Spurs under 18’s 4-1 Fulham: (match report)

Matt Taylor’s Spurs under 18 side welcomed fellow London club Fulham to Hotspur Way on Saturday morning for an under 18 Premier League South game. Spurs started the game well and they attacked well from the offing against a Fulham side who were missing some of their star players. After doing a good job inside the opening 15 minutes, Spurs took the lead through Harvey White (from the penalty spot) and they continued to control the game throughout the remainder of the first half. Second half goals from Romaine Mundle, Harvey White and Tarrelle Whittaker secured the points for Spurs who put in an excellent team performance against a side who had been unbeaten in the league going into this game. This was a fantastic warm up game going into Wednesday nights important FA Youth Cup tie against Wigan Athletic. Spurs lined up with Thimothee Lo-Tutala in goal, while a back four consisting of Marqes Muir, captain Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Luis Binks and Dermi Lusala lined up in front of him. Harvey White and Max Robson partnered up in central midfield while Romaine Mundle and J’Neil Bennett operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Rafferty Pedder. Kion Etete led the line for the young Lilywhites. Fulham got the game underway on a cold morning in Enfield. 

Early on in the game J’Neil Bennett headed Harvey White’s free kick over the crossbar of Fulham goalkeeper Damian Las. A couple of minutes later Kion Etete attacked Marqes Muir’s cross from the right flank. Etete’s good looping header tested Damian Las who produced a good save to deny the Spurs striker. Harvey White then had a corner kick cleared away by Fulham defender Luca Murphy, but the ball came to Max Robson on the edge of the Fulham box and before he could get the ball under control he was barged to the floor by Connor McAvoy leaving the referee with no other choice than to point to the spot. Harvey White stood up confidently before planting the ball in the left hand corner of the Fulham goal, with a powerful strike, 1-0. A couple of minutes after the restart, Jean-Pierre Tiehi’s lofted pass to set Michael Olakigbe through on goal was swept up by the outrushing Thimothee Lo-Tutala. A good Spurs move then saw Binks pass the ball to Pedder who gave the ball to J’Neil Bennett who surged forward down the left hand side of the Fulham box before firing an effort on goal which was saved at his near post by Damian Las. Harvey White’s resulting corner kick was just missed by Luis Binks inside the Fulham box before Malachi Fagan-Walcott cleared Aprion Pajaziti’s cross. Spurs were in full control of the game.

Rafferty Pedder had a cross cleared away by Luca Murphy before Pedder received J’Neil Bennett’s pass inside the Fulham box. The Maidstone born attacking midfielder skipped past Fulham defender Ibane Bowat before firing the ball into the side netting. Romaine Mundle then had a shot cleared away by Luca Murphy before Malachi Fagan-Walcott had a goal ruled out for offside, before the referee sounded his whistle for halftime. Spurs got the second half underway and Matt Taylor’s side started the half in a fantastic way. After receiving Kion Etete’s pass out on the left wing J’Neil Bennett crossed the ball for Romaine Mundle inside the centre of the Fulham box and he smartly tapped the ball past Dominic Las to double Spurs’ advantage, 2-0. A couple of minutes later Harvey White did well to pick out Kion Etete inside the Fulham box with a clever lofted pass. Etete then fired the ball against the bottom right hand post, before Romaine Mundle saw his shot deflect wide of the goal. Mundle received a yellow card shortly afterwards for pulling back Aprion Pajaziti. After receiving Harvey White’s pass J’Neil Bennett surged into the Fulham box before being brought down by Jay Williams as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Harvey White stood up again before firing the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal, 3-0.

After Jean-Pierre Tiehi had latched onto Aprion Pajaziti’s through ball, he had a shot blocked behind by Marqes Muir inside the Spurs box before Michael Olakigbe curled an effort onto Thimothee Lo-Tutala’s crossbar. Ibane Bowat then blocked J’Neil Bennett’s shot on goal before Fulham’s Idris Odutayo headed Rafferty Pedder’s whipped cross just wide of the Fulham goal. Kion Etete then headed wide Harvey White’s corner kick as Spurs continued to dominate the game, playing some lovely attacking football in the process. Luis Binks headed Harvey White’s cross wide of the Fulham goal, before White won a free kick in a promising position on the pitch. White’s resulting whipped effort however, flew over the crossbar of Dominic Las. Fulham managed to pull a goal back in the 77th minute of the game through Jean-Pierre Tiehi. Oliver O’Neil’s shot on goal was blocked by Malachi Fagan-Walcott, but the ball ran through to Tiehi in the Spurs box and he slotted the ball past Lo-Tutala, 3-1. Spurs then made a double change as Tarrelle Whittaker and Aaron Skinner came onto replace Kion Etete and Max Robson. Harvey White shot rather ambitiously wide from the restart before Luis Binks headed a whipped free kick from White wide of the Fulham goal.

