Spurs under 23’s 0-1 Chelsea: (match report)

Our under 23’s welcomed unbeaten London rivals Chelsea to the Lamex Stadium on Monday night for an important PL2 clash. Wayne Burnett’s side put in a good defensive performance against the ‘ Blues ‘ although they did struggle a bit to create chances. After a good performance Spurs were dealt a late blow after former Spurs schoolboy Armando Broja netted a late winner for Chelsea who maintain their unbeaten record in the league. Wayne Burnett’s side saw Brandon Austin start in goal, while a back four consisting of Jubril Okedina, captain TJ Eyoma, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Tariq Hinds sat in front of him. Elliot Thorpe and Tashan Oakley-Boothe partnered up in central midfield while Dilan Markanday and Shilow Tracey operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Armando Shashoua. Rodel Richards started up front for Spurs. Chelsea got the game underway on a very chilly night in Hertfordshire. The first chance of the game came Spurs’ way after Rodel Richards passed the ball to Dilan Markanday down the right hand side of the Chelsea box. However, Markanday’s resulting shot on goal was blocked by Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen. Spurs were knocking the ball around the park well during the opening stages of the game.

After receiving Armando Shashoua’s pass inside the Chelsea box Rodel Richards appeared to be fouled by Jack Wakely however, the referee Adrian Quelch didn’t point to the spot. Dilan Markanday had a cross gathered by Chelsea goalkeeper Jamie Cumming before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster’s fine forward pass found Shilow Tracey down the left flank. Tracey cut inside onto his right foot before having a shot blocked by Chelsea captain Marc Guehi before Tashan Oakley-Boothe shot the ball narrowly wide of Jamie Cumming’s goal. The impressive Elliot Thorpe was shown a yellow card on his PL2 debut after pulling back Thierno Ballo before Chelsea’s Tariq Uwakwe cut inside from the left flank before firing the ball narrowly wide of Brandon Austin’s goal. After surging forward Shilow Tracey had a shot blocked by Clinton Mola before Marc Guehi nodded over George McEachran’s corner kick. McEachran’s resulting corner kick was punched in the air by Austin before Jack Wakely’s headed effort on goal was cleared on the line by Brooklyn Lyons-Foster before Tariq Hinds cleared away Armando Broja’s low cross. Elliot Thorpe then conceded a free kick right on the edge of the Spurs box however, Tariq Uwakwe’s resulting effort on goal was blocked in the Spurs wall by Rodel Richards before Marc Guehi fired the ball over Brandon Austin’s crossbar. Elliot Thorpe conceded another free kick on the edge of the Spurs box a couple of minutes later.

George McEachran’s resulting effort struck Tashan Oakley-Boothe in the Spurs wall. At the other end of the pitch Rodel Richards flicked wide Dilan Markanday’s cross, before Armando Shashoua picked up the ball before passing it to Shilow Tracey in the Chelsea box, but he thumped the ball narrowly wide of the goal. Jubril Okedina then had a cross cleared away by Ian Maatsen before Dilan Markanday dribbled his way into the Chelsea box before hitting the ball against the side netting of Jamie Cumming’s goal. Clinton Mola then powered an effort over Brandon Austin’s crossbar from distance before Jubril Okedina accidentally gave the ball to Armando Broja on the edge of the Spurs box but, Broja fired the ball over Austin’s crossbar in what was the final piece of action from the first half. Spurs got the second half underway and they felt that they should have been awarded an early penalty after Chelsea’s Jon Russell appeared to foul Elliot Thorpe after the midfielder had darted into the Chelsea box. A couple of minutes later and after winning the ball Rodel Richards surged forward before firing the ball just wide of the Chelsea goal from the edge of the box. Jubril Okedina then blocked Tariq Uwakwe’s shot at the opposite end of the pitch before Brandon Austin gathered the ball. After Spurs broke forward Jubril Okedina fired an effort over from distance, before Shilow Tracey saw his low cross cleared away by Ian Maatsen.

