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

Our under 18’s recorded their second 4-0 victory in the space of seven days when they took on Swansea City in South Wales, in game week four of the under 18 premier league season. After a slightly disappointing first half performance Matt Taylor’s high pressing side started the second half with more attacking intent and it was that intent which brought the goals to the game. A fine strike from Chay Cooper opened the scoring for Spurs on 48 minutes, and Taylor’s side pushed on from there. Kion Etete doubled Spurs’ advantage from the penalty spot before Panashe Makokowe netted an own goal on 71 minutes. Enock Asante put the icing on the cake when he netted his first competitive goal at this level in additional time to give Spurs a comprehensive 4-0 win. Matt Taylor’s side was similar to the one which started last Saturday’s game against Norwich. Kacper Kurylowicz started in goal while a back four consisting of Kallum Cesay, Matthew Craig, captain Luis Binks and Dermi Lusala lined up in front of him. Max Robson and Michael Craig partnered up in central midfield while Chay Cooper and Tarrelle Whittaker operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Rafferty Pedder. Second year scholar Kion Etete led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway on a cool morning at Swansea’s Landore training ground. After knocking the ball around the park well during the first few minutes of the game Spurs won a free kick out on the left flank after Tarrelle Whittaker was fouled. However, Rafferty Pedder’s resulting delivery was cleared away Scott Butler. Chay Cooper then had a low cross gathered by Lewis Webb before Luis Binks cleared Bradley Gibbings cross. The lively Rafferty Pedder then had a cross cleared away by Ben Erickson. Spurs were playing high up the pitch and they were dominating possession. Luis Binks was once again on hand to clear away a cross from Bradley Gibbings before Swansea created their first real chance of the game. After Erick Kenko passed the ball to Ali Al-Hamadi the Swansea striker managed to get away from Matthew Craig down the right side of the Spurs box, before dragging an effort wide of Kacper Kurylowicz’s goal.

Luis Binks did well to cut out Panahse Makokowe’s pass which was intended for Ali Al-Hamadi in the Spurs box. Swansea were enjoying a decent spell in the game and shortly afterwards they came close to taking the lead. After Bradley Gibbings sent a low cross into the Spurs box, Ali Al-Hamadi managed to latch onto it and his resulting effort was well pushed behind for a corner kick by Kurylowicz at the Polish youth internationals near post. Scott Butler headed Ryan Bevan’s resulting corner kick wide of the Spurs goal. A couple of minutes later Ryan Bevan passed the ball to Adnaan Moti who fired an effort over Kurylowicz’s crossbar from distance. Spurs’ final ball was lacking as the first half progressed. Rafferty Pedder had a crossed cleared away by Scott Butler before Pedder received Chay Cooper’s pass and fired an effort over Lewis Webb’s crossbar. A couple of minutes later Kion Etete managed to meet Chay Cooper’s cross inside the Spurs box but his resulting looping header on goal was saved by Lewis Webb. A couple of moments later Matthew Craig won possession before passing the ball to Kallum Cesay who then gave it to Chay Cooper on the right wing. Cooper then drifted inside onto his left foot before having a shot deflected wide of Lewis Webb’s goal by Jacob Jones in what turned out to be the final piece of action from the first half. Swansea got the second half underway. Shortly after the restart Ali Al-Hamadi had a goal ruled out for offside before Spurs took the lead in the 48th minute of the game through Chay Cooper. After Kion Etete laid the ball off to Chay Cooper down the right flank (on the edge of the Swansea penalty area) the right winger got the ball out of his feet before lashing it into the top right hand corner of the helpless Lewis Webb’s goal, 1-0. Matthew Craig was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on William Rickard shortly after the restart. Jacob Jones cleared a corner kick from Tarrelle Whittaker a couple of minutes before Tarrelle Whittaker was clattered inside the penalty area by Ali Al-Hamadi as the referee James Cox pointed straight to the penalty spot. 

Kion Etete stepped up to calmly fire the ball past Lewis Webb and inside the left hand corner of the goal, 2-0. Shortly after the restart the energetic Rafferty Pedder embarked on an excellent surging run from deep, through the middle of the pitch. Pedder eventually slipped the ball into the feet of Kion Etete done the right hand side of the Swansea penalty area but his powerful low effort was pushed behind for a corner kick by goalkeeper Lewis Webb. Enock Asante came onto replace Kion Etete shortly afterwards. After receiving Kallum Cesay’s pass out on the right flank, Chay Cooper then whipped a teasing cross into the Swansea box but it was blocked behind for a corner by Ben Erickson. A couple of minutes later and with a bit of help from Swansea, Spurs made it 3-0. After receiving the ball out on the right flank Kallum Cesay whipped the ball into the Swansea box where it was turned into his own goal by Panahse Makokowe who failed to clear the ball. However, Makokowe’s clearance may have taken a slight nick off of Scott Butler on it’s way into the Swansea goal, 3-0. Matthew Craig did well to block William Rickard’s shot inside the Spurs box, before then blocking Bradley Gibbings effort on goal. At the other end of the pitch Rafferty Pedder hit an effort over Lewis Webb’s crossbar before Spurs made a double substitution when they brought off Tarrelle Whittaker and Max Robson for Marqes Muir and Romaine Mundle. Rafferty Pedder had a whipped effort saved by Lewis Webb before Swansea came at us down the other end of the pitch. After Bradley Gibbings darted down the left hand side of the Spurs box the Swansea winger looked as if he was going to pull the trigger but Kurylowicz came rushing out to smother the ball from underneath his feet. A good move from Spurs resulted in Rafferty Pedder passing the ball to Kallum Cesay who passed to Enock Asante, whose resulting thumping effort on goal was thwarted by Lewis Webb before being smothered by the Swansea goalkeeper. Swansea substitute Luke Motruk had a low effort blocked by Romaine Mundle in the Spurs box.

