Spurs under 23’s 4-0 Liverpool: (match report)

Our under 23’s took on Liverpool in the PL2 at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon. Wayne Burnett’s side had previously beaten the ‘ Reds ‘ 4-0 in the reverse fixture earlier on in the season. Spurs managed to beat Liverpool by the same score line today at Hotspur Way in what was a very good performance indeed from Burnett’s lads. It was an entertaining and highly eventful game in which saw two players sent off and two penalties given. Spurs took the lead in the first half through Rodel Richards. Then in the second half defensive midfielder Jamie Bowden netted an unexpected hat-trick to secure the victory for Spurs. Inbetween that Liverpool and Spurs had players sent off in what was an entertaining second half of football. Spurs lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation as Josh Oluwayemi started in goal. A back four made up of TJ Eyoma, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Luis Binks and Tariq Hinds sat in front of him. Captain Jamie Bowden and Tashan Oakley-Boothe anchored the midfield while Dilan Markanday and Phoenix Patterson operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Armando Shashoua. Rodel Richards operated as the lone centre forward.

Spurs got the game underway on a cool day at Hotspur Way. After knocking the ball around well during the opening minutes of the game, Spurs’ Rodel Richards blocked Herbie Kane’s early effort on goal from the edge of the Spurs box. A good Spurs move followed as Markanday passed the ball to Richards who gave it to Phoenix Patterson on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area. Patterson’s following effort on goal struck Caoimhin Kelleher’s crossbar, then a couple of minutes later and after receiving Armando Shashoua’s pass, Tashan Oakley-Boothe fired an effort over Kelleher’s crossbar from the edge of the Liverpool box. Spurs’ early pressure was rewarded when they took the lead in the 20th minute of the game through Rodel Richards. Another good move saw Luis Binks pass the ball to Tariq Hinds who slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Rodel Richards who ran into the Liverpool box with only Kelleher to beat. Richards kept his composure in front of goal before calmly slotting the ball through the legs of the Liverpool goalkeeper and into the back of the net to score his fourth goal of the season, 1-0. 

Shortly after the restart Phoenix Patterson hit an effort on goal which was beaten away by Kelleher, before Hinds squared the ball for Markanday inside the Liverpool penalty area however, his first time effort was also well saved by Kelleher. Neco Williams then whipped a teasing cross across the face of Josh Oluwayemi’s goal before Malachi Fagan-Walcott cleared away Pedro Chirivella’s free kick, Luis Binks then cleared away the same players corner kick. Fagan-Walcott then made a good sliding challenge on Luis Longstaff inside the Tottenham penalty area. Oluwayemi gathered Tony Gallagher’s cross before Tom Hill managed to latch onto Neco Williams’ cross inside the Spurs box. Hill’s volleyed effort on goal was well saved by the flying Oluwayemi from close range to keep Spurs’ lead intact. Oluwayemi then managed to gather a cross from Tony Gallagher before Tariq Hinds cleared away Pedro Chirivella’s corner kick. Referee Scott Jackson then sounded his whistle for half time. Liverpool got the game back underway however, it was Spurs who started the second half the better of the two teams.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott managed to block Luis Longstaff’s shot inside the Tottenham penalty area before Spurs doubled their advantage over the ‘ Reds ‘. Oakley-Boothe passed the ball to Markanday who gave the ball to Richards who slipped Armando Shashoua through on goal. Shashoua had only Kelleher to beat however, he put the ball narrowly wide of his left hand post, but it wasn’t to matter as the referee had pointed to the penalty spot. Shashoua had been caught from behind by Morgan Boyes who was shown a straight red card. Up stepped Spurs captain Jamie Bowden who slotted the ball straight down the middle of Kelleher’s goal to make it 2-0 to Spurs. Shortly after the restart Phoenix Patterson had a shot on goal blocked by Tom Clayton, before Spurs won their second penalty kick of the game. After Dilan Markanday received Tariq Hinds’ pass the Spurs winger darted forward down the right wing past Tony Gallagher before entering the Liverpool box where he was brought down unlawfully by Gallagher. Bowden stepped up before calmly slotting the ball into the left hand corner of Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal, 3-0. 

Spurs were just knocking the ball about as they looked to consolidate on their three goal lead. After receiving Tashan Oakley-Boothe’s pass Dilan Markanday had a shot blocked by Pedro Chirivella. Kelleher managed to gather Phoenix Patterson’s pass towards Markanday inside the Liverpool box before Liverpool substitute Jack Bearne had a shot/cross gathered by Oluwayemi. Then in the 72nd minute of the game Malachi Fagan-Walcott was shown a harsh (he wasn’t the last man) straight red card for stopping Luis Longstaff on the counter attack. Luis Binks cleared a free kick from Pedro Chirivella before another Chirivella free kick a couple of minutes later was headed wide of Oluwayemi’s goal by Luis Longstaff. As Spurs looked to strengthen at the back Armando Shashoua was sacrificed for Brooklyn Lyons-Foster who came on at right back. Liverpool had a penalty shout waived away after Oluwayemi gathered the ball from under the feet of Luis Longstaff inside the Spurs box. J’Neil Bennett then came onto replace Phoenix Patterson before TJ Eyoma conceded a free kick right on the edge of the Spurs box. However, Herbie Kane curled his resulting effort over Josh Oluwayemi’s crossbar.

