Spurs under 18’s 4-0 Norwich City: (match report)

Our under 18’s took on Norwich City in game week three of the Premier league under 18 south, on Saturday morning at Hotspur Way. After doing the double over the ‘ Canaries ‘ last season Matt Taylor’s side would have been hoping that they could match that feat this season going into Saturday’s game. Spurs went into this game winless from their opening two league fixtures however, that was all about to change. An excellent team performance from Taylor’s side  resulted in them beating Norwich City by four goals to nil. Our under 18’s played some excellent attacking football as they dominated the ‘ Canaries ‘ for large periods of the game. Taylor’s side got off to a flying start and just under two minutes into the game they took the lead through Max Robson. Taylor’s side doubled their advantage shortly afterwards through Tarrelle Whittaker before Rafferty Pedder netted Spurs’ third goal of the game to cap off a dominant first half performance from the young ‘ Lilywhites ‘. During the second half Spurs continued to dominate the game as they moved the ball around the park crisply and with real attacking intent. Chay Cooper made it 4-0 to Spurs late on in the game after he scored a glorious goal from over 25 yards out from the Norwich goal to cap off an excellent performance from the young Spurs lads. Spurs lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with overage goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi starting in goal while a back four of Kallum Cesay, Matthew Craig, captain Luis Binks and Dermi Lusala lined up in front of him. Michael Craig and Max Robson teamed up in central midfield while Tarrelle Whittaker and Chay Cooper operated out on the flanks, either side of Rafferty Pedder who played in the hole. Striker Enock Asante led the line for Spurs on his first start of the season. The young ‘ Lilywhites ‘ got the game underway on a swelteringly hot afternoon in Enfield. After knocking the ball around the park well during the opening stages of the game Spurs took the lead through their first meaningful attack of the morning. After the astute Rafferty Pedder played a free kick quickly to central midfielder Michael Craig, he quickly passed the ball to Max Robson on the edge of the Norwich City box and the Spurs midfielder cooly tucked the ball into the bottom left hand corner of Joe Rose’s goal, 1-0.

Less than three minutes later and through only their second attack of the game Spurs managed to double their advantage. After Chay Cooper had passed the ball to Tarrelle Whittaker on the right hand side of the edge of the Norwich box, the speedy wide man sorted out his feet quickly before firing the ball into the bottom left hand corner of Joe Rose’s goal, 2-0. Shortly after the restart the lively Chay Cooper robbed Tom Dickson-Peters of the ball on the edge of the Norwich box before he dragged an effort wide of goal. After a good brief spell of possession for the away side Spurs managed to get back into the groove. After Dermi Lusala had brought the ball forward down the left flank he threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Enock Asante to set the Spurs striker racing through on goal. However, Asante’s low effort was saved by Joe Rose before being cleared on the line by Jonathan Tomkinson. A couple of moments later Enock Asante volleyed Rafferty Pedder’s cross wide before Tarrelle Whittaker forced a low save out of Joe Rose with a powerful effort from down the left side of the Norwich box. Spurs continued to dominate the game. After Pedder passed the ball forward to Asante in the Norwich box the Spurs striker managed to round the ‘ Canaries ‘ goalkeeper Joe Rose before having his resulting shot on goal blocked by Norwich midfielder Andrew Omobamidele. Rafferty Pedder then had a whipped effort from the edge of the Norwich penalty area saved by Joe Rose. Pedder then threaded a pass through to Max Robson who surged forward down the left flank before entering the Norwich box where he tried to back heel the ball to Asante but it was cut out by Andrew Omobamidele. Luis Binks then managed to clear Tyrese Omotoye’s low cross into the Spurs box before a short cooling break took place. Joshua Oluwayemi made his first save of the game when he managed to gather Tyrese Omotoye’s powerful low effort from the edge of the Tottenham penalty area, before spurs went forward down the other end of the pitch through Max Robson. Robson continued forward down the right flank before laying the ball off to Rafferty Pedder on the edge of the Norwich box. However, Pedder’s resulting effort on goal was blocked by Tom Dickson-Peters inside the Norwich danger zone. 

