Spurs’ Under 23 side were involved in a thrilling match against Crystal Palace, at the South London club’s training ground on Friday afternoon. Wayne Burnett’s side lost the match 4-3, although they had fought back from being 3-0 down, to get back to 3-3 during the second half. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal for Spurs, while a back four consisting of Matthew Craig, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Kallum Cesay lined up in front of him. Captain Harvey White and Nile John started in central midfield, and Jack Clarke and Dilan Markanday started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway, but it didn’t start well for Spurs. Crystal Palace took the lead after just five minutes, through defender Jay Rich-Baghuelou. After a corner kick came to Jesuran Rak-Sakyi just inside the Spurs box, he looped it back into the centre of the penalty area, where he found Rich-Baghuelou, who got up well to head the ball past Oluwayemi, who managed to get a hand on the ball and into the back of the net, 0-1. Kallum Cesay had an effort from the edge of the Crystal Palace box saved, before the home side doubled their advantage. After receiving the ball on the right flank Jesuran Rak-Sakyi went into the Spurs box before going to the byline and then cutting back inside and finding the inside left hand corner of the goal, 0-2.

A powerful effort from Markanday inside the Crystal Palace box was well saved by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, before the ball came to Clarke, whose effort was cleared onto the post by defender Jack Wells-Morrison. Oluwayemi did well to tip over Jesuran Rak-Sakyi’s effort over his goal, before Rob Street headed over a corner kick from Scott Banks, and then a couple of minutes later Devine tracked back to make an excellent challenge on Street inside the Spurs box. Crystal Palace made it 3-0 in the 24th minute of the game. After winning the ball off of Marqes Muir in defence Rob Street took the ball into the Spurs box before then curling the ball in off the post, and into the the right hand corner of the goal. David Omilabu whipped a promising ball across the face of the Spurs goal, but Spurs tried to respond. After Clarke had won a free-kick in a promising position, Harvey White had a curling effort saved by Joe Whitworth. Then Kallum Cesay had a headed effort blocked by Sean Robertson inside the Crystal Palace box. Harvey White had a free-kick from the the right flank gathered by Joe Whitworth, before at the other end of the pitch Joshua Oluwayemi saved really well with his feet from a low effort from Scott Banks inside the Spurs box. Markanday was beginning to really grow into the game, and he had an effort saved by Whitworth, before helping to start the move which led to Spurs getting a goal back.

Markanday passed the ball to Santiago on the left flank, he then entered the Crystal Palace box, and showed some great skill before seeing his cross dropped by Whitworth. Then Devine managed to just get a foot on the ball and direct it into the goal, although Crystal Palace defender Reece Hannam may well have got the final touch on the ball. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time soon afterwards. Crystal Palace got the second half underway and it was the home team who had the first chance of the goal. Jake O’Brien’s header from a corner kick was saved by Oluwayemi. Nile John then had an effort blocked, before Alfie Devine’s deflected effort from just outside the Crystal Palace box went just wide of the goal. Hannam blocked behind Markanday’s shot inside the Crystal Palace box, and then as Spurs continued to play well Devine headed Harvey White’s corner kick towards goal, but Whitworth was able to save. Nile John’s effort on goal was saved before Dilan Markanday got Spurs’ second goal of the game. The Spurs winger had a shot blocked before managing to latch onto the loose ball inside the Crystal Palace box. He then powerfully hit the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-3. Less than two minutes later Spurs got an equaliser. Santiago passed the ball to Markanday out on the right flank, he then skilfully worked his way into the Crystal Palace box, before cutting the ball back for Kallum Cesay on the edge of the box. Cesay’s side footed first time effort on his right foot found the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 3-3.

After receiving Santiago’s pass inside the Crystal Palace box Nile John had a low effort saved by Whitworth. A Crystal Palace free-kick in a really promising position on the edge of the Spurs box, resulted in Scott Banks stepping up to take it. The midfielder curled a really good effort up and over the Spurs wall and into the top right hand corner of Oluwayemi’s goal, 3-4. An excellent challenge by Jay Rich-Baghuelou on Markanday inside the Crystal Palace box stopped Spurs from drawing level again. At the other end of the pitch Markanday cleared well from a Crystal Palace cross. John was shown a yellow card for stopping a Crystal Palace counter attack, and then Michael Craig came on to replace Jack Clarke. After latching onto a through-ball from Scott Banks, Rob Street hit the ball over the Spurs goal, after having been through on goal. Markanday had a shot blocked inside the Crystal Palace box, before Crystal Palace had a chance to extend their lead. A headed effort was cleared off the line, after Oluwayemi was unable to gather a corner kick. Yago Santiago then won a free-kick on the edge of the Crystal Palace box, which Harvey White curled narrowly over. Maksim Paskotši came on to replace Yago Santiago for the latter stages of the game. Markanday had another shot blocked inside the Crystal Palace box, before Cesay headed wide from a cross from the 20 year old. The referee then sounded his whistle a couple of minutes later. Spurs’ next game at this level is on the 18th of October, against West Ham United in the Premier League 2.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made a decent number of saves, including a very good and impressive one with his feet during the first half.
• Matthew Craig: The right-back often stayed deep to help out the defence, and he didn’t often get forward too much during the game.
• Marqes Muir: The 18 year old centre-half played as a right sided centre-half against Crystal Palace. Muir liked to bring the ball out of defence, alongside Tobi Omole.
• Tobi Omole: The left sided centre-half made some good forward passes, and like Marqes Muir he liked to bring the ball out from the defence.
• Kallum Cesay: The left-back for this game took his goal really well, and he also went on some fine runs both with and without the ball down the left flank.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain was playing as the deepest of the two midfielders against Crystal Palace, and I thought that his passing was good.
• Nile John: Trying his luck on goal on occasions, the central midfielder got into some good positions both inside and around the Crystal Palace box.
• Jack Clarke: Starting the game really well and having a strong first half, where he liked to try and take on players for pace and skill, Jack Clarke later switched flanks with Dilan Markanday in the second half.
• Alfie Devine: Once again playing as a CAM, Alfie Devine’s tremendous work rate helped the team out a lot. Devine got another goal for Spurs, to get Spurs back into the game, and he also came quite close to getting a second in the second half.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Yago Santiago: The Spurs centre-forward led the line well I thought. He showed good skill and also pressed the defence well. He played a big part in helping to create our opening goal of the game.
• Michael Craig: The second half substitute played in midfield after being introduced to the game. 
• Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international slotted into the back four after he came on late on in the game.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. Without doubt Spurs’ most influential player against Crystal Palace, winger Dilan Markanday got a goal and assist for the second game this week. He played well in the first half, but during the second half the 20 year old really helped to get Spurs back into the game. Creating and scoring our second goal of the game by himself after switching flanks with Jack Clarke, Dilan then created Kallum Cesay’s goal to make it 3-3, after taking the ball into the Crystal Palace box and then passing the ball to Cesay.