Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Ipswich Town in the third round of the FA Youth Cup, on Thursday evening, at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium. Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side won 5-1, in what was a really good team performance, against a good Ipswich side. Luca Gunter started in goal. Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Alfie Dorrington, Charlie Sayers and Jordan Hackett, started in defence. Han Willhoft-King and Rio Kyerematen started in midfield, while Maxwell McKnight and Tyrese Hall started out on the flanks, either side of CAM and captain Alfie Devine. Jaden Williams returned to lead the line for Spurs. Ipswich got the game underway. An early but hugely important challenge from recent Spurs signing Charlie Sayers, on on the edge of the Spurs box on Ipswich player Gerrard Buabo, stopped a promising move from Ipswich. Soon afterwards Tyrese Hall whipped a good effort across the face of the Ipswich goal, from the left flank, and then in the sixth minute of the game Spurs took the lead. Maxwell McKnight crossed the ball into the Ipswich box, looking to find teammate Jaden Williams. Williams managed to get to the ball and although his first time effort was saved by goalkeeper Lewis Ridd, the ball came back to the first year scholar, and he hit the ball into the roof of the goal, 1-0.

A good run from Gerrard Buabo, into the Spurs box ended after his low effort was blocked by Charlie Sayers, who was having a good start to the game. Tawanda Chirewa hit an effort over Luca Gunter’s goal, before Albie Armin headed over an Ipswich corner-kick. Spurs doubled their lead a couple of minutes later, as a good move which saw McKnight pass the ball to Willhoft-King inside the Ipswich penalty area, ended with the midfielder passing the ball to Devine. The former Wigan Athletic player skilfully stepped past an Ipswich defender, before calmly hitting the ball low and with accuracy past Lewis Ridd, and into the back of the goal, 2-0. The last chance of the half was for Ipswich, as Jack Manly’s low effort deflected behind off of defender Alfie Dorrington. Spurs got the second half underway. Ipswich centre-forward Ashley Boatswain hit a deflected over on the turn, from the edge of the Spurs box, before some really good defending from Charlie Sayers meant that he ended up stopping Gerrard Buabo from being able to go through on goal.  

Luca Gunter made a good save from an effort inside the Spurs box, before Dorrington cleared a header from a corner-kick, off the Spurs goal line. Tawanda Chirewa hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, and then Ipswich’s good start to the half saw them get a goal back. Luca Gunter couldn’t gather a headed effort inside the Spurs box, and then shortly afterwards Ashley Boatswain got on the ball and finished well on the turn, 2-1. Spurs responded by making a change, as Dante Cassanova replaced Rio Kyerematen in midfield. Tawanda Chirewa had a low effort saved by Gunter a couple of moments later, before Khalon Haysman replaced Tyrese Hall. Brandon Bryan-Waugh saw his deflected effort go wide of the Ipswich goal, before Spurs made another change, this time seeing Jaden Williams leave the pitch to be replaced by Jez Davies. Jordan Hackett received a yellow card as the game could have went either way. However, a good ball over the top of the Ipswich defence from Alfie Dorrington, resulted in Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Ridd colliding with teammate Edwin Adbaje, allowing Jez Davies to receive the ball inside the Ipswich box, and allow him to just tap the ball into the empty net, 3-1.

Tawanda Chirewa whipped a good effort wide from an Ipswich free-kick, before Brandon Bryan-Waugh fouled Jesse Nwabueze inside the Spurs box, resulting in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. However, Luca Gunter made a really good save after diving to his left to stop Tawanda Chirewa’s effort from going in. Spurs made it 4-1 moments later, as Dante Cassanova played a pass into Jez Davies, inside the Ipswich box. Davies very unselfishly passed the ball across to Khalon Haysman, who had his initial effort saved by Lewis Ridd, before finding the back of the goal with his following effort. Ashley Boatswain hit an effort over from inside the Spurs box, and then Spurs made it 5-1, in what turned out to be the final chance of the game. After receiving Maxwell McKnight’s pass inside the Ipswich box, Jez Davies hit a powerful low effort into the bottom left hand corner of the Ipswich goal, 5-1. Spurs will now play West Brom in the fourth round of the competition. They won’t play another game at this level until early in the new year.

Player reviews: 

• Luca Gunter: Making an excellent save from a penalty in the second half, Spurs goalkeeper Luca Gunter also commanded his box well, dealing well with crosses and set-pieces.
• Brandon Bryan-Waugh: This was a good defensive performance from the right-back. The Spurs defender made some good challenges during the game, and also got forward well on occasions.
• Alfie Dorrington: The right-sided centre-half teamed up well with Charlie Sayers in defence, made a really important headed clearance off the line in the second half, and he was good on the ball and at passing it out from the back. 
• Charlie Sayers: My man of the match, see below.
• Jordan Hackett: The left-back went on some surging runs down the left flank, to help Spurs go forward down that side of the pitch.
• Han Willhoft-King: Going on some nice and skilful runs with the ball, midfielder Han Willhoft-King was reliable with the ball. He was also good off the ball in a defensive sense.
• Rio Kyerematen: The Spurs midfielder worked well with Willhoft-King during his time on the pitch, and like Willhoft-King, Kyerematen went on some good runs forward with the ball.
• Maxwell McKnight: This was a really good performance from the player from Colchester, who was involved in three of Spurs’ goals against Ipswich. McKnight went on some really good runs forward with the ball, made some good passes and tracked back well.
• Alfie Devine: Taking up really good positions all over the pitch, second year scholar Alfie Devine was very good for Spurs against Ipswich. The CAM took his goal so well, but it was his excellent movement off the ball and runs forward, which really helped Spurs. Devine worked really hard to try and influence the game.
• Tyrese Hall: Showing some good skill on the ball from out on the left flank, this was Tyrese Hall’s second ever appearance for Spurs at this level.
• Jaden Williams: Taking his early goal well, Jaden Williams linked-up well with Alfie Devine and also pressed the Ipswich defence well, during his time on the pitch.
• Dante Cassanova: The second half substitute was involved in Spurs’ fourth goal of the game, after going into midfield.
• Khalon Haysman: The second half substitute played out on the left flank, and he got a late and important goal against Ipswich. 
• Jez Davies: The substitute made an excellent impression on the game, after replacing centre-forward Jaden Williams. Davies got two goals and an assist, in what was a very good performance from the second year scholar.

My man of the match: Charlie Sayers. The Spurs defender had in my opinion a very solid game in central-defence. The former Southend United player made two really important defensive interventions during the first half, and the second year scholar also worked really well with Alfie Dorrington. Sayers was assured in defence and kept very good positioning throughout the game.