into the half.

Okotcha did well a couple of moments later to snuff out Dilan Markanday’s low cross towards Parrott at the back post, to prevent a certain goal for the Irishman. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster then found himself playing an exquisite one – two with Richards inside the West Ham penalty area, but the youngster was crowded out inside the box. The ball then came rolling out to Markanday whose effort forced a Tottenham corner. And it was from the resulting corner kick that Spurs were awarded a penalty. Bowden’s corner kick came out to Lyons-Foster at the near post. The central defender controlled the ball well before attempting to go past Okotcha who panicked and ended up bringing Lyons-Foster to the floor without winning the ball. 17 year old Harvey White stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick and the young midfielder was as cool and composed as you like, as the Kent born teenager slotted the ball straight down the middle of Anang’s goal to make it 3-0 to Spurs. The excellent Brooklyn Lyons-Foster made a superb, last ditch sliding challenge to prevent the ever threatening Vernon Parkes from getting a shot away inside the Tottenham penalty area. J’Neil Bennett then had a penalty claim waived away at the other end after he was brought down by none other than Vernon Parkes. Noticeable cracks in the West Ham defence were starting to become more and more evident. Dilan Markanday combined well with Bennett on the edge of the box a couple of minutes later before curling an effort wide of Anang’s gaol. The solid Tainio whipped an inviting ball into the danger area shortly afterwards in which Parrott only just missed as he came darting across the Hammers defence. After such an excellent start to the second half Spurs were looking a lot more confident with the ball at their feet. And things got even better for Matt Wells side after they netted their fourth of the game in the 58th minute. The electric Rodel Richards picked up Shashoua’s pass from around 20-25 yards out from goal. The 18 year old looked up before curling a wonderful effort into the bottom left hand side of Anang’s goal, it was a truly marvellous finish from the former Arsenal schoolboy, 4-0.

The ever alert Lyons-Foster blocked Diallo’s powerful attempt at goal shortly after the restart as Spurs continued to boss the match. Rodel Richards was brought off in place of Rayan Clarke on the hour mark as Wells looked to give as many of his substitutes as much game time as possible in the remaining half an hour of the match. A little under five minutes after Rodel Richards had made it 4-0 to the Lilywhites, Dubliner Troy Parrott got a well deserved goal to make it 5-0 on 63 minutes. A menacing driving run through the middle from Markanday took place after he had received Lyons-Foster’s well weighted pass out from the back. Markanday continued to skip though the middle unopposed before slipping a nice pass into the feet of Clarke who found himself one on one with Anang down the left side of the penalty area. The powerful winger showed good composure in front of the outrushing West Ham goalkeeper before being taken out by the 18 year old. The ball then came to Parrott in the centre of the penalty area as he tapped home from close range, 5-0. And Spurs netted their sixth goal of the game a mere two minutes later as the relatively quiet and uninvolved J’Neil Bennett got on the score sheet. It was another well worked move from Wells side as Troy Parrott spotted the run of J’Neil Bennett down the right side of the penalty area. Parrott slipped the ball into Bennett with a nicely weighted pass, the winger took a touch before composing himself and calmly tucking the ball past Anang and into the far corner of the goal, 6-0. Bennett was brought off in the place of Maurizio Pochettino a couple of moments later as Spurs continued to humiliate the Hammers who were unable to cope with the intensity that Matt Wells side were injecting into the game. The excellent Brooklyn Lyons-Foster made an important block to thwart Amadou Diallo’s effort shortly after the restart as Spurs looked to keep their clean sheet. Every time Spurs got the ball they wanted to drive at the West Ham defence, there was a real willingness and hunger to add to their already emphatic lead. Dilan Markanday went close after his curler from the edge of the penalty area forced Anang into making a smart diving stop.

Dennis Cirkin blocked Longelo’s effort at the other end of the pitch before Lyons-Foster made a similarly important block a couple of moments later, to prevent Appiah-Forson from getting his shot away from inside the penalty area. Maxwell Statham replaced the captain Armando Shashoua just before that chance for Appiah-Forson, as Harvey White reverted back to his natural position of central midfield. What was so impressive about the way in which Spurs played in the second half was the fact that they never lowered their intensity. There was a real attacking intent and urgency to keep the ball moving and this was absolutely tearing the tiring Hammers defence to shreds. We made it 7-0 on 77 minutes after Parrott netted his second goal of the game with a cheeky finish past Anang. It was an exquisite piece of play which led to the goal as Jamie Bowden received Markanday’s pass in the centre of the park. Bowden immediately spotted the run of Parrott across the West Ham defence, he then fed his fellow Irishman in with a peach of pass. Timing his run to perfection, Parrott skipped into the penalty area where he was met by the outrushing Anang. However, Parrott showed great composure to dink the ball over the West Ham United goalkeeper and into the bottom left hand corner of the net, 7-0. A rare chance for West Ham shortly after the restart meant that Oluwayemi had to be alert to punch clear Amadou Diallo’s free kick into the penalty area. Spurs were hungry for more goals and Matt Wells side extended their lead in the 84th minute of the game, through the impressive Markanday. The goal came about after left back Dennis Cirkin went on a driving run down the flank before finding Markanday inside the six yard box with a low cross. The forwards initial effort was blocked by a West Ham United defender, but the 17 year old made no mistakes on the follow up as he swivelled around his man before rifling an unstoppable strike into the top right hand corner of the goal, 8-0.

