Some notes on Spurs under 18’s 5-2 defeat to Newcastle United:

Our under 18’s final group game of this seasons premier league cup took place on Saturday morning at the Newcastle United Academy facility. Matt Taylor’s side needed to beat the ‘ Magpies ‘ to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter finals of the competition. Unfortunately Spurs were defeated 5-2 by Newcastle in what were pretty awful conditions as the rain poured and poured down on the players, with the ball being massively slowed down on the pitch. Apologies for this much shorter than usual report, this was down to the appalling weather conditions and the fact that my note pad got ruined by the heavy rain. Newcastle started the game off in style after Kallum Cesay conceded a free kick on the edge of the Spurs box on 15 minutes. Joe White stood up to curl a low effort past Lo-Tutala and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. Spurs had an appeal waved away for a penalty after Romaine Mundle appeared to be fouled inside the Newcastle penalty area. Kevin Reed doubled the ‘ Magpies ‘ lead shortly afterwards, after latching onto the ball after Aaron Skinner had slipped on the edge of the box. Reed then fired a low effort past Lo-Tutala. Four minutes later Reed headed home Dylan Stephenson’s cross to make it 3-0 to Newcastle.

Spurs tried very hard to battle back in the adverse weather conditions, and o 32 minutes Spurs pulled one back after Max Robson smartly headed home Dermi Lusala’s cross, 1-3. Less than eight minutes later Spurs managed to pull back another goal, this time through Jneil Bennett. After receiving birthday boy Tarrelle Whittaker’s pass out on the left wing, Bennett brought the ball into the Newcastle box before curling an effort into the right hand corner of the goal on his left foot (Bennett’s effort took a significant deflection off of Newcastle defender Joe Oliver). However, Spurs were unable to find an equaliser and in the second half the ‘ Magpies ‘ netted clinically through Joshua Scott and Josh Harrison. We finished third in group E with three points from three games. The weather played a massive factor in us losing yesterday’s game, as we couldn’t get our usual passing game going. The performances of Jneil Bennett and Max Robson were however, extremely encouraging on the day. Our under 18’s next game is a massive FA youth cup third round tie against Liverpool on Monday the 2nd of December.

Player reviews: 

• Thimothee Lo-Tutala: The Spurs goalkeeper made a couple of decent saves and he was unlucky not to save Joe White’s opening goal of the game, after he managed to get a hand on the ball.
• Dermi Lusala: The right back defended his side of the pitch well for the most part of yesterday’s encounter. Lusala also set up Max Robson’s first half goal. 
• Marqes Muir: The RCB showed good strength on the ball and he made an excellent late block to prevent a certain goal for Newcastle’s Dylan Stephenson.
• Aaron Skinner: Like Muir, the LCB showed good strength on the ball and I thought that he did well under the extremely difficult conditions.
• Dennis Cirkin: This was a good performance from the left back who managed to combine his defensive duties with his attacking duties well. Cirkin went on some good jinking forward runs down the left flank
• Kallum Cesay: The CDM sat in front of and protected the back four relatively well.
• Rafferty Pedder: The central midfielder showed good skill on the ball and close ball control, and he worked hard off the ball. However, physical Newcastle midfielders Lucas de Bolle and Joe White did make it difficult for Pedder to make his usual impact on the game.
• Romaine Mundle: The right winger was positive down the flank and he should have been awarded a penalty kick early on in the game.
• Max Robson: This was a very good performance from Robson as a CAM. The 16 year olds movement was very good and he was excellent on the ball, using the ball resourcefully. Robson covered vast amounts of the pitch and he managed to take his first half goal well.
• Jneil Bennett: My man of the match, see below. 
• Tarrelle Whittaker: The Spurs forward led the line well and his movement and well timed runs in behind the Newcastle defence made him difficult to defend against. Whittaker also set up Jneil Bennett’s first half goal.
• Yago Santiago: The Spanish midfielder had some good touches of the ball, and he was tricky first on the right wing and later in central midfield.
• Jeremy Kyezu: The second half substitute operated out on both the right wing and the left wing, on what was his competitive debut for our under 18’s.
• Eddie Carrington: The skilful winger was direct and positive during his short time on the pitch. 

My man of the match: Left winger Jneil Bennett had an excellent game for Spurs out on the left flank. The highly skilful winger was a constant thorn in Newcastle’s side with his direct forward runs. Every time that Bennett got on the ball he was looking to beat Newcastle United’s right back Joe Oliver, or look to cut inside onto his right foot and test the goalkeeper. The 17 year old was unpredictable and I liked that. He also worked really hard for the team, was vocal and he took his first half goal well. He should be proud of his performance.

Spurs: Lo-Tutala, Lusala, Cirkin, Cesay, Muir, Skinner, Mundle (Santiago 60), Pedder (Kyezu 79), Whittaker, Robson Carrington 85), Bennett. Substitute (not used): Kurylowicz.

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2019/20:

Goals: 

Tarrelle Whittaker – 6

Chay Cooper – 3

Enock Asante – 3

Kion Etete –  3

Max Robson – 3

Kallum Cesay – 2

Rafferty Pedder – 2

J’Neil Bennett – 2

Dane Scarlett – 1

Harvey White – 1

Assists

Chay Cooper – 4

Max Robson – 3

Tarrelle Whittaker – 3

Dermi Lusala –  3

Kion Etete – 2

Romaine Mundle – 2

Luis Binks – 1

Michael Craig – 1

Eddie Carrington – 1

Kallum Cesay – 1

Marqes Muir –  1

Enock Asante – 1

Rafferty Pedder – 1

Yago Santiago – 1

Dennis Cirkin – 1

Harvey White – 1

Clean sheets: 

Kacper Kurylowicz – 2

Joshua Oluwayemi – 1