Spurs’ Under 18 side hosted fellow London side West Ham United at Hotspur Way in a league meeting on Saturday morning. Spurs won what was a very lively match 3-0, with Jamie Donley, Jaden Williams and Rio Kyerematen getting Spurs’ goals. Spurs lined up with Thimothée Lo-Tutala in goal, while Maxwell McKnight, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and Will Andiyapan lined up in defence. Captain Dante Cassanova and Rio Kyerematen started in central midfield, and Khalon Haysman and Renaldo Torraj started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the match underway. Renaldo Torraj headed away an early headed effort on the Spurs goal before Alfie Dorrington blocked Regan Clayton’s effort inside the Spurs penalty area. Divin Mubama headed just over the Spurs goal from a cross, as West Ham started the game well. However, Spurs took the lead in the 14th minute of the game through Jamie Donley. Maxwell McKnight’s lofted pass over the top of the West Ham defence set Donley through on goal, and with the West Ham goalkeeper off his line the Northern Ireland Under 19 international decided to try a lobbed effort on goal. Donley’s looping effort went over the West Ham goalkeeper and bounced into the back of the goal, 1-0. Not long afterwards Regan Clayton lost the ball just outside of the West Ham box, and Jaden Williams was there to receive the ball, enter the West Ham box and finish low past Jacob Knightbridge and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-0.

Lo-Tutala saved a free-kick from Archie Woods before Archie Chaplin lost the ball to Woods, who then hit an effort across the face of the Spurs goal. Dante Cassanova had an effort blocked before George Earthy hit an effort over from the edge of the Spurs box. After Jaden Williams had won the ball off of Archie Woods he tried to catch the goalkeeper off his line from distance, but his effort went wide. Donley had a headed effort saved from Khalon Haysman’s cross, before the final piece of action of the half saw Renaldo Torraj latch onto McKnight’s cross inside the West Ham box. The Spurs wingers resulting effort hit against the woodwork. West Ham got the second half underway. Khalon Haysman was shown a yellow card for a challenge, before Maxwell McKnight was also shown a yellow card a couple of minutes later. Substitute Gideon Kadua had an effort well saved by Lo-Tutala from close range, in what was West Ham’s best chance of the game so far. Jacob Knightbridge tipped behind Haysman’s curling effort inside the West Ham box, and then from the following corner kick Rio Kyerematen met Dante Cassanova’s very good ball into the box, and headed it past the West Ham goalkeeper, despite his best efforts, 3-0. Jamie Donley was shown a yellow card shortly after the restart, and then a couple of moments later Will Andiyapan prevented Gideon Kadua from being through on goal, by making a very good and well timed challenge.

Renaldo Torraj had an effort blocked, and then Spurs made their first change of the game as George Abbott came on to replace Renaldo Torraj. Abbott was fouled soon after coming on, by Asher Falase, who was shown his second yellow card of the match and sent off. Thomas Bloxham replaced Khalon Haysman a couple of minutes before Jaden Williams headed an effort just over the West Ham goal from Dante Cassanova’s corner kick. Lo-Tutala saved well from Gideon Kadua’s headed effort, before Maxwell McKnight came off to be replaced by Jahziah Linton. A long ball over the top allowed Gideon Kadua to be through on goal, but his low effort went wide of the goal. Regan Clayton then hit an effort over the Spurs goal from distance, before at the other end of the pitch Williams cut the ball back inside the West Ham box for substitute George Abbott, but his effort went wide. George Earthy hit a late effort over, before Dorrington headed over Cassanova’s free-kick, in what was the final piece of action from the game. Spurs’ next game at this level is away to West Brom in the league – next Saturday.

Player reviews:

• Thimothée Lo-Tutala: Making a couple of good and important saves and commanding his box well, I thought that the France Under 19 international had a good game.
• Maxwell McKnight: The right-back got the assist for Spurs’ opening goal of the game after making a good pass over the top of the West Ham defence to set-up Jamie Donley. McKnight played well today and also got forward well too.
• Alfie Dorrington: It was an assertive performance from the right-sided centre-half. Dorrington was good in the air, kept good positioning throughout the game and also made some good challenges as well.
• Archie Chaplin: My man of the match, see below.
• Will Andiyapan: Starting at left-back and then later switching to right-back for the latter stages of the game, Wales Under 17 international Will Andiyapan had another good and solid game. Andiyapan made a really important and courageous challenge to stop Gideon Kadua from being through on goal during the second half.
• Dante Cassanova: The Spurs captain impressed with his excellent deliveries from set-pieces today, and the midfielder also played well in the central areas of the pitch. 
• Rio Kyerematen: The midfielder went on some good forward runs through the middle off the pitch, worked hard off the ball and also took his second half goal well.
• Khalon Haysman: Playing out of position out on the right flank against West Ham – Khalon Haysman got stuck in defensively, tracked back well and also got forward well with the ball on occasions.
• Jamie Donley: Showing good skill on the ball Jamie Donley took his first half goal excellently. Donley made some good passes and runs into good areas of the pitch, and he pressed the defence really well. 
• Renaldo Torraj: Making some good forward runs off the ball, left-winger for the match Renaldo Torraj came very close to scoring just before half-time.
• Jaden Williams: The Spurs centre-forward led the line really well again. Williams took his goal well, moved well off the ball and came close to scoring more goals on the day.
• George Abbott: The second half substitute was lively out on the left flank and he came close to scoring during his time on the pitch.
• Thomas Bloxham: The second half substitute went out to play on the right flank, where he was forward thinking whenever he received the ball.
• Jahziah Linton: The late substitute filled in at left-back for Spurs on Saturday.

My man of the match: Archie Chaplin. Carrying on from his impressive performance against Reading two weeks ago, central defender and schoolboy footballer Archie Chaplin did well once again for the Spurs Under 18 side today. Like Alfie Dorringotn he was assertive in defence, kept good positioning and passed the ball out well from the back. Early on in the game Chaplin made an important challenge to stop a West Ham forward from being through on goal, and he also made some more tackles during the game, as him and Dorrington complimented each other well. I was impressed with how he has stepped up to play for Spurs at this level, and hopefully he’ll start again against West Brom next Saturday.