Harvey White threw his body in the way of Nebyla’s strike at the other end as Spurs looked to protect Oluwayemi’s clean sheet, only a couple of moments after Diallo had fired over after going on a galavanting run down the left wing. And things got even better for Matt Wells talented side when they netted their ninth and final goal of the game in the 88th minute of time. Right back Maximus Tainio played a big part in the goal after the Finnish youth international won the ball on the halfway line. The fullback drove forwards down the right wing before slipping the ball into Parrott who quickly released it to Clarke who darted down the left side of the penalty area before slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 9-0. Tottenham’s emphatic victory over West Ham was one of their biggest wins at this level of all time (and I have been studying results going back to the early 1960’s!), and it occurred just a matter of months after we beat Arsenal by the very same score line. It was an exceptional team performance from Spurs who played with an attacking intensity that Mark Phillips Hammers side just couldn’t match. Our players understanding of one another was superb as too was the way in which they moved the ball around in the final third. They were so slick and crafty, it was dare I say it total football from Matt Wells side. After consolidating their place at the top of the southern league in extraordinary circumstances, Matt Wells side will now turn their attentions to this seasons premier league cup campaign which they get underway at home to Wolves next Saturday. Spurs reached the final of this competition last season.

Player reviews: – Joshua Oluwayemi: It was another impressive performance from the second year scholar who managed to make a number of important stops (particularly in the first half) to ensure that Wells side kept their second clean sheet of the season. Oluwayemi made some really smart stops and managed to read the game well. His excellent save to deny Parkes from a one one position in the first half proved to be so very important. Whilst Oluwayemi’s distribution was at times a little inaccurate, the 17 year old made a string of really important saves as he continues his fine start to the new season.
– Maximus Tainio: It was a solid showing at right back from the young Finn who managed to defend well against Amadou Diallo down that side of the pitch. Tainio was good at anticipating danger and he played a big part in our ninth and final goal of the game.
– Harvey White: The 17 year old operated at centre half for Spurs’ latest game at this level, and once again he put in another really impressive showing as he showed off his versatility. White formed a particularly strong partnership with Lyons-Foster at the back which helped to thwart the attacking threat of some of West Ham’s most potent players. White was so calm under pressure and played the ball out from the back well. In addition he also made so crucial interventions before switching to central midfield for the last 20 minutes of the game. His deftly accurate passing and vision helped to create some nice openings for Spurs. It’s also worth mentioning that the teenager converted a nice penalty at the beginning of the second half as well as getting the assist for our opener on the stroke of halftime.
– Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: My motm, see below.
– Dennis Cirkin: Cirkin stayed deep for large periods of the game but the 16 year old protected that side incredibly well. Defending well against the speedy Emmanuel Longelo, Cirkin kept his man in check and the Dubliner managed to make some important blocks and interceptions. Cirkin looked very good on the ball and he played a big part in setting up Dilan Markanday’s goal after going on a powerful driving run down the left wing before finding the Tottenham forward inside the box with a well weighted cross.
– Jamie Bowden: Exactly the type of creative midfield player that our under 23’s missed during our game against Everton the following day. However, I won’t go into that as Bowden was excellent once again for Wells side on Saturday morning. He played slightly deeper than he had done in recent games but he played just as a big a part in the game. Tigerish and confident in the centre of midfield, Bowden mopped up well after him and helped to break up play effectively. He used the ball resourcefully and looked so good on it. Whilst he got stuck in in the centre of the park, the midfield anchorman also managed to create a number of good chances for the forwards and bagged his fifth assist of the campaign when he set up Troy Parrott’s goal in the second half.
– Armando Shashoua: Despite being replaced on 69 minutes for centre half Maxwell Statham, captain Armando Shashoua put in another really mature performance in the centre of midfield. He rarely misplaced a pass and helped to dictate play with his swiftness and energy in the centre of the park. Shashoua also made some really clever passes throughout the game. Under 23 football cannot be far away!
– Dilan Markanday: Markanday was excellent out on the right wing, he was tireless and willing to track back after him and pick the ball up before going on some really tricky attacking forays. His speed, excellent balance and many clever twists and turns managed to open up the Hammers defence on numerous occasions. He was so creative and decisive with the ball. Markanday finished the game with a goal and an assist to his name.
– Rodel Richards: Despite this being Rodel Richards first under 18 appearance of the season, the number ten put in an excellent performance behind centre forward Troy Parrott. Whilst at times a little rusty, Richards still managed to look so very sharp with the ball at his disposal. Tricky and lively, Richards made some excellent and well timed runs into the danger zone. The south Londoner was involved in three of our goals (scoring twice and assisting once) and that fellow Spurs fans is just a little indication of what is to come from the 18 year old this season.
– J’Neil Bennett: Frustrated and isolated for large periods of the game despite finding himself in acres of space out on the left wing, Bennett was quite involved and rarely managed to beat his man. However, Bennett still managed to get on the score sheet with an excellently taken second half finish. Hammers right back Will Greenidge defended against him very well.
– Troy Parrott: The young Dubliner led the line for only the second time at this level, this season. However, the highly rated centre forward put in an excellent performance and managed to score a richly deserved brace. Hardworking and willing to drop deep and pick the ball up in the centre of midfield, Parrott was excellent on the ball and impressed with his hold up play. He also made many excellently timed runs through the middle (many of which were ignored in the first half!). Parrott’s strength made it difficult for the West Ham defenders to deal with him and after missing a golden chance in the first half. Parrot redeemed himself by scoring two really well taken goals in the second half as well as creating two goals for his teammates.
– Rayan Clarke: Clarke was introduced to the game with 30 minutes remaining after he replaced Rodel Richards. Playing on the left wing, Clarke went on some powerful runs down that side. The wide man scored a well taken finish late on in the game, to net Spurs’ ninth and final goal.
– Maurizio Pochettino: It was a decent but fairly uninvolved second half cameo for Pochettino out on the right wing during the second half.
– Maxwell Statham: Appeared to bolster our defence after coming on with 19 minutes remaining. However, the centre half didn’t have an awful lot to deal with. I would imagine that he will start the Wolves game next Saturday.