After Rafferty Pedder passed the ball to Chay Cooper the wide man laid the ball off to Kallum Cesay whose resulting effort was saved by Lewis Webb. After Cesay had fed a pass through to Enock Asante in the Swansea box the Spurs striker tried to stroke the ball past Lewis Webb but his effort was saved. However, Asante pounced on the loose ball and he rounded the Swansea goalkeeper before having a shot blocked on the line by Ben Erickson. After Pedder passed the ball to Mundle on the right flank the midfielder sent a cross into the Swansea box which was headed wide by Enock Asante. William Rickard fired an effort over Kacper Kurylowicz’s crossbar from the edge of the Spurs box before Chay Cooper had a cross cleared away by Ben Erickson. Then in second half stoppage time Spurs netted their fourth goal of the game. After Chay Cooper passed the ball to Marqes Muir down the right flank the defender whipped a cross into the Swansea penalty area which Enock Asante managed to connect with. And Asante’s powerful header nestled inside the bottom left hand corner of Lewis Webb’s goal. The referee James Cox blew his whistle for full time a couple of minutes later as Spurs recorded another impressive victory. The young ‘ Lilywhites ‘ next game is against West Ham United on Saturday the 14th of September.

Player reviews:

• Kacper Kurylowicz: The Spurs goalkeeper had a good game even though he only made one save (it was an important one). Kurylowicz’s distribution was good and I thought that he did a good job in dealing with set pieces, crosses and long balls.
• Kallum Cesay: It was another very steady performance from the right back. Cesay’s first touch was good and he went on some good attacking forays of his own down the right hand side of the pitch. Furthermore, the 16 year old got the assist for Panahse Makokowe’s own goal.
• Matthew Craig: It was another very solid performance at RCB from Matthew Craig who performed his defensive duties with aplomb. Craig made some good interceptions and defensive interventions.
• Luis Binks: I thought that the LCB put in a very mature performance for Matt Taylor’s side. Binks marshalled the defence well and he was dominant in the air. Furthermore, the second year scholar was vocal and commanding at the back. 
• Dermi Lusala: The left back was defensively solid and good at going forward.
• Michael Craig: Tidy in and out of possession the tigerish central midfielder had a good game in the holding midfield role. Craig closed down the Swansea players well and he was tenacious in the challenge.
• Max Robson: The LCM had a positive effect on the game from central midfield and he made some nice progressive passes.
• Chay Cooper: My man of the match, see below.
• Rafferty Pedder: Arguably the most influential player on the park, the 17 year old really got Spurs playing during the second half. Pedder initiated many chances for Spurs and his surging runs from deep really helped to stretch the Swansea defence. Pedder also wasn’t afraid to try his luck on goal which was another positive to take away from his performance.
• Tarrelle Whittaker: The lively left winger had a good game and he won our penalty kick during the second half.
• Kion Etete: The second year scholar held the ball up well, showed good movement and he also dispatched his penalty kick well during the second half.
• Enock Asante: The second half substitutes off the ball movement allowed him to get into some good goal scoring positions and he came close on several occasions to finding the back of the net before he eventually did in second half stoppage time with a fine header.
• Romaine Mundle: The second half substitute brought good energy to the game.
• Marqes Muir: The makeshift right back set up Enock Asante’s late goal.

My man of the match: Right winger Chay Cooper was potent and direct, and he was a major attacking outlet for Spurs throughout Saturday’s game. The skilful 17 year old was sharp and quick on his feet, and it was Cooper who opened the scoring for Spurs after he took responsibility and had a shot on goal which beat the goalkeeper. The former Southend United schoolboy was energetic and he was involved in the build up play to our fourth and final goal of the game. What I liked about Cooper’s performance was that he wasn’t afraid to run at Swansea left back Jacob Jones. Chay also tracked back really throughout Saturday’s entertaining contest. It was a very good all round performance from the second year scholar.

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2019/20:

Goals: Kion Etete –  2

Chay Cooper – 2

Kallum Cesay – 1

Max Robson – 1

Tarrelle Whittaker – 1

Rafferty Pedder – 1

Enock Asante – 1

Assists:

Tarrelle Whittaker – 1

Chay Cooper – 1

Max Robson – 1

Luis Binks – 1

Michael Craig – 1

Dermi Lusala – 1

Eddie Carrington – 1

Kion Etete – 1

Kallum Cesay – 1

Marqes Muir –  1

Clean sheets: Joshua Oluwayemi – 1

Kacper Kurylowicz – 1

Spurs: Kurylowicz, Cesay, Lusala, Michael Craig, Matthew Craig, Binks (c), Cooper, Robson (Mundle 74), Etete (Asante 65), Pedder, Whittaker (Muir 74). Substitute (not used): Lo-Tutala.