A good Spurs attack saw Lyons-Foster play a one two with Markanday down the right flank before forcing an excellent diving save from Kelleher to prevent his powerful effort from inside the Liverpool box. Tony Gallagher fired a deflected effort wide of Oluwayemi’s goal from long range, before Neco Williams blasted an effort over from out on the right flank. Harvey White came on for Rodel Richards before Spurs netted their fourth and final goal of the game. Oakley-Boothe’s lofted pass was headed towards goal by J’Neil Bennett but Kelleher made a good diving save. However, Dilan Markanday managed to recover the ball down the right hand side of the Liverpool box. Markanday crossed it into Bowden who had made a good run into the box. The Ireland under 19 international steadied himself before heading the ball in off Kelleher’s right hand post, 4-0. The referee sounded his whistle for full time a couple of moments later as Spurs secured back to back victories in the PL2 for only the second time this season. Spurs moved up to fifth in the league table after today’s victory, there next game is next Sunday when they travel to Lancashire to face Manchester City.

Player reviews:

• Josh Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper dealt well with crosses and set pieces today and his distribution was also good. Oluwayemi made one really important save in the first half to deny Tom Hill’s volley from close range.
• TJ Eyoma: The 19 year old performed ever so solidly at right back this afternoon before filling in at RCB for the dismissed Malachi Fagan-Walcott. Eyoma kept impeccable positioning throughout the game.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Despite being harshly sent off this was another very good performance from the second year scholar. Fagan-Walcott made some good tackles and interceptions, and he was decent in the air. He will however, miss the next three u18 and u23 games.
• Luis Binks: The LCB was once again commanding in the air, kept good positioning and his distribution was good. Binks also made some important standing tackles and interceptions.
• Tariq Hinds: The fullback stayed deep and defended his side of the pitch well.
• Tashan Oakley-Boothe: There was plenty of attacking flair about the midfielders performance today. Oakley-Boothe carried the ball well and he went on some good surging forward runs through the middle of the park. The midfielders passing was also good on the day.
• Jamie Bowden: My man of the match, see below.
• Dilan Markanday: The right winger chipped in with two assists and he tested Liverpool fullback Tony Gallagher throughout the game, by going on a series of good darting forward runs.
• Armando Shashoua: The CAM used the ball intelligently when he was on it, although he didn’t see as much of it as he did during the Everton game. Shashoua also chipped in with an assist after winning our first penalty of the game.
• Phoenix Patterson: The left winger was particularly potent during the first half in which he came close to scoring in. Patterson had a tendency to cut inside rather than weave his way past Neco Williams however, this was a good performance overall from the 19 year old.
• Rodel Richards: The centre forwards movement was very good and he timed his runs well. Richards took his goal well and he showed good composure in front of goal. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The 19 year old came on and operated at right back for the last 15 minutes of the game. Lyons-Foster helped to stabilise the defence and I can’t remember Liverpool winger Tom Hill getting past him during his time on the pitch. The Islington born defender also came close to getting in on the goals after some good link up play with Dilan Markanday down the right flank.
• J’Neil Bennett: The late substitute went on some testing runs down the left flank which troubled Liverpool fullback Neco Williams during his time on the pitch. 
• Harvey White: The 18 year old midfielder made some nice simple passes during his short time on the pitch.

My man of the match: Hat-trick hero and Spurs captain Jamie Bowden was the best player on the park this afternoon. The defensive midfielder did a good job at keeping things nice and simple in the middle of the park however, he would go onto make a string of ambitious forward passes as the game progressed. Bowden’s vision for a pass was good, as was his positioning and this helped to protect the back four. The skilful Irishman took both of his penalties well before getting himself into the Liverpool box to head home his third goal of the game. This was a very solid performance from the 18 year old who managed to combine the defensive side of his game with the attacking side of his game so very well. 

Spurs: Oluwayemi, Eyoma, Hinds, Binks, Fagan-Walcott, Bowden (c), Oakley-Boothe, Markanday, Patterson (Bennett 80), Shashoua (Lyons-Foster 75), Richards (White 87). Substitutes (not used): De Bie, Okedina.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Williams, Gallacher, Clayton, Boyes, Chirivella (c), Elliott (Bearne 16 (Norris 73)), Kane (Dixon-Bonner 86), Longstaff, Christie-Davies, Hill. Substitutes (not used): Atherton, Varesanovic.

Goals: Spurs – Richards 20, Bowden 55 (pen), 60 (pen), 90+4.

Yellow cards: Liverpool – Christie-Davies 47, Chirivella 59, Clayton 90.

Red cards: Spurs – Fagan-Walcott 72; Liverpool – Boyes 54.

Referee: Scott Jackson.

Venue: Hotspur Way.

Spurs under 23’s statistics: 

Goals: Armando Shashoua – 5

Harvey White – 3

Rodel Richards – 3

Jamie Bowden – 3

Troy Parrott – 2

Kazaiah Sterling – 2

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 2

Dilan Markanday – 2

Shilow Tracey – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Phoenix Patterson – 1

Assists: Shilow Tracey – 5

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 3

Armando Shashoua – 3

Dilan Markanday – 3

Rodel Richards – 2

Tariq Hinds – 2

Jamie Bowden – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Kazaiah Sterling – 1

TJ Eyoma – 1

Maurizio Pochettino – 1

Clean sheets: Brandon Austin – 1

Josh Oluwayemi – 1