Spurs under 23’s 2-2 Southampton: (match report)

(This photograph is from Tottenham Hotspur FC)

Our under 23’s returned to PL2 action on Friday afternoon when they took on Southampton at Hotspur Way. Wayne Burnett’s strong side totally dominated the first half and they should have led by at least four goals at the break. However, the second half was a far more even and less fluent half of football. After creating some decent chances during the opening stages of the game Spurs took the lead on 23 minutes courtesy of a fine finish from Dilan Markanday. Wayne Burnett’s side then doubled their lead less than ten minutes later through Harvey White’s sumptuous free kick. However, the ‘ Saints ‘ pulled a goal back shortly afterwards through Kornelius Hansen (it has been credited as a Jubril Okedina own goal). And on 65 minutes the Norwegian teenager got his second of the game to level up the scores. Neither side was able to find a winner during the remaining stages of the game and in the end Spurs had to settle for a point, which was slightly disappointing considering their stranglehold on the game during the first half. Spurs lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Alfie Whiteman starting in goal. A back four consisting of Jubril Okedina, Jonathan Dinzeyi, captain TJ Eyoma and Harvey White lined up in front of him. Jamie Bowden and Armando Shashoua anchored the midfield while Dilan Markanday and Shilow Tracey operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Phoenix Patterson. 18 year old Rodel Richards led the line for Spurs. Southampton got the game underway on a warm afternoon in north London. A great early pass from the involved Jamie Bowden to Shilow Tracey down the left flank set the winger on a surging forward run. Tracey burst into the Southampton box before being intercepted by defender Aaron O’Driscoll. A couple of minutes later Shilow Tracey headed Dilan Markanday’s cross into the arms of Southampton goalkeeper Jack Bycroft. Harlem Hale almost robbed Spurs goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman of the ball at the opposite end of the pitch from TJ Eyoma’s back pass, before Kayne Ramsay headed Callum Slattery’s corner kick over Alfie Whiteman’s crossbar. Jonathan Dinzeyi headed away Kayne Ramsay’s cross shortly afterwards as the ‘ Saints ‘ started to see more of the ball.

Shilow Tracey whipped a menacing ball across the face of the Southampton goal before Jonathan Dinzeyi cleared Kayne Ramsay’s cross at the other end of the pitch. Spurs were just knocking the ball around the park. A Southampton break away resulted in Kornelius Hansen laying the ball into the path of Harlem Hale on the edge of the Spurs box, but the Southampton winger shot wide of Alfie Whiteman’s goal. Dilan Markanday then curled an effort into the arms of Jack Bycroft, before Phoenix Patterson went on a good run through the middle of the park before eventually dragging an effort wide of goal. Spurs took the lead a couple of minutes later. Jamie Bowden’s crisp long pass fell into the feet of Armando Shashoua. The Tottenham midfielder laid the ball off to Dilan Markanday on the edge of the Southampton box and he then calmly tucked the ball inside the bottom left hand corner of Jack Bycroft’s goal, 1-0. Jubril Okedina cleared Jake Vokins’ corner kick before Kornelius Hansen dragged an effort across the face of Alfie Whiteman’s goal from the left hand side of the pitch. Armando Shashoua robbed Southampton captain Callum Slattery before feeding a perfectly weighted pass into Shilow Tracey down the left flank. He burst into the box before drifting past Christoph Klarer and firing a low effort a fraction wide of the goal. Shortly afterwards Rodel Richards managed to win a free kick on the edge of the Southampton penalty area. Dead ball specialist Harvey White elected to take it and he curled a sumptuous effort over the Southampton wall and into the right hand corner of the helpless Jack Bycroft’s goal, 2-0. However, Southampton managed to pull a goal back a couple of moments later. After Kayne Ramsay passed the ball to Harlem Hale the Southampton winger passed the ball to Kornelius Hansen inside the Tottenham box and Hansen’s resulting effort deflected off of Jubril Okedina before creeping into Alfie Whiteman’s goal, 2-1. Callum Slattery had an effort blocked by Jamie Bowden. Spurs then had a penalty shout waived away after Phoenix Patterson managed to get in front of Pascal Kpohomouh inside the Southampton box.

After Jamie Bowden had passed the ball to Rodel Richards the Spurs forward sublimely turned around Christoph Klarer and darted into the Southampton box before curling an effort a fraction wide of the goal. After receiving Alex Jankewitz’s pass on the edge of the Spurs box Kornelius Hansen shot wide of the Spurs goal. A good passing move from Spurs saw Armando Shashoua pass the ball to Shilow Tracey, he passed it to Rodel Richards in the Southampton box and he quickly laid it off to Dilan Markanday who chipped an effort wide of goal. Spurs continued to dominate proceedings. After receiving Phoenix Patterson’s pass Rodel Richards had a pop on goal, but he shot wide of the mark. Dilan Markanday then had a cross cleared away by Christoph Klarer before TJ Eyoma cleared away a cross from Kayne Ramsay. After latching onto Jamie Bowden’s pass, Phoenix Patterson skipped past Pascal Kpohomouh before having a deflected effort saved by Jack Bycroft in what turned out to be the final piece of action from the first half. Spurs made a change at halftime as Tariq Hinds came onto replace Jamie Bowden as Harvey White went into central midfield. Wayne Burnett’s side got the game back underway. After Harvey White passed the ball to Shilow Tracey the left winger held off Christoph Klarer before skipping past Aaron O’Driscoll and entering the Southampton box and having a low shot saved well by Jack Bycroft. However, Tracey failed to spot Phoenix Patterson who was in space inside the danger zone. Shilow Tracey then had an effort blocked by Christoph Klarer inside the Southampton box. Harvey White then had a low cross cleared away by Aaron O’Driscoll before Phoenix Patterson had a low effort saved by Jack Bycroft. A couple of minutes later Dilan Markanday had a shot on goal blocked by Pascal Kpohomouh before Jonathan Dinzeyi cleared away a cross from Jake Vokins at the other end of the pitch before TJ Eyoma blocked the same players shot a couple of minutes later. 

