Spurs under 18’s 2-3 Brighton & Hove Albion: (match report)

 

Our under 18’s second league game of the 2019/20 season saw us take on south coast club Brighton & Hove Albion at Hotspur Way. It was to be another tricky game for Matt Taylor’s side, as they continue to get to know the remaining second year scholars. Despite getting off to their perfect start after Max Robson won a penalty inside the first minute of the game, Kion Etete converted from the spot to give Spurs an early lead. However, after taking the lead Taylor’s side seemed to struggle and this allowed the ‘ Seagulls ‘ with a way back into the game. After creating some good chances Brighton levelled through Stefan Vukoje in the 20th minute of time. And Mark Beard’s side finished the half strongly as Spurs struggled to come to terms with there equaliser. Brighton also started the second half well and they took the lead for the first time in the game on 62 minutes through the potent Lorent Tolaj. Tolaj would net his second of the game less than 13 minutes later as the ‘ Seagulls ‘ dominated. A late Spurs resurgence resulted in second half substitute Kallum Cesay netting a late goal but it turned out to only be a consolation goal for Matt Taylor’s side who suffered there second consecutive defeat of the season. Matt Taylor’s side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation on Saturday morning. Kacper Kurylowicz started in goal while a back four of Matthew Craig, Marqes Muir, Luis Binks and Dermi Lusala started in front of him. Michael Craig and Chay Cooper anchored the midfield, while Max Robson and Tarrelle Whittaker operated out on the flanks either side of CAM Nile John. 17 year old striker Kion Etete led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway on a sunny morning in Enfield. And the young ‘ Lilywhites ‘ started the game brightly, a nice early move resulted in Michael Craig passing the ball to Tarrelle Whittaker who, passed the ball to Max Robson who had made a run into the Brighton penalty area. Robson was then bundled to the ground by Brighton defender Antef Tsoungui and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Kion Etete stepped up to take the resulting spot kick and the second year scholar made no mistake. Etete fired the ball inside the bottom left hand corner of the goal to beat Brighton goalkeeper Fynn Talley, 1-0.

After Max Robson played a corner kick short to Tarrelle Whittaker the wide man sent a cross deep into the Brighton box where he managed to pick out Luis Binks at the back post. However, the defenders looping header went over Fynn Talley’s crossbar. Then at the other end of the pitch Irishman Matthew Everitt came inside from the right flank before firing an effort on goal which clipped off of Stefan Vukoje inside the Spurs box and onto Jack Leahy who was ruled offside. The commanding Kacper Kurylowicz gathered a low cross from Leahy shortly after, before the Polish youth international plucked a free kick from Jack Spong out of the air. Tarrelle Whittaker then had a cross cleared away by Luka Cocoracchio before Fynn Talley gathered a free kick from Nile John. After Dermi Lusala brought down Jack Spong on the edge of the Tottenham penalty area, Spong curled his resulting effort wide of Kurylowicz’s goal as the game continued to be closely fought. Sam Packham cleared a cross from Matthew Craig before Cooper fed the ball into Lusala down the left side of the Brighton box but his resulting weak effort was saved comfortably by Talley. After beating Ed Turns down the left side of the Brighton box Tarrelle Whittaker tried to square the ball for Etete but Fynn Talley came out to smother it. After Chay Cooper had conceded a free kick right on the edge of the Brighton box, Scotland youth international Marc Leonard curled an effort over Kurylowicz’s crossbar. Brighton drew level in the 20th minute of the game. After Stefan Vukoje latched onto Marc Leonard’s long ball over the top of the Spurs defence, Vukoje burst forward before going down the left side of the Spurs box and tucking the ball past Kurylowicz and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 1-1. After Lorent Tolaj drifted in from the left flank he tested Kurylowicz in the Spurs box with a thumping effort. Dermi Lusala then had an effort from long range deflected behind for a corner kick by Jack Leahy before Brighton attacked Spurs once more. After being given the ball by Stefan Vukoje, Marc Leonard powered a low effort at Kurylowicz’s goal which took a slight nick off of Marqes Muir. However, Leonard’s effort was parried by Kurylowicz before he managed to smother the ball in time, before Lorent Tolaj could get to it.

Matthew Craig saw his cross into the Brighton box cleared away by Luka Cocoracchio before Michael Craig passed the ball to Nile John on the edge of the Brighton box, and he came close to setting through Tarrelle Whittaker on goal. Luis Binks cleared a cross from Lorent Tolaj before a cross from Jack Leahy managed to pick out Antef Tsoungui in the Spurs box with a cross, but Tsoungui’s resulting headed effort was saved by Kurylowicz. After some nice skill Nile John pumped the ball into the Brighton penalty area where he managed to pick out Max Robson at the back post, but he headed wide of Fynn Talley’s goal. The referee sounded his whistle for halftime shortly after. Centre back Marqes Muir was replaced by right back Kallum Cesay at the break as Matthew Craig switched to RCB. Brighton restarted the game. A good move saw Whittaker pass the ball to John who slipped it into Robson down the left side of the Brighton box but the Spurs wingers resulting effort was saved by Fynn Talley. A couple of minutes later Nile John scooped a nice ball up for Chay Cooper who had made a run down the left hand side of the Brighton box but he fired his effort narrowly over Fynn Talley’s crossbar on the half volley. Then at the other end of the pitch Sam Packham whipped a dangerous cross across the face of Kacper Kurylowicz’s goal, before Jack Leahy cut inside from the left flank before curling an effort wide of the Spurs mans goal. Brighton continued to put pressure on Spurs, Stefan Vukoje received Marc Leonard’s pass on the edge of the Spurs penalty area before curling a low effort a fraction wide of the mark. Nile John then whipped an effort just wide of the Brighton goal from long range, before Luis Binks was shown a yellow card for bringing down Matthew Everitt down the right flank. Shortly past the hour mark Brighton took the lead through Lorent Tolaj. After latching onto Marc Leonard’s long ball over the top of the Spurs defence, he ran through into the Spurs box before slotting the ball past the outrushing Kurylowicz and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 1-2.

