Spurs’ Under 18 side took on Chelsea on Saturday morning at Hotspur Way, in what was Spurs’ first home league game of the season. Spurs Under 18’s head coach Stuart Lewis saw his side lose 7-2 on the day, but the scoreline didn’t entirely reflect how the game went, and key decisions on the day did go against Spurs. Spurs lined up with Adam Hayton in goal, while a back four consisting of Maxwell McKnight, captain Alfie Dorrington, Will Andiyapan and Jordan Hackett lined up in front of him. Dante Cassanova and Rio Kyerematen started in central midfield, and Jamie Donley and Riley Owen started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Khalon Haysman. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway and it was an even start to the game. After Jaden Williams had won the ball off of Joshua Tobin he played the ball through to Khalon Haysman down the left hand side of the Spurs box, but Haysman’s effort went just wide of the Chelsea goal. Hackett made a good and important challenge on Leo Castledine inside the Spurs box, before Haysman had an effort on goal blocked behind for a Spurs corner kick. Haysman had another effort blocked a couple of moments later, this time by Alfie Gilchrist. Dante Cassanova had an effort on goal blocked before at the other end of the pitch he cleared Lewis Hall’s low cross, after the Chelsea player had gone on a really good forward run.

It was a really end to end game, and after the lively Jamie Donley had an effort on goal blocked, Spurs’ Adam Hayton had to make his first save of the game to stop Lewis Hall from finding the back of the net, from the edge of the Spurs box. A good Chelsea move however, ended in them scoring their first goal of the game. After Brodi Hughes found Ronnie Stutter on the left hand side of the Spurs box he found the right hand corner of the Spurs goal, 0-1. Hayton did well to tip over Jimi Tauriainen’s effort from a Chelsea free-kick before Jordan Hackett did well to block Ronnie Stutter’s effort inside the Spurs box. Hayton was again called in to action a couple of minutes later, firstly to push away Lewis Hall’s effort, before then saving Jimi Tauriainen’s effort on the follow up. However, after Alfie Dorrington was deemed to have fouled Edwin Andersson by tripping him, after he had entered the Spurs box, the referee pointed straight to the spot. Lewis Hall hit his following penalty kick into the roof of Adam Hayton’s goal, 0-2. Dorrington recovered well by blocking an effort from the Chelsea goalscorer shortly after the game got underway again, before Edwin Andersson hit an effort well over the Spurs goal. Brodi Hughes hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal from out on the right flank, before Spurs then won a penalty of their own, after Donley was tripped down the right hand side of the Chelsea box by Billy Gee.

Donley stepped up to calmly find the bottom right hand corner of the Chelsea goal, 1-2. Haysman saw his effort deflected over the Chelsea goal, and then shortly before half-time Donley received Owen’s pass inside the Chelsea box, but his low effort was well tipped behind by Chelsea goalkeeper Teddy Curd. Chelsea got the second half underway and Andiyapan came close to drawing Spurs level, after his headed effort from Cassanova’s cross went just over the Chelsea goal. However, Chelsea were awarded another penalty after McKnight had in the referees view fouled Richard Olise inside the Spurs box. It was a controversial moment in the game, but it was also a decisive one as Lewis Hall found the right hand corner of Hayton’s goal from his effort, 1-3. Alfie Dorrington received a yellow card before Ronnie Stutter squared the ball to Jimi Tauriainen from the left flank, and he finished past Hayton inside the Spurs box, 1-4. Williams forced a save out of Teddy Curd, before Hayton stopped Edwin Andersson’s effort from going in at the other end of the pitch. Spurs’ day got even worse after Jamie Donley was shown a straight red card after making a strong challenge to try and win the ball off of Jimi Tauriainen. Thomas Bloxham came on to replace Riley Owen, and then a couple of moments later Leo Castledine curled over a free-kick.

