Spurs under 18’s 2-4 Aston Villa: (match report)

(This photograph is from Tottenham Hotspur FC).

Our under 18’s returned to league action on Saturday afternoon when they hosted Aston Villa at Hotspur Way. The ‘ Villains ‘ gave Spurs a really tough match and they played the game at a higher intensity than Spurs. The first half was edged by the visitors and Spurs goalkeeper Kacper Kurylowicz was forced into making some big saves to keep the scores level at the break. However, during the second half Spurs really started to fade away as Aston Villa took control of the game. Four Aston Villa goals left Spurs shell shocked although it also seemed to spur them into life. Schoolboy Dane Scarlett and Tarrelle Whittaker managed to pull goals back for Spurs, but by that point it was too late for Matt Taylor’s side to mount a comeback. Spurs lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation as Kacper Kurylowicz started in goal for the young Lilywhites. A back four made up of Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, captain Dennis Cirkin and Dermi Lusala lined up in front of him. Max Robson and Nile John partnered up in central midfield while Romaine Mundle and Chay Cooper operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Dane Scarlett. Second year scholar Kion Etete led the line for Spurs. Spurs got Saturday afternoons game underway. Chay Cooper had an early cross gathered by Aston Villa goalkeeepr Amos Onodi before the visitors came close to taking an early lead. Paul Appiah’s pass deflected off of Dennis Cirkin before running through to Brad Young down the right hand side of the Tottenham penalty area. Young opted to square the ball for Aaron Ramsey whose first time side footed effort struck Kacper Kurylowicz’s crossbar. A couple of moments later Dennis Cirkin gave the ball straight to Brad Young inside the Spurs box however, Kurylowicz came out and made himself big to save Young’s resulting shot excellently. A couple of minutes later the dominant visitors came close to scoring once again. After Charlie Farr slipped the ball into the feet of Brad Young, the Aston Villa forward burst into the Spurs box before attempting to beat Kurylowicz with a curling low effort. However, the Tottenham goalkeeper was equal to his effort.

Max Robson had a whipped cross gathered by Akos Onodi, before Kion Etete flicked Chay Cooper’s cross wide of Onodi’s goal. A couple of of minutes later Cooper passed the ball to Romaine Mundle whose cross was headed behind for a corner kick by Myles Sohna. Resurgent Spurs went on a good move as Nile John passed the ball to Dane Scarlett who passed the ball to Romaine Mundle whose, cross came to Chay Cooper down the left side of the Aston Villa box. Cooper’s resulting curling effort was cleared off the line by Myles Sohna. Nile John’s resulting corner kick was volleyed onto Harrison Sohna by Dane Scarlett, before Marqes Muir had a shot saved by Akos Onodi. Kacper Kurylowicz punched away Charlie Farr’s free kick before Marqes Muir cleared away Kaine Kesler’s cross. After Nile John passed the ball to Dane Scarlett the Spurs striker who shot wide of Akos Onodi’s goal. A couple of minutes later Brad Young passed the ball to Kaine Kesler down the right flank but his resulting cross was blocked by Nile John. Kacper Kurylowicz gathered Kaine Kesler’s corner kick. Then in first half stoppage time Aaron Ramsey passed the ball to Tristan Goodridge who in turn gave the ball to Brad Young who shot narrowly wide of Kacper Kurylowicz’s goal. The referee sounded his whistle for half time shortly afterwards. Aston Villa got the second half underway. Dennis Cirkin headed Chay Cooper’s corner kick into the arms of Akos Onodi before Nile John had a shot blocked by Harrison Sohna. After controlling Chay Cooper’s cross Kion Etete brought the ball down and passed it to Dane Scarlett who had a shot blocked by Harrison Sohna. A couple of minutes later Cooper first had a cross cleared away by Brad Burton before having another gathered by Akos Onodi. After Brad Young passed the ball to Aaron Ramsey on the edge of the Spurs box, the Aston Villa midfielder had a shot saved by Kacper Kurylowicz, moments before Aston Villa took the lead. After Charlie Farr received Tristan Goodridge’s pass the Aston Villa winger decided to go for goal some 25 yards out. Farr’s resulting powerful, whipped effort looped over the head of Kacper Kurylowicz and into the middle of the Spurs goal, 0-1.