My man of the match: Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. It was a masterful performance from the 17 year old ball playing centre half. This was only Lyons-Foster’s third start at this level since last March. However, the Stones-esque teenager was flawless against the Hammers. I felt obliged to give my award to one of our prolific attacking players, but for me Lyons-Foster’s superb defending was just as important. He read the game exceptionally well and made some really important recoveries throughout the game. Good in the air and so calming with the ball at his feet, the Islington born defender made some lovely and influential passes through the lines. He also dealt with the likes of Parkes and Nebyla incredibly well and managed to produce a magnificent sliding challenge to stop the former getting a shot away inside the penalty area in the first half. The teenager also won Harvey White’s penalty in the second half. However, it was Brooklyn’s many important blocks, clearances and interceptions which were so crucial to the way in which the game panned out for Wells side. Lyons-Foster’s impeccable defending and exemplary runs out from the back were first class. After Malachi Walcott picked up an injury last week I would expect Lyons-Foster to start our UEFA youth league game against Barcelona next week.

Spurs: Oluwayemi, Tainio, Cirkin, Bowden, Lyons-Foster, White, Markanday, A Shashoua (c, Statham 71), Parrott, Richards (Clarke 60), Bennett (Pochettino 64). Substitutes (not used): Kurylowicz, Okedina.

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2018/19:

Goals scored: J’Neil Bennett – 5
Troy Parrott – 4
Dilan Markanday – 3
Paris Maghoma – 2
Dennis Cirkin – 2
Jeremie Mukendi – 2
Rayan Clarke – 2
Rodel Richards – 2
Luis Binks – 1
Brooklyn Lyons-Foster – 1
Armando Shashoua – 1
Phoenix Patterson – 1
Harvey White – 1

Assists: Harvey White – 5
Jamie Bowden – 5
Armando Shashoua – 4
Phoenix Patterson – 2
Troy Parrott – 2
Paris Maghoma – 1
Maurizio Pochettino – 1
J’Neil Bennett – 1
Malachi Walcott – 1
Luis Binks – 1
Rodel Richards – 1
Dilan Markanday -1
Brooklyn Lyons-Foster -1
Rayan Clarke – 1

Clean sheets: Joshua Oluwayemi – 2