Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Birmingham City to Hotspur Way on Saturday, in their latest Premier League South game. Spurs impressively won the game 7-0 (Jaden Williams got five of Spurs’ goals), and it was a game in which they were much the better team in, throughout. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, while a back four of Will Andiyapan, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and Jordan Hackett-Valton started in defence. Han Willhoft-King and George Abbott started in central midfield, with Maxwell McKnight and Renaldo Torraj starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM and Spurs captain Rio Kyerematen. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. Birmingham got the game underway on a nice day at Hotspur Way, and it was the visitors who actually started the game the better of the two sides. Kieran Wakefield managed to latch onto a loose pass, and he went on a surging run with the ball, past Alfie Dorrington, before continuing into the Spurs box. However, Wakefield’s first effort was saved well by Aaron Maguire, and then moments later Maguire saved well again from the same player, before Jordan Hackett-Valton headed an effort clear on the line.

Spurs responded well to Birmingham’s early chances, and after Renaldo Torraj received Rio Kyerematen’s pass down the left side of the Birmingham box, he came inside onto his right foot before having an effort saved by Alfie Brooks. Rio Kyerematen hit a free-kick from the left flank just over, before then hitting an effort over from the edge of the Birmingham box. A couple of minutes later the England Under 17 international was again involved, this time seeing his effort towards goal blocked by a defender. Renaldo Torraj then had an effort blocked inside the Birmingham penalty area, before at the other end of the pitch Archie Chaplin did well to block Ife Oni’s effort inside the Spurs box. A nice lofted pass from defender Alfie Dorrington managed to pick out Jaden Williams, who had made a good run in-behind the Birmingham defence, but his resulting lofted effort towards goal went just over. Spurs took the lead shortly after, as Archie Chaplin took a free-kick quickly to Maxwell McKnight down the right flank, and his early cross into Jaden Williams in the centre of the Birmingham box, was smartly volleyed low past Alfie Brooks, and into the back of the goal, 1-0.

A lofted pass to McKnight from Williams inside the Birmingham penalty area, resulted in McKnight trying to score from a headed effort. However, the Birmingham goalkeeper managed to punch the ball clear. Dorrington made a good defensive intervention at the other end of the pitch, before Spurs doubled their lead. After Jaden Williams received Rio Kyerematen’s nice ball forward, Williams went forward with the ball, past a Birmingham defender before entering the penalty area and finishing low into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-0. Rio Kyerematen hit an effort over from a free-kick, before finding Archie Chaplin inside the Birmingham box, from a corner-kick, but Chaplin’s effort went over the goal. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time a couple of minutes later. Spurs got the second half underway and not long into the half they extended their lead, as Jaden Williams got his hat-trick. After receiving McKnight’s pass inside the Birmingham box, Williams tried to score with an effort on goal, and it ended up taking a significant deflection off of a Birmingham defender, before going into the goal, 3-0.

Midfielder Han Willhoft-King went on a good forward run after receiving the ball in midfield, and it ended with him bringing the ball towards the Birmingham penalty area, and hitting a low effort wide of the goal. After Luke Carsley had brought down Jaden Williams inside the Birmingham box, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Williams stepped up confidently to find the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 4-0. Renaldo Torraj hit a free-kick effort wide, before Billy Heaps came on to replace Han Willhoft-King in midfield. After Williams had an effort blocked inside the Birmingham box, the ball came to George Abbott, who hit the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal, 5-0. Spurs made their two final changes shortly after as Maxwell McKnight and Renaldo Torraj were replaced by Riley Owen and Sam Amo-Ameyaw. Amo-Ameyaw and Riley Owen came close to making the perfect start to their time on the pitch, with Amo-Ameyaw’s low cross from the left, almost being tapped home by Owen, but for a Birmingham defender getting to the ball just in time.

After turning well with the ball, Riley Owen passed the ball to Jaden Williams down the left side of the Birmingham penalty area, and Williams calmly put the ball past Alfie Brooks, and into the back of the goal, 6-0. Spurs made it 7-0 less than ten minutes later, after Williams had held the ball up well, before making a good pass to Rio Kyerematen inside the Birmingham box. The Spurs midfielder and captain for the game finished well past Alfie Brooks, with a low effort, 7-0. Aaron Maguire saved an effort on goal from Felix Miles, before Ben Beresford volleyed over from a corner-kick. A couple of minutes later a good Birmingham move ended with Felix Miles having an effort deflected wide of the goal, and then a couple of moments later he had an effort which went over the Spurs goal. The referee sounded the full-time whistle a couple of minutes later. Spurs’ next Premier League South game is at home to Aston Villa, next Saturday at Hotspur Way.

Player reviews:

• Aaron Maguire: Making two impressive and important saves during the opening minutes of the game, goalkeeper Aaron Maguire didn’t have a lot to do after that. However, the Republic of Ireland youth international was vocal throughout the match, and was always giving out instructions to his teammates.
• Will Andiyapan: The right-back had a solid game down his side of the pitch. Although Birmingham didn’t test Spurs a lot going forward.
• Alfie Dorrington: The centre-half started the match to the right of Archie Chaplin, and he made a couple of important defensive interventions during the game.
• Archie Chaplin: The left sided centre-half once again did not look at all out of place at this level, as he defended well alongside the more experienced Alfie Dorrington.
• Jordan Hackett-Valton: The left-back made a good headed clearance on the Spurs goal line during the first half. The second year scholar had a solid game defensively. 
• Han Willhoft-King: Starting the game in a more defensive role to George Abbott, midfielder Han Willhoft-King again showed his quality on the ball on occasions during the game. He worked well with Abbott, and also brought the ball forward well, during his time on the pitch.
• George Abbott: This was a good all round performance from the first year scholar, who took his second half goal well, helped Spurs to win the midfield contest and also did some good defensive work. 
• Maxwell McKnight: The winger provided two assists from out on the right flank against Birmingham City, taking his total amount of assists this season at this level to nine. McKnight went on some good runs with the ball during his time on the pitch, as he impressed once again at this level.
• Rio Kyerematen: Starting the game as a CAM, England youth international and Spurs captain Rio Kyerematen provided a fine assist and scored a goal on Saturday afternoon. Kyerematen tried to score on a number of occasions throughout the match.
• Renaldo Torraj: The winger who started the game out on the left flank was involved quite a lot in the game during the first half. The second year scholar completed 65 minutes of the match. 
• Jaden Williams: My man of the match, see below.
• Billy Heaps: The second half substitute went into central midfield after entering the pitch.
• Riley Owen: The winger came on during the second half and made a good impression on the game. Owen turned well with the ball before setting-up Jaden Williams for one of his second half goals.
• Sam Amo-Ameyaw: The winger and second half substitute almost got an assist during his time on the pitch, and he also had a goal ruled out for offside.

My man of the match: Jaden Williams. The centre-forward was outstanding against Birmingham City, leading the line so well as he scored five goals and provided two assists. The first year scholar was involved in all of Spurs’ goals today, and the quality of his performance was so good. Williams made some good runs in-behind the Birmingham defence, held the ball up well on occasions, moved really well off the ball and took all of his goals well. Jaden has now scored 12 goals and provided six assists at Under 18 level for Spurs this season.