Spurs’ Under 23 side traveled up north to face Liverpool on Saturday in the Premier League 2, at their Academy. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the match 7-1, in what was a very disappointing afternoon in Liverpool, for Spurs. Spurs lined-up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while Dermi Lusala, captain Maksim Paskotši, Charlie Sayers and Kallum Cesay started in defence. Alfie Devine and Max Robson started the match in central-midfield, and J’Neil Bennett and Romaine Mundle would start the game out on the flanks, either side of CAM Yago Santiago. First year scholar Jamie Donley led the line for Spurs. Liverpool got the game underway. Starting really well from very early on in the game, defender Rhys Williams headed wide Liverpool’s first chance of the match, from Leighton Clarkson’s corner-kick. Then a couple of minutes later Liverpool captain Tom Clayton received Tyler Morton’s pass inside the Spurs box, but his low effort was saved by Oluwayemi. Leighton Clarkson managed to latch onto Joshua Oluwayemi’s pass out from the Spurs box, but then Oluwayemi managed to save Clarkson’s effort on goal.

Liverpool continued to play well, and after a good run down the right side of the Liverpool box Conor Bradley had an effort saved by Oluwayemi, before Leighton Clarkson managed to get to the ball, but ended up putting it wide of the goal. Alfie Devine managed to partially block Jack Bearne’s effort, which was saved by Oluwayemi. Liverpool then took the lead shortly after, as Max Woltman received the ball inside the Spurs box, before then laying it off to Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley, who managed to find the bottom right hand corner of the Spurs goal, with a low finish, 0-1. Spurs responded in defence, as centre-half Charlie Sayers switched sides with Maksim Paskotši. A good run into the Spurs box (down the left side) from Woltman, ended in him managing to get past Sayers, before finding the bottom right hand corner of the goal, with a good finish, 0-2. Liverpool extended their lead not long after, after Max Woltman passed the ball to James Norris down the left of the Spurs box, and the full-back powerfully found the far corner of Oluwayemi’s goal, 0-3.

After receiving Leighton Clarkson’s pass, Max Woltman tried to score from a lofted effort, but it was saved by Oluwayemi. Spurs tried to respond. Romaine Mundle came very close to meeting J’Neil Bennett’s low cross towards the back post of the Liverpool goal. However, Liverpool then went forward with the ball. Tyler Morton’s cross to Max Woltman inside the Spurs box, resulted in Woltman having an effort saved by Oluwayemi, before Sayers fouled the Liverpool forward inside the Spurs box, resulting in a penalty for the home team. Leighton Clarkson passed the ball into the bottom right corner of the Spurs goal from the resulting penalty kick, 0-4. J’Neil Bennett then fouled a Liverpool player and was shown a yellow card by the referee. After meeting a cross from James Norris down the right side of the pitch, Mateusz Musialowski had an effort deflected behind by Kallum Cesay. Just before half-time Rhys Williams headed a Leighton Clarkson cross towards goal, but his effort hit the arm of Jamie Donley, with the referee again pointing to the penalty spot. This time Leighton Clarkson hit the ball into the top left corner of the goal, 0-5. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time soon after.

Spurs, who got the second half underway, had made a change at half-time as Jamie Bowden replaced Max Robson in midfield. An early Jamie Bowden corner-kick was met by Jamie Donley inside the Liverpool box, and his headed effort on goal was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga. A cross from the right from Leighton Clarkson wasn’t gathered by Joshua Oluwayemi, but Jack Bearne could then only hit the ball over the goal. Bowden then managed to pick out Bennett on the right flank with a great lofted pass, and Bennett then cut inside onto his right foot before finding the far corner of the goal, with a good effort from the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, 1-5. Both Charlie Sayers and Kallum Cesay received yellow cards in quick succession, before a good lofted pass from Bowden put Donley through on goal, inside the Liverpool box. However, Donley’s effort was saved by Marcelo Pitaluga. Liverpool managed to get their sixth goal of the game a couple of minutes later, after Jack Bearne latched onto a long pass and then went down the right side of the Spurs box, before finishing across Oluwayemi, and into the far corner of the goal, 1-6. 

Liverpool wanted to score more goals, and after Tom Clayton went past Devine on the left flank, Clayton crossed the ball into the Spurs box. Oluwayemi was unable to gather it, and Mateusz Musialowski ended up putting the ball wide of the goal. After receiving Bowden’s lofted pass out on the right flank, J’Neil Bennett had a deflected effort on goal saved by the Liverpool goalkeeper. Marqes Muir replaced Maksim Paskotši in defence, and then Jaden Williams replaced Yago Santiago. Liverpool went forward with the ball again, as Leighton Clarkson received Tyler Morton’s pass down the right side of the Spurs box, but his effort was saved by Oluwayemi. After Charlie Sayers stopped a pass inside the Spurs box, the ball came to Fidel O’Rourke, who finished well into the bottom right hand corner of the Spurs goal, 1-7. The referee sounded the final whistle soon after, to bring the game to an end. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 game is at home to Leicester City on Friday evening, at the Lamex Stadium.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made some good saves, and I certainly didn’t think that he was at fault for any of Liverpool’s goals.
• Dermi Lusala: Starting the match at right-back, Dermi Lusala later switched sides with Kallum Cesay, during the second half. This was a difficult game for all of the Spurs defenders, and Lusala had a lot of defending to do, with Liverpool focusing a lot down the flanks. 
• Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international made his first competitive start for the Spurs Under 23 side this year, on Saturday afternoon. The centre-half completed 79 minutes of the match, and he had to defend against talented Liverpool centre-forward Max Woltman. For both Paskotši and Sayers, there were some difficult moments in the game, but then Liverpool did field a very strong side for the match. 
• Charlie Sayers: The second year scholar and centre-half completed the whole of the match and although he did start the game to the left side of Maksim Paskotši, Sayers did switch sides on occasions during the game. On only his second ever competitive start at this level, the former Southend United player did have some difficult times during the match against a much more experienced Liverpool side, but I thought that he defended well during the second half.
• Kallum Cesay: Starting at left-back and later switching flanks with Dermi Lusala during the second half, Cesay had a lot of defending to do throughout the game.
• Alfie Devine: Often dropping deep in midfield to try and get on the ball during the Liverpool match. Alfie Devine started the game as the deepest midfielder, but later moved higher up the pitch after Jamie Bowden came on during the second half. Devine couldn’t influence the game in the same way that he has done for Spurs’ Under 23 side during recent games, because of the fact that he didn’t receive the ball a lot in the middle of the pitch. 
• Max Robson: Working hard as always from midfield and trying to make a good impression on the game, midfielder Max Robson only completed the first half of todays game, and he wasn’t playing in his usual role as a CAM, but was instead in central-midfield.
• J’Neil Bennett: The winger who started the game out on the right flank, improved a lot in the second half following the introduction of midfielder Jamie Bowden. Bennett took his goal really well. 
• Yago Santiago: Starting the game as a CAM and later switching positions with other players during the match, Yago Santiago completed 83 minutes of the game.
• Romaine Mundle: Starting out on the left flank as a winger, Romaine Mundle didn’t receive the ball much out on the left side, at times during the game.
• Jamie Donley: Making his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 23 side, England Under 17 international Jamie Donley led the line for Spurs against Liverpool. Donley didn’t get great service during the match, but came close to scoring during the second half, after being put through on goal by Jamie Bowden. However, the Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga managed to save his effort.
• Jamie Bowden: My man of the match, see below.
• Marqes Muir: The centre-half came on to replace Maksim Paskotši during the second half.
• Jaden Williams: The late substitute came on to play as a centre-forward, with Jamie Donley moving to the CAM role.

My man of the match: Jamie Bowden. After being introduced for the start of the second half, classy midfielder Jamie Bowden got on the ball a lot and really tried to get Spurs back into the game. Providing an assist for J’Neil Bennett’s goal from a nice lofted pass, Bowden also created a really good chance for Jamie Donley. The 20 year old was always looking to pass the ball forward and he showed great vision and skill on the ball. He made a real difference to the Spurs team after being introduced for the second half of Saturdays game.

Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Fulham to Hotspur Way on Saturday morning, for the third competitive fixture between these two sides this season. Spurs lost the Premier League South game 1-0, and it was a game of not very many chances, for either side. Aaron Maguire started in goal for Spurs, while a defence consisting of Will Andiyapan, Archie Chaplin, Charlie Sayers and Jahziah Linton lined-up in front of him. Rio Kyerematen and George Abbott started in central midfield, and Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Billy Heaps started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley, with Jaden Williams leading the line. Spurs got the match underway. Rio Kyerematen hit an early effort over the Fulham goal, before a good chance came the way of Jaden Williams, but he headed wide from Kyerematen’s free-kick into the Fulham box. A couple of minutes later Oliver Sanderson curled an effort wide of Aaron Maguire’s goal, and then at the the other end of the pitch Jaden Williams managed to get onto the ball inside the Fulham box, from a Fulham back pass. However, Williams was met by the Fulham goalkeeper Michael Allen, who saved his effort, before the ball was cleared.

A loose pass from Charlie Sayers was latched onto by Oliver Sanderson, who went into the Spurs box, before having his effort saved by Maguire. A cross into the Spurs penalty area from the right flank from Terrell Works, was met by Oliver Sanderson, whose headed effort was well saved by Maguire. Archie Chaplin blocked Xavier Benjamin’s effort on the turn, and then Spurs came close to taking the lead through Jamie Donley, a couple of moments later. After receiving Rio Kyerematen’s pass down the left side of the Fulham box, Donley tried his luck on goal with a low effort, but it was tipped behind by Allen. Aaron Maguire gathered the ball well from Delano McCoy-Splatt’s free-kick, before Jahziah Linton had an effort on goal blocked, at the other end of the pitch. Jaden Williams received the first yellow card of the game a couple of minutes later. Fulham took the lead not long before half-time. Terrell Works crossed the ball into the Spurs penalty area from the right flank, and Oliver Sanderson met the ball and finished past Maguire, with a first time effort.

Shortly after the game got started again after the opening goal of the match, Oliver Sanderson hit an effort over inside the Spurs box. Then moments later Jamie Donley hit a free-kick into the Fulham wall, before Imani Lanquedoc hit an effort wide from distance, and Xavier Benjamin hit an effort wide from a Fulham corner-kick, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Fulham got the second half underway. Sayers headed over a Rio Kyerematen free-kick, before Chaplin blocked an effort from Georgios Okkas. Billy Heaps received a yellow card, and then Spurs made their first change of the game, as Maxwell McKnight came on to replace Billy Heaps. Donley hit another free-kick effort into the Fulham wall, but this time the ball came out to Linton, whose powerful effort was saved by Michael Allen. Thomas Bloxham came on to replace Sam Amo-Ameyaw out on the left flank,  shortly after. A cross from the right flank from Michael Olakigbe towards Imani Lanquedoc, ended up coming off the foot of Charlie Sayers, resulting in Aaron Maguire having to make a good reaction save to tip the ball around his post.

After Jahziah Linton conceded a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box, Delano McCoy-Splatt hit an effort into the Spurs wall, before Xavier Benjamin then hit the ball over the goal. Spurs’ third and final substitution saw Riley Owen replace Jaden Williams. Sayers blocked Delano McCoy-Splatt’s effort, before a pass from the same Fulham player, to Michael Olakigbe down the right side of the Spurs box, resulted in Maguire saving a low effort from Olakigbe, with his feet. After winning the ball off of George Abbott inside the Spurs box, McCoy-Splatt hit an effort on goal, but it was saved by the impressive Aaron Maguire. Charlie Sayers then headed over after meeting a headed clearance from Georgios Okkas inside the Fulham box. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after.

Player reviews:

• Aaron Maguire: My man of the match, see below.
• Will Andiyapan: Starting the match at right-back, the Wales youth international   often stayed deep to defend against Imani Lanquedoc.
• Archie Chaplin: This was a solid defensive performance from the schoolboy footballer, at centre-half. Chaplin made some good blocks and also kept good positioning throughout the game.
• Charlie Sayers: Returning to the Under 18 side after making his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 23’s in midweek, Charlie Sayers had a good game in central defence alongside Archie Chaplin.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back got up and down the left flank well, as he defended against Terrell Works.
• Rio Kyerematen: The skilful midfielder was inventive with the ball and brought it forward well throughout the match, as he went on some good surging forward runs. The England Under 17 international created a good chance for Jamie Donley, during the first half, and he was probably Spurs’ best outfield player on the day.
• George Abbott: Starting the match slightly more forward than Rio Kyerematen, George Abbott was tenacious in midfield.
• Sam Amo-Ameyaw: Starting out on the right flank as a winger, schoolboy footballer Sam Amo-Ameyaw later went out to the left flank following the introduction of Maxwell McKnight, before being substituted later on.
• Jamie Donley: The England Under 17 international had one good chance to score from during the first half, but his effort was saved by Fulham goalkeeper Michael Allen. Donley later moved from the CAM position to centre-forward, after Jaden Williams left the pitch.
• Billy Heaps: Starting out on the left flank as a winger, the talented midfielder  unfortunately didn’t receive the ball a lot in forward areas, during some of his time on the pitch. But he did work well off the ball.
• Jaden Williams: The centre-forward worked well off the ball and also came quite close to scoring from a headed chance early on in the game.
• Maxwell McKnight: The second half substitute came on to start out on the right flank, to make his 20th competitive appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 18 side.
• Thomas Bloxham: The second half substitute started out on the left flank.
• Riley Owen: The late substitute came on and started in the CAM role, behind centre-forward Jamie Donley.

My man of the match: Aaron Maguire. The Republic of Ireland youth international and second year scholar made a number of impressive saves, on what was only his second competitive appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 18 side. Maguire made some impressive reflex saves and kept good positioning in his goal during the match.

Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Arsenal at Meadow Park, on Friday evening, in a Premier League 2 fixture. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the match 2-1, but it was a game in which they deserved to get something from, such was the quality of their response to going 2-0 down. However, the sending off of Matthew Craig during the second half, made it that bit too difficult for Spurs to get something out of the game. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal for Spurs, while Dermi Lusala, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier started in defence. Matthew Craig and Harvey White teamed up in central-midfield, while J’Neil Bennett and Romaine Mundle started out on the flanks, and Alfie Devine started in the CAM role. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. It was Spurs who got the match underway. Joshua Oluwayemi saved Omari Giraud-Hutchinson’s early effort. A couple of minutes later and after some good skill from Romaine Mundle, Harvey White had an effort blocked inside the Arsenal box. Marcel Lavinier then had an effort blocked inside the Arsenal penalty area, before Arsenal took the lead.

After Marqes Muir dribbled the ball out from defence, he was met by an Arsenal player who managed to win the ball from him. Mika Bierith had the ball played into his feet, and was through on goal inside the Spurs box, with only the goalkeeper to beat. However, after being met by the outrushing Oluwayemi (the Spurs goalkeeper seemed to catch the Denmark youth international), Bierith passed the ball to Marcelo Flores, who tapped the ball into the empty net, 0-1. Arsenal doubled their lead less than seven minutes later. J’Neil Bennett’s pass back to Oluwayemi was latched onto by Giraud-Hutchinson, who passed the ball to Flores, down the left side of the Spurs box. Flores crossed the ball into the centre of the box, but unfortunately Tobi Omole, who was attempting to slide in to clear the ball, ended up putting the ball past Oluwayemi and into the back of the goal, 0-2. Spurs responded well though, and after Alfie Devine picked the ball up just inside his own half, the midfielder went on a surging forward run, all the way into the Arsenal box, before showing good composure and finishing low and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 1-2.

Soon after the game got started again, a well taken corner-kick by Harvey White came to J’Neil Bennett inside the Spurs box, but his back-heeled effort came to Dane Scarlett, who then also had an effort blocked. After receiving the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box, Devine ran into the Arsenal box before striking the base of the right hand post, as he came very close to getting Spurs level. Marqes Muir defended well to stop Bierith getting forward down the right flank, and then a matter of minutes later Muir headed an effort just wide from a Harvey White free-kick. After holding on well to the ball inside the Arsenal box, Dane Scarlett was able to get the ball to Bennett, but his effort was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk. Matthew Craig was shown a yellow card shortly after, before Oluwayemi did well to gather a cross into the Spurs box from the left from Miguel Azeez, at the second opportunity. Another great forward run from Devine, this time down the right side of the Arsenal penalty area, didn’t come to much on this occasion, because of some good defending from the home side. 

Dane Scarlett received a pass from Devine inside the Arsenal box, just before half-time. However, Scarlett’s deflected effort was tipped behind by Graczyk, before Devine glanced a headed effort just wide from the resulting Harvey White corner-kick, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Spurs made two changes for the second half, as Yago Santiago replaced Marqes Muir, and Kallum Cesay replaced Dermi Lusala, as Matthew Craig went to central-defence. Arsenal got the game back underway, and early on in the half Marcelo Flores came close to latching onto a cross from the right, at the back post of the Spurs box. After receiving Devine’s pass out on the right flank, J’Neil Bennett hit an effort across the Arsenal goal. Then a couple of moments later Romaine Mundle did really well to work his way into the Arsenal box, before hitting the crossbar with a powerful effort. Dane Scarlett headed wide Harvey White’s free-kick from the right flank. Mundle hit an effort over inside the Arsenal box, and then moments later Harvey White had a good effort from the edge of the penalty area saved by Graczyk.

Oluwayemi did well to save with his feet from James Olayinka’s low effort inside the Spurs box, as the game continued to be played at a great pace. Oluwayemi then saved Giraud-Hutchinson’s effort from inside his penalty area. After receiving Devine’s pass on the edge of the Arsenal box, Harvey White saw his powerful effort on goal tipped behind by Hubert Graczyk. From the resulting Harvey White corner- kick, Tobi Omole’s headed effort on goal was tipped over well by Graczyk. Olayinka’s through-ball pass to Marcelo Flores saw the Arsenal player through on goal, and inside the Spurs box. However, the outrushing Oluwayemi managed to put Flores off, and his effort went over the goal. Bennett then had an effort blocked, before Mundle cut inside onto his right foot inside the Arsenal box, before curling an effort wide of the goal. A great forward run from Giraud-Hutchinson, resulted in the Arsenal winger passing the ball to Marcelo Flores inside the Spurs box, but his effort was saved by Oluwayemi.

Dane Scarlett headed Marcel Lavinier’s cross wide. Then a couple of minutes later a back pass from Arsenal defender Mazeed Ogungbo was latched onto inside the Arsenal box by Scarlett, but his powerful effort on goal was excellently cleared off the line by Alex Kirk. After Matthew Craig fouled Mika Bierith, who was through on goal, the Spurs midfielder was sent off, after being shown his second yellow card of the game. Flores had a low effort from the edge of the Spurs box saved by Oluwayemi. Miguel Azeez had an effort saved