On his return from a lengthy injury J’Neil Bennett came onto replace Nile John before Dane Scarlett had an effort blocked by Brad Burton inside the Aston Villa box. After receiving Carney Chukwuemeka’s pass some 20 yards out from goal, Aaron Ramsey decided to have a pop at goal. And Ramsey’s powerful effort flew past Kacper Kurylowicz and into the middle of the goal, 0-2. Tarrelle Whittaker came onto replace Romaine Mundle out on the wing before Harrison Sohna fired an effort wide of Kurylowicz’s goal. A couple of minutes later Tristan Goodridge managed to find Brad Young down the right hand side of the Spurs box with only Kacper Kurylowicz to beat but the Spurs goalkeeper produced a fine save before gathering the loose ball. J’Neil Bennett came inside from the left flank before having a curling cross gathered by Akos Onodi. Max Robson then saw his cross flicked into the arms of Akos Onodi by Dennis Cirkin inside the Aston Villa box. Aston Villa then made it 3-0. After Carney Chukwuemeka passed the ball to Brad Young he burst past Marqes Muir before entering the Spurs box and slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner of Kacper Kurylowicz’s goal, 0-3. Yago Santiago came onto replace Max Robson before J’Neil Bennett had a curling effort saved by Onodi. Bennett then had an effort on goal blocked by Harrison Sohna, before the Tottenham winger was shown a yellow card for pulling back Aaron Ramsey. Kacper Kurylowicz saved Mo Sylla’s effort from long range a couple of moments before Aston Villa made it 4-0. After Aaron Ramsey gave the ball to Mo Sylla inside the Spurs box the Aston Villa substitute managed to squeeze the ball into the bottom left hand corner of  Kacper Kurylowicz’s goal, 0-4. Spurs tried to respond. After Lusala gave the ball to Scarlett, the Spurs schoolboy gave the ball to Bennett who had an error blocked inside the Aston Villa box by Harrison Sohna. Spurs did manage to pull a goal back after Kion Etete’s curling effort was spilt by Akos Onodi, but Dane Scarlett was on hand to sweep the loose ball home at the near post, 1-4.

After Aaron Ramsey passed the ball to Brad Young the Aston Villa forward had a shot saved by Kacper Kurylowicz. Chay Cooper then had an effort tipped over the bar by Akos Onodi before J’Neil Bennett had a cross cleared away by Myles Sohna. Then the skilful Dermi Lusala skipped past a couple of challenges before sending a nice lofted pass through to the substitute Tarrelle Whittaker down the left hand side of the Aston Villa box. Whittaker steadied himself before lashing the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 2-4. Kacper Kurylowicz saved Charlie Farr’s effort from long range before Seb Revan fired an effort wide of goal. After receiving Yago Santiago’s pass J’Neil Bennett forced a save out of Akos Onodi from a curling effort, before the referee sounded his whistle for full time. Spurs’ next game is against Arsenal after the international break.

Player reviews:

• Kacper Kurylowicz: My man of the match, see below.
• Kallum Cesay: The right back stayed deep and he made some important defensive interventions.
• Marqes Muir: The RCB made some intelligent decisions and he also brought the ball out well from the back. 
• Dennis Cirkin: It was interesting to see the 17 year old left back operate at LCB. Cirkin was generally solid in that position, and he was strong on the ball while also bringing it out well from the back. 
• Dermi Lusala: The left back had a strong game and he did well to set up Tarrelle Whittaker for his late goal.
• Nile John: On his return from injury John patrolled the midfield well and he also embarked on some good, purposeful surging forward runs. The first year scholars passing was nice and crisp. 
• Max Robson: The central midfielder kept things ticking over nicely in the middle of the park.
• Romaine Mundle: The right winger worked hard and he tracked back really well however, he didn’t get many touches of the ball during his time on the pitch.
• Dane Scarlett: The schoolboy worked really hard in the CAM role and he linked play well. Scarlett chipped in with a late goal. 
• Chay Cooper: The silky winger liked to take players on and whip crosses into the danger zone. Cooper also tried his luck on goal and he worked hard for the team.
• Kion Etete: The second year scholar led the line well for Spurs on Saturday afternoon. Etete held the ball up excellently and he got himself into some good positions in and around the danger zone. Etete got the assist for Dane Scarlett’s goal after he took responsibility and had a shot.
• J’Neil Bennett: The substitute went on some good surging forward runs and he looked dangerous whenever he was on the ball.
• Tarrelle Whittaker: The second half substitute took his goal well. 
• Yago Santiago: The first year scholar made a couple of impressive passes during his short time on the pitch. 

My man of the match: Spurs’ goalkeeper Kacper Kurylowicz had an excellent game in between the posts. The extremely vocal second year scholar would talk his teammates through yesterday’s game by encouraging them to make intelligent decisions. Kurylowicz made eight saves in total including three very impressive ones all of which were one on ones. Kurylowicz’s kicking was good and he also dealt well with crosses and set pieces. It was a very mature performance from the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Spurs: Kurylowicz, Cesay, Lusala, John (Bennett 62), Muir, Cirkin, Mundle (Whittaker 68), Robson (Santiago 78), Etete, Scarlett, Cooper. Substitutes (not used): Lo-Tutala, Pedder.

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2019/20:

Goals: 

Tarrelle Whittaker – 3

Chay Cooper – 3

Enock Asante – 3

Kion Etete –  2

Kallum Cesay – 2

Max Robson – 1

Rafferty Pedder – 1

Dane Scarlett – 1

Assists:

Tarrelle Whittaker – 2

Max Robson – 2

Chay Cooper – 2

Kion Etete – 2

Dermi Lusala – 2

Luis Binks – 1

Michael Craig – 1

Eddie Carrington – 1

Kallum Cesay – 1

Marqes Muir –  1

Enock Asante – 1

Rafferty Pedder – 1

Clean sheets: 

Kacper Kurylowicz – 2

Joshua Oluwayemi – 1