Aaron Skinner’s whipped cross was volleyed over by Tarrelle Whittaker, before Spurs netted their fourth goal of the game to secure all three points. After Dermi Lusala had passed the ball to J’Neil Bennett out on the left wing, Bennett whipped a delightful cross into the Fulham box where he managed to pick out Tarrelle Whittaker. Whittaker calmly took a touch before firing the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal of Dominic Las, 4-1. Schoolboy Roshaun Mathurin replaced Romaine Mundle for the final minutes of the game. Mathurin had a cross cleared away by Ibane Bowat before Dermi Lusala got back to make a terrific goal saving challenge on Oliver O’Neil inside the Tottenham box. This was an excellent team performance from Spurs, who dominated their London rivals from the start to the finish of Saturday’s league game. If they play like that against Wigan Athletic on Wednesday then they will have no problems progressing to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Player reviews: 

• Thimothee Lo-Tutala: Although the Spurs goalkeeper didn’t make a single save against Fulham, Lo-Tutala did well in his all round play. The 16 year old came rushing out of his box to make an important clearance in the first half.
• Marqes Muir: This was an excellent performance from Muir at right back and the Lambeth born defender totally neutralised the threat of Fulham winger Imani Lanquedoc. Muir made some good challenges and blocks and he never allowed Lanquedoc to enjoy much space down our right hand side.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: The Spurs captain cut out a number of decent Fulham attacks and the RCB defended solidly throughout the entirety of Saturday’s game. 
• Luis Binks: The LCB was always in the right place at the right time and he never strayed out of position. Binks was dominant in the air and faultless on the ground, this was a very good performance from the Gillingham born centre half.
• Dermi Lusala: Yet another player who had an excellent game, Lusala defended really well and he made some important challenges. However, the North Londoner managed to combine his defensive duties with his attacking ones so well and he went on many a good skilful run down the right flank. Lusala made one excellent late defensive intervention and he was also involved in our fourth and final goal of the game.
• Harvey White: My man of the match, see below. 
• Max Robson: The first year scholar never stopped running and pressing the Fulham players. Robson went on many good forward runs, and like his midfield partner Harvey White he combined both his attacking duties and defensive duties really well. Robson won our opening penalty of the game after being barged inside the Fulham box. 
• Romaine Mundle: Operating out on the right wing Mundle went on some good skilful runs down that flank and he managed to cause the Fulham fullback a lot of bother. Mundle also took his goal really well. 
• Rafferty Pedder: The attacking midfielder put in a very Armando Shashoua-esque shift in the CAM position. Pedder went on some excellent long surging forward runs and he showed great strength on the ball. Pedder did an excellent job at linking the play, and he made many a nice incisive forward pass. 
• J’Neil Bennett: Chipping in with a hat-trick of assists, the skilful J’Neil Bennett went on many very good runs down the left flank and his crossing, vision and skill was all very good indeed.
• Kion Etete: The 18 year old striker led the line really well for Matt Taylor’s side. Etete laid the ball off well to his teammates and he worked really hard up top. Etete was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the second half after hitting the woodwork. 
• Aaron Skinner: The son of the former Blackburn Rovers player Craig Skinner came off the bench late on in the game. Skinner slotted into central midfield and he made one good crunching challenge.
• Tarrelle Whittaker: Our under 18’s top scorer this season came off the bench to score a well taken late goal, his seventh of the season. 
• Roshaun Mathurin: N/A.

My man of the match: The second year scholar completely bossed the game from central midfield (White chipped in with two goals). I lost count at the amount of chances that White created from deep, the Maidstone born midfielder showed great guile in the middle of the park and he moved the ball around the pitch really well. In addition White’s balance and strength on the ball made him difficult to play against in the centre of the park. White’s vision for a pass and ability to dictate the game as well as defend from the central areas of the pitch played a massive factor in Spurs winning the game. 

Spurs under 18’s statistics 2019/20:

Goals: 

Tarrelle Whittaker – 7

Max Robson – 5

Chay Cooper – 4

Kion Etete –  4

Enock Asante – 3

J’Neil Bennett – 3

Harvey White – 3

Kallum Cesay – 2

Rafferty Pedder – 2

Troy Parrott – 2

Dennis Cirkin – 2

Dane Scarlett – 1

Romaine Mundle – 1

Assists:

Max Robson – 5

Chay Cooper – 5

J’Neil Bennett – 4

Tarrelle Whittaker – 3

Dermi Lusala –  3

Romaine Mundle – 3

Kion Etete – 2

Troy Parrott – 2

Rafferty Pedder – 2

Dennis Cirkin – 2

Harvey White – 2

Enock Asante – 2

Luis Binks – 1

Michael Craig – 1

Eddie Carrington – 1

Kallum Cesay – 1

Marqes Muir –  1

Yago Santiago – 1

Clean sheets: 

Kacper Kurylowicz – 2

Joshua Oluwayemi – 1