The impressive Adam Hayton saved Edwin Andersson’s effort on goal, before Jaden Williams hit the post with a powerful effort from just outside the Chelsea box.  Spurs made another change as Roshaun Mathurin came on to replace Maxwell McKnight, but just before that Kyerematen blocked Leo Castledine’s effort on goal impressively. The newly introduced Roshaun Mathurin soon started making an impact, and after going on a surging forward run (after latching onto Will Andiyapan’s clearance) from inside the Spurs half he found the bottom left hand corner of the Chelsea goal, from the edge of their penalty area, 2-4. However, any chance of Spurs getting back into the game was ended after Chelsea made it 5-2 shortly after the match was restarted. Substitute Malik Mothersille managed to get past Andiyapan after showing good pace, and later Hayton inside the Spurs box, before slotting home, 2-5. William Andiyapan was then replaced by Brandon Bryan-Waugh. Haysman hit an effort over the Chelsea crossbar from quite far out, and then Brandon Bryan-Waugh did really well to block Malik Mothersille’s effort off the line, from inside the Spurs box, before Hayton then made yet another save. Leo Castledine’s deflected effort went just wide of the Spurs goal, before Derrick Abu’s brilliant effort from distance beat Hayton to make it 2-6.

The creative Roshaun Mathurin had an effort saved by Teddy Curd, before Edwin Andersson connected with a cut back inside the Spurs box, but his effort went over the crossbar. Edwin Andersson then found the roof of the Spurs net from inside the Tottenham box, to make it 7-2 to Chelsea. Richard Olise then curled just over from close range, before Mathurin had an effort on goal blocked, and then Williams curled an effort wide of the Chelsea goal. The final whistle went shortly afterwards. Spurs’ next game is away to Birmingham City, next Saturday.

Player reviews:

• Adam Hayton: The Spurs goalkeeper made a big number of saves against Chelsea, and in all truth I don’t think that you could say that any of the Chelsea goals could have been kept out by Hayton. He played well.
• Maxwell McKnight: Playing at right-back for this game, Maxwell McKnight liked to get forward and in total he completed 75 minutes of the game.
• Alfie Dorrington: The Spurs captain made a number of good blocks on the day.
• Will Andiyapan: My man of the match, see below.
• Jordan Hackett: The left-back went forward well on occasions and made some good challenges during the first half.
• Dante Cassanova: Dante Cassanova operated as the deepest Spurs midfielder throughout the match.
• Rio Kyerematen: Showing some good skill on the ball and getting forward when he could, Rio Kyerematen completed the whole of Saturday’s match. 
• Jamie Donley: Starting the game out on the right flank, Jamie Donley was lively, inventive and hardworking during his time on the pitch, and after doing well to win a penalty (which he scored from) he also came close to scoring a second goal. Unfortunately he was sent off during the second half, in what was a controversial moment in the game.
• Khalon Haysman: The CAM tried his best to influence the game, and he tried his luck on goal on numerous occasions.
• Riley Owen: Playing out on the left flank during his time on the pitch, Riley Owen was replaced during the second half by Thomas Bloxham.
• Jaden Williams: Leading the line for the second consecutive game, Jaden Williams in my opinion led the line well, and he was unlucky not to score late on in the game.
• Thomas Bloxham: The second half substitute mainly played out on the left flank.
• Roshaun Mathurin: Very creative when he came on, Roshaun Mathurin scored a well taken goal, and he always looked potent whenever he received the ball near to the Chelsea penalty area.
• Brandon Bryan-Waugh: The late substitute made one really good late block to prevent a certain Chelsea goal.

My man of the match: Will Andiyapan. Playing as a left-sided central defender in a back four during his time on the pitch, first year scholar Will Andiyapan was without doubt Spurs’ best player on the day. The Wales youth international made some really good tackles, read the game well and showed some really good pace on occasions. He also got the assist for Roshaun Mathurin’s goal, but this was a strong performance from the Watford born player, despite the scoreline.