After Jon Russell had passed the ball to Charlie Brown down the left side of the Spurs box Brown forced a save out of Austin from his powerful effort. Austin then punched clear Henry Lawrence’s cross before the Spurs goalkeeper got a yellow card for kicking the ball away, before Dilan Markanday was also shown a yellow card for committing the same offence. After receiving Jubril Okedina’s pass Shilow Tracey’s deflected shot squirmed just wide of Jamie Cumming’s goal. Elliot Thorpe then made way for Phoenix Patterson who came on in central midfield. Ian Maatsen headed George McEachran’s free kick wide after Lyons-Foster had conceded it. Okedina then cleared away George McEachran’s free kick before Dilan Markanday’s whipped effort was saved by Jamie Cumming. TJ Eyoma’s long pass managed to find the run of Phoenix Patterson down the right hand side of the Chelsea box and Patterson’s powerful first time effort flew just wide of Cumming’s goal. Then at the other end of the pitch and after receiving Tariq Uwakwe’s pass down the right side of the Spurs box, Armando Broja fired the ball past the helpless Brandon Austin and into the roof of his goal, 0-1. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster then cleared away Henry Lawrence’s cross before George McEachran’s corner kick was met by Armando Broja and Spurs goalkeeper Brandon Austin who managed to catch the ball before dropping it and being fouled. Rayan Clarke came onto replace Jubril Okedina at right back before Charlie Brown whipped an effort just wide of the Spurs goal from the edge of the Spurs box. Referee Adrian Quelch then sounded his whistle for full time to bring an end to a tight game.

Player reviews:

• Brandon Austin: The extremely vocal Spurs goalkeeper who turns 21 on Wednesday, didn’t have an awful lot to do against his former club yesterday night. Apart from organising the back four really well Austin made two decent saves, the 20 year olds distribution was also decent.
• Jubril Okedina: The right back defended solidly particularly during the first half against Chelsea’s Tariq Uwakwe and he made some good tackles. I thought that Okedina did a good job for Wayne Burnett’s side.
• TJ Eyoma: The Spurs captain had a solid game and he put in a good performance at RCB alongside Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. Eyoma was good in the air and solid on the ground. 
• Tariq Hinds: The left back was nice and aggressive and he got forward well while also doing quite a good defensive job. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: My man of the match, see below.
• Elliot Thorpe: The 19 year old made his PL2 debut for Wayne Burnett’s side on Monday night. Thorpe played with real bite and energy and he showed a real desire to get stuck in and to try and influence the game. Defensively good, the Cambridgeshire born midfielder showed good skill and a desire to drive forward with the ball. This was a very encouraging performance from the former Wales under 19 international.
• Tashan Oakley-Boothe: The central midfielder went on some good surging forward runs.
• Dilan Markanday: The skilful right winger made several good twists and turns and he enjoyed some successful spells in the game however, he struggled a bit to deal with the physicality of Chelsea left back Jack Wakely.
• Armand Shashoua: As always Shashoua showed tremendous skill and close ball control in the CAM role, and a real desire to work for the team. Shashoua took up intelligent positions 
• Shilow Tracey: The speedy left winger went on some good runs down the left flank and he also tracked back well after him. 
• Rodel Richards: The centre forwards movement was good but he didn’t quite get the service that he craved on the night.
• Phoenix Patterson: The second half substitute came close to finding the back of the net with a fine late effort. It was a decent cameo from the 19 year old.
• Rayan Clarke: N/A.

My man of the match: 19 year old defender Brooklyn Lyons-Foster put in a very good performance at LCB on Monday night. Lyons-Foster reading of the game was second to none, as was his anticipation and positioning. The first year pro was good in the air (his headers were nice cushioned ones) and he hardly put a foot wrong on the ground.

Spurs: Austin, Okedina (R Clarke 89), Hinds, Thorpe (Patterson 70), Eyoma (c), Lyons-Foster, Markanday, Oakley-Boothe, Richards, Shashoua, Tracey. Substitutes (not used): Oluwayemi, Dinzeyi, Pochettino.

Chelsea: Cumming, Lawrence, Wakely, Guehi (c), Maatsen, Mola, Broja, McEachran, Brown (Simons 90+2), Ballo (Russell 46), Uwakwe (Bate 80). Substitutes (not used): Ziger, Simeu.

Goal: Chelsea – Broja 82.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Thorpe 11, Austin 62, Oakley-Boothe 69; Chelsea – Russell 56.

Referee: Adrian Quelch.

Venue: Lamex Stadium, Stevenage.

Attendance: 591.

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