Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Brighton & Hove Albion to Hotspur Way on Saturday morning, for a Premier League South game. Spurs won the match 2-1, and it was another good team performance. Making his second competitive appearance of the season following his return from injury, Luca Gunter started in goal, while a back four consisting of Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and William Andiyapan started in-front of him. Captain Dante Cassanova and Rio Kyerematen started in central midfield, while Maxwell McKnight and Renaldo Torraj started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. Brighton got the game underway on a cold day in Enfield, but the first chance of the game came Spurs’ way. McKnight passed the ball to Donley inside the Brighton box, but his effort was blocked behind for a corner kick. From the resulting corner kick from Dante Cassanova, the ball ended up coming to Donley, but his effort was saved well by the Brighton goalkeeper Fynn Talley, who made himself big. At the other end of the pitch Donley headed narrowly over Cassanova’s corner kick, before the Spurs forward then hit a free-kick wide. Alfie Dorrington received Spurs’ first yellow card of the game shortly afterwards.

After Jaden Williams had an effort on goal blocked by a Brighton defender, the ball came to Jamie Donley, who hit the crossbar from his deflected effort. After receiving William Andiyapan’s pass inside the Brighton box, Jaden Williams had a low effort saved by Fynn Talley. Joshua Duffus had an effort cleared off the line, before Spurs took the lead in the 37th minute of the game. The impressive Renaldo Torraj picked the ball up on the left flank, before cutting inside and going on a fine and skilful run towards the edge of the Brighton box. He then hit a wonderful and powerful effort past Talley and into the top right hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Shortly after the game got back underway Dante Cassanova received a yellow card, and then a couple of minutes after that Jack Hinshelwood volleyed over Samy Chouchane’s free-kick. Luca Gunter made an important save shortly afterwards to stop Marcus Ifill’s effort, in what was the final piece of action from the first half. Spurs got the second half underway, and early on in the half Alfie Dorrington made a good block to stop Joshua Duffus from testing Luca Gunter. Then Jack Hinshelwood hit an effort just over the Spurs goal, before at the other end of the pitch Maxwell McKnight had an effort blocked. 

Spurs doubled their advantage after McKnight passed the ball to Donley, who then threaded a nice pass through to Rio Kyerematen down the right hand side of the Brighton box. The Spurs midfielder then calmly tucked the ball past the Brighton goalkeeper and into the back of the goal, 2-0. Brighton tried to respond, Jack Gee hit Luca Gunter’s crossbar before Kyerematen blocked a Brighton free-kick. Marcus Ifill had an effort blocked behind for a corner, inside of the Spurs box, before Brighton managed to get a goal back. Luca Gunter dropped a delivery into the box, and the ball fell for Jack Hinshelwood, who was able to score. However, Luca Gunter was not at all happy with the referee that the goal was allowed to stand, and soon afterwards he received a yellow card. Khalon Haysman came on to replace Renaldo Torraj out on the left flank, before Samy Chouchane hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal. Elliot Jenks then headed just wide at the back post, after meeting Bailey Smith’s cross. 

Thomas Bloxham then replaced Jaden Williams, as Head Coach Stuart Lewis made his second change of the game. A deflected effort from Donley came to Rio Kyerematen inside the Brighton box. He was one on one with Fynn Talley, but the Brighton goalkeeper was able to save his effort from close range. After latching onto Jamie Donley’s pass down the left side of the Brighton penalty area, Thomas Bloxham skipped past a Brighton defender before having his effort saved by the Brighton goalkeeper, in what turned out to be the final chance of the game. Spurs’ next league game is after the international break, when they host in-form Southampton at Hotspur Way.

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The Spurs goalkeeper didn’t have a lot to do today, in regards to making saves. He did make one important save in the first half and he was unlucky to concede in the second half.
• Brandon Bryan-Waugh: This was a solid performance at right-back from the first year scholar. Bryan-Waugh made some good challenges during the game.
• Alfie Dorrington: Central-defender Alfie Dorrington was assertive in defence, made some good blocks and also led well from defence.
• Archie Chaplin: I thought that this was another strong defensive performance from Archie Chaplin, overall. Chaplin showed his quality on the ball, but also in defence as well.
• William Andiyapan: Playing at left-back Wales Under 17 international William Andiyapan read the game well down our left flank, and kept good positioning throughout the game.
• Dante Cassanova: The Spurs captain worked really hard in midfield, and he also worked well alongside Rio Kyerermaten. Cassanova broke up play well in the middle of the pitch.
• Rio Kyerematen: Getting forward well from midfield, England Under 17 international Rio Kyerematen took his goal well in the second half, but he also kept good positioning in midfield.
• Maxwell McKnight: Playing as a winger out on the right flank, Maxwell McKnight went on some strong forward runs down the right flank. He was always looking to take on the Brighton left-back.
• Jamie Donley: The England Under 17 international had a couple of good chances in the first half, which he was unlucky not to score from. Donley worked well off the ball and his passing was good as well.
• Renaldo Torraj: My man of the match, see below.
• Jaden Williams: Making some good runs off the ball, centre-forward Jaden Williams led the line well and worked hard to try and influence the game.
• Khalon Haysman: The second half substitute moved out to the left flank initially before moving to the CAM role.
• Thomas Bloxham: The late substitute showed good skill to go past a Brighton defender, before having an effort saved by the goalkeeper, late on in the game.

My man of the match: Renaldo Torraj. Playing out on the left flank Renaldo Torraj gave the Brighton right-back a difficult game. Going on some really fine and skilful runs, the versatile player was creative and unpredictable out on the left flank, and he could even have won a penalty in the first half. It was a very strong first half performance from Renaldo, who took his goal excellently well.