Southampton were enjoying a good spell in the game as Alfie Whiteman gathered Jake Vokins’ cross. Paris Maghoma came onto replace Phoenix Patterson, then a matter of moments later the ‘ Saints ‘ drew level through Kornelius Hansen’s second goal of the game. After Harlem Hale had passed the ball to Lucas Defise the Belgian passed the ball to Jake Vokins down the left side of the Spurs box. Vokins had a shot on goal but his effort was parried away by Alfie Whiteman and into the path of Kornelius Hansen who just tucked the ball into the goal, 2-2. After putting some good pressure on the Southampton goalkeeper Jack Bycroft, Spurs striker Rodel Richards came close to winning the ball off of him inside his penalty area. Southampton had a penalty shout waived away after there was a coming together between Jonathan Dinzeyi and Harlem Hale inside the Spurs box. Jubril Okedina then had a cross cleared away by Christoph Klarer before Callum Slattery had a low effort saved by Alfie Whiteman from long range. After winning a free kick right on the edge of the Southampton box, Harvey White stood over the ball to take it. However, his resulting curling effort was deflected behind by the Southampton wall. After winning the ball off of Alex Jankewitz Paris Maghoma fired an effort on goal which was thwarted by Jack Bycroft. A couple of moments later Rodel Richards headed Shilow Tracey’s cross into the arms of Jack Bycroft before Rayan Clarke came onto replace Shilow Tracey in second half stoppage time. In the end it was a fairly disappointing afternoon for Wayne Burnett’s side who will be looking to respond when they face Blackburn Rovers in their next PL2 game.

Player reviews:

• Alfie Whiteman: The Tottenham goalkeeper made several decent saves and his distribution was good. The 20 year old had a good game all round. 
• Jubril Okedina: The right back defended well against Southampton winger Harlem Hale and he had some nice moments in the game. Okedina also went on some good surging forward runs of his own and he used his strength to his advantage.
• Jonathan Dinzeyi: Operating at RCB the central defender imposed himself well on the game and he made some timely defensive interventions. Dinzeyi was also dominant in the air.
• TJ Eyoma: Like his defensive partner the Spurs captain had a good game, he read the game well and also anticipated danger well while making some good blocks and challenges.
• Harvey White: White played the first half at left back where he had a solid game and scored a beauty of a free kick. However, his second half performance in central midfield was far better. White was composed and he kept things ticking in the middle of the park.
• Jamie Bowden: Returning from an injury the midfield craftsman could only play the first half of todays game but what a fantastic shift he put in for the team! Bowden and Shashoua pulled the strings in midfield and the 18 year old made several really intelligent forward passes which opened up the Southampton defence. Bowden kept things moving and he also broke up play and recycled possession well during his time on the pitch. The Londoner is an outstanding talent!
• Armando Shashoua: My man of the match, see below. 
• Dilan Markanday: The right winger went on several mazy runs down the right flank and he took his first half goal really well.
• Phoenix Patterson: The CAM had a good game, he linked up play well and he went on some good bursting runs through the middle of the pitch.
• Shilow Tracey: A player who was heavily involved in the game for large periods of the afternoon, the left winger went on many a good surging run down the left flank and he really stretched the Southampton defence. Tracey came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
• Rodel Richards: The 18 year old led the line well and he made some intelligent runs in behind the Southampton defence. Richards came close on a couple of occasions to finding the back of the net.
• Tariq Hinds: The second half substitute put in a defensively solid performance at left back. 
• Paris Maghoma: The second half substitute came close to finding the back of the net with an effort from long range. 
• Rayan Clarke: N/A.

My man of the match: Armando Shashoua was a ball of energy in the middle of the park. During the first half him and Bowden pulled the strings from midfield with their excellent movement and perfectly weighted through balls. The tigerish Shashoua poached the ball well all over the pitch and he did an excellent job at linking play and getting himself into good advanced positions. Once again Armando showed tremendous strength on the ball.

Spurs: Whiteman, Okedina, White, Bowden (Hinds 46), Eyoma (c), Dinzeyi, Markanday, Shashoua, Richards, Patterson (Maghoma 64), Tracey (R Clarke 90+1). Substitutes (not used): De Bie, Lyons-Foster.

Southampton: Bycroft, Ramsay, Vokins, Kpohomouh (Ledwidge 83), O’Driscoll, Klarer, Slattery (c), Jankewitz (Chauke 62), Hansen, Defise, Hale (Olaigbe 79). Substitutes (not used): Scott, Freeman.

Goals: Spurs – Markanday 23, White 33; Southampton – Okedina (OG) 34, Hansen 65.

Yellow cards: Southampton – O’Driscoll, Jankewitz.

Referee: Daniel Middleton.

Venue: Hotspur Way.

Attendance: 168.

Spurs under 23’s statistics: 

Goals: Troy Parrott – 2

Kazaiah Sterling – 2

Harvey White – 2

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 1

Shilow Tracey – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Rodel Richards – 1

Phoenix Patterson – 1

Armando Shashoua – 1

Dilan Markanday – 1

Assists: Shilow Tracey – 5

Jamie Bowden – 1

Tariq Hinds – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Kazaiah Sterling – 1

Dilan Markanday – 1

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 1

Armando Shashoua -1

Clean sheets: Brandon Austin – 1