After receiving Max Robson’s pass on the edge of the Brighton box, Tarrelle Whittaker forced a save out of Talley with a powerful low effort on goal. Brighton then attacked us down the opposite end of the pitch, Ed Turns gave the ball to Lorent Tolaj who slipped it into Stefan Vukoje in the Spurs box however, Luis Binks came across Vukoje to make an excellent last ditch block to stop the Brighton mans effort from testing Kurylowicz who was able to comfortably gather the ball, it was an excellent piece of defending from the 17 year old. After Matthew Everitt passed the ball to Todd Miller from the left wing the Brighton substitutes effort was pushed away by Kurylowicz before Jack Spong fired wide. Enock Asante replaced Max Robson out on the left wing shortly afterwards. After latching onto Dermi Lusala’s pass down the right hand side of the Brighton box the overlapping Kallum Cesay struck the bottom right hand post. Then at the other end of the pitch Stefan Vukoje had an effort defelcted over by Michael Craig before Luis Binks blocked a shot from Todd Miller. Brighton continued to pressurise the Tottenham defence and after Matthew Everitt passed the ball to Stefan Vujoke who fired wide on the turn from inside the Spurs box. A couple of minutes later Brighton all too easily extended their lead. A good attacking move ended in Everitt passing the ball to Lorent Tolaj after he had received Todd Miller’s pass inside the Spurs box and he fired the ball past Kurylowicz and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal on the turn, 1-3. Enock Asante headed Tarrelle Whittaker’s corner kick into the arms of Fynn Talley shortly after the restart as Spurs tried to respond. However, Brighton continued to come at us. Todd Miller whipped an effort over Kurylowicz’s crossbar before Lorent Tolaj nodded over from Matthew Everitt’s cross. Stefan Vukoje fired a deflected wide off of Dermi Lusala down the right hand side of the Spurs box before Kacper Kurylowicz saved a low effort from Todd Miller. Tarrelle Whittaker had a deflected effort saved after shooting on the edge of the Brighton box. Then in the 86th minute of the game Spurs managed to pull a goal back. 

After Tarrelle Whittaker passed the ball to Pedder out on the right flank the Spurs substitute whipped the ball into Binks at the back post. Binks’ headed effort came off the bottom of the right hand post before bouncing into the path of Kallum Cesay who tapped home from close range, 2-3. Kurylowicz saved Stefan Vukoje’s late strike before Spurs had a good chance to get a late equaliser. After Nile John received the ball on the edge of the Brighton box the Spurs midfielder should have passed the ball to Cesay who had made a good run down the right side of the Brighton box however, John opted to go for glory but his effort sailed over Fynn Talley’s crossbar. The referee sounded his whistle for full time a couple of seconds later. Up next for Matt Taylor’s side is a home league game against Norwich City, next Saturday.

Player reviews:

• Kacper Kurylowicz: The Spurs goalkeeper made five saves in total on the day and apart from leading his defence well throughout the game, Kurylowicz had a very solid match in between the sticks. The 17 year old  dealt well with crosses and set pieces, he also made a number of strong saves.
• Matthew Craig: Operating at right back for the first half, Michael Craig had a solid first half half before slotting into central defence for the second half where he was tidy.
• Marqes Muir: He put in a decent first half performance but he was ultimately substituted at halftime.
• Luis Binks: My man of the match, see below.
• Dermi Lusala: The left back went on some powerful attacking forays down the left flank and he also defended relatively solidly.
• Chay Cooper: The 17 year old made a number of intelligent passes from central midfield and he also linked up well with the forwards.
• Michael Craig: The CM used the ball well and he made some well weighted passes.
• Tarrelle Whittaker: Operating on both flanks throughout the game, Whittaker was one of our best players. He went on some promising attacking forays and he made some good passes.
• Nile John: The CAM was heavily involved in the game, he showed nice skill and his movement was also good. 
• Max Robson: The wide man won the early penalty kick and he made some good runs out wide.
• Kion Etete: The striker held the ball up well, his movement was good and his sheer presence made him a real handful for the Brighton defence. Etete took his penalty well.
• Kallum Cesay: The second half substitute went on some good overlapping runs down the right flank and he was in the right place at the right time to tuck away our late goal. He also defended his side of the pitch well. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him. 
• Enock Asante: Showed good movement during his time on the pitch.
• Rafferty Pedder: The second half substitute was involved in our late consolation goal. 

My man of the match: Although there weren’t many standout performers for Spurs on the day, I thought that our best player was captain Luis Binks. Operating at LCB Binks made a couple of really well timed challenges and blocks and he was very good in the air. In addition to his fine defending the second year scholar was commanding at the back and he talked his teammates through the game. Binks’ last ditch sliding block to prevent Stefan Vukoje from getting a shot away inside the Spurs box during the second half,  was top class. 

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2019/20:

Goals: Kion Etete – 1

Kallum Cesay – 1

Assists: Max Robson – 1

Luis Binks – 1

Spurs: Kurylowicz, Matthew Craig, Lusala, Cooper (Pedder 72), Muir (Cesay 46), Binks (c), Robson (Asante 66), Michael Craig, Etete, John, Whittaker. Substitute (not used): Lo-Tutala.