After Max Robson had won a free kick on the edge of Norwich box, Tarrelle Whittaker curled his resulting effort wide of Joe Rose’s goal. Then in the 39th minute of the game the best player on the park made it 3-0 to Spurs. After receiving Dermi Lusala’s pass out on the left flank, Rafferty Pedder surged forward down the left flank before entering the Norwich box and beating Joe Rose at his near post by calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 3-0. Rafferty Pedder had a dangerous corner kick punched away by Joe Rose before a good incisive passing move from the young ‘ Lilywhites ‘. After Lusala passed the ball to Pedder he gave it to Max Robson who drifted across the Norwich box from the right flank before firing an effort over Joe Rose’s goal. Luis Binks cleared Josh Martin’s free kick at the other end of the pitch before the referee sounded his whistle for halftime. Norwich got the second half underway. After Enock Asante gave the ball to Chay Cooper the right winger pumped an inviting cross into the Norwich box but it was cleared away by Andrew Omobamidele. A couple of minutes later Asante volleyed home a cross from Cooper but it was ruled offside by the linesman on the near side. The dangerous Enock Asante fired over on the edge of the Norwich box before the ‘ Canaries ‘ attacked us down the other end of the pitch through Tony Springett who passed the ball to Tom Dickson-Peters down the right flank but he then curled the ball across the face of Joshua Oluwayemi’s goal. Luis Binks then headed away Josh Martin’s corner kick before then clearing the same players free kick a couple of minutes later. After Tarrelle Whittaker passed the ball to Rafferty Pedder, he then passed the ball to Enock Asante on the edge of the Norwich box but his resulting effort was blocked behind for a corner kick by Jonathan Tomkinson. Shortly afterwards Tarrelle Whittaker headed Matthew Craig’s cross onto Joe Rose’s crossbar. At the opposite end of the pitch Tom Dickson-Peters threaded a pass into Tyrese Omotoye inside the Spurs box but the alert Joshua Oluwayemi came out to smother the ball in time.

After giving the ball away to Josh Martin in a dangerous position Michael Craig did ever so well to recover possession. Under 16 striker Dane Scarlett came on in place of Enock Asante. A couple of minutes later Max Robson intercepted Norwich captain Zac Dronfield before passing the ball forward to Dane Scarlett who darted down the left side of the Norwich box before having a low effort saved by Joe Rose. Romaine Mundle replaced Rafferty Pedder before another cooling break took place. After latching onto Tarrelle Whittaker’s corner kick at the back post Dane Scarlett forced a save out of Joe Rose from a header, before Tom Dickson-Peters fired an effort narrowly wide of Joshua Oluwayemi’s goal, after receiving substitute Josh Giurgi’s pass inside the Spurs penalty area. Eddie Carrington came onto replace the injured Max Robson shortly after the latter had picked up a knock. Oluwayemi managed to gather Tyrese Omotoye’s deflected cross. After receiving Tarrelle Whittaker’s pass, Chay Cooper had an effort from the edge of the Norwich box saved by Joe Rose. Whittaker then pumped a long ball into the Norwich box which was headed just wide of Joe Rose’s goal by Luis Binks. A couple of minutes later Josh Martin passed the ball to Tyrese Omotoye down the left hand side of the Spurs box whose resulting effort was saved by the outrushing Joshua Oluwayemi before Josh Martin’s resulting corner kick came to Tom Dickson-Peters whose effort was well saved by the outrushing Oluwayemi. After intercepting Andrew Omobamidele of the ball Dane Scarlett fired an effort wide of Joe Rose’s goal from long range. Tarrelle Whittaker then had a free kick punched away by Joe Rose before Spurs netted their fourth goal late on in the game. After Chay Cooper had played a one two with substitute Eddie Carrington out on the right flank the silky wide man then curled a glorious effort inside the top left hand corner of Joe Rose’s goal from the edge of the Norwich penalty area. After Josh Giurgi received Abu Kamara’s pass inside the Norwich box he curled an effort wide of Oluwayemi’s goal. 

The ever alert Luis Binks then cleared a late free kick from Josh Martin before the referee Ivan Gelov sounded his whistle for full time bringing an end to a game in which Spurs dominated from start to finish. Up next for Spurs is a trip to South Wales to face Swansea City at their Landore training centre.

Player reviews: 

• Joshua Oluwayemi: Vocal and commanding inside his penalty area, the overage goalkeeper put in a really solid performance for Matt Taylor’s side. Oluwayemi made three good saves in total and he dealt really well with all crosses and set pieces.
• Kallum Cesay: The right back put in a steady performance and he defended well for the entirety of the game. The former West Ham United schoolboy managed to neutralise the threat that Norwich winger Josh Martin posed. Cesay also got up and down the right flank well and he linked up well with winger Chay Cooper.
• Matthew Craig: It was an excellent performance from the Barnet born defender/midfielder who performed excellently at RCB alongside the more experienced Luis Binks. Technically very good, Matthew Craig read the game really well and he made numerous important defensive interventions i.e: Blocks, challenges and interceptions. His positioning was also very good.
• Luis Binks: Imperious and composed at the back, LCB Luis Binks really stood out alongside Matthew Craig in central defence. Winning virtually every aerial duel Binks was excellent in the air and strong in the challenge. Like Craig he read the game well and he made many a timely block and interception. It was another very mature performance from the England under 18 international.
• Dermi Lusala: Filling in at left back once again, Lusala had a good game for Spurs. He defended solidly, kept good positioning, and he also went on some nice attacking forays down the left flank. The England under 16 international also got the assist for Rafferty Pedder’s goal.
• Michael Craig: The deeper of two central midfielders, Michael Craig imposed himself well on the game in a very Oliver Skipp-esque manner. Craig moved the ball around the park well and he made some good blocks and defensive interventions. The Craig twins are the first twins to play at this high a level for Spurs since the Embery twins in the early 1960’s.
• Max Robson: With searing pace and a good eye for a pass, Max Robson stood out in central midfielder. He moved the ball around the park crisply and his movement was very good. Robson took his early goal well and the Haywards Heath born teenager made some good, intelligent runs. I was very impressed with his all round performance before he had to go off in the 65th minute after he picked up a knock.
• Chay Cooper: Lively and involved out on the right flank, Cooper’s skill and pace caused problems for Norwich left back Arash Ahmadi and he linked play really well. Cooper got the assist for Tarrelle Whittaker’s goal before going onto score our forth of the game with a glorious curling effort. It’s also worth noting that Cooper’s first touch on Saturday was second to none.
• Rafferty Pedder: My man of the match, see below.
• Tarrelle Whittaker: The left winger had a good game and he was often looking to beat his man down the left flank. Whittaker took his early goal well and afterwards he always remained involved in the game.
• Enock Asante: On another day the 17 year old could have had a hat-trick such was the excellent timing of his runs and movement in and around the danger zone. Asante came desperately close to finding the back of the net on three occasions and when he eventually did find it he was ruled offside. This was an encouraging performance from the second year scholar after he missed virtually all of last season through injury.
• Dane Scarlett: The England under 16 international came off the bench midway through the second half to lead the line for Spurs. Scarlett pressed well and he came close to finding the back of the net on one occasion. 
• Romaine Mundle: It was a positive performance from the midfielder who came on midway through the second half after replacing Rafferty Pedder. Mundle brought good energy to the game and he was positive and tidy in his all round play.
• Eddie Carrington: It was a bright albeit late cameo from the speedy right winger who, got the assist for Chay Cooper’s late goal.

My man of the match: The spark who ignited a great attacking performance for Spurs. The seriously quick and skilful number ten caused havoc for the Norwich City defence through the middle of the park, with his many jinking runs, good vision and turn of pace. With his many tricks and flicks, and all round smart play the second year scholar helped to really link play and create chances for the forwards. After being involved in our opening goal of the game the Maidstone born midfielder would go onto score a lovely goal on the stroke of halftime. Pedder had an excellent came and he created more chances than anybody else on the field. Hopefully he will start our next game which is away to Swansea on Saturday.

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2019/20:

Goals: Kion Etete – 1

Kallum Cesay – 1

Max Robson – 1

Tarrelle Whittaker – 1

Rafferty Pedder – 1

Chay Cooper – 1

Assists: Max Robson – 1

Luis Binks – 1

Michael Craig – 1

Chay Cooper – 1

Dermi Lusala – 1

Eddie Carrington – 1 

Clean sheets: Joshua Oluwayemi – 1

Spurs: Oluwayemi, Cesay, Lusala, Michael Craig, Matthew Craig, Binks, Cooper, Robson (Carrington 74), Asante (Scarlett 61), Pedder (Mundle 65), Whittaker. Substitute (not used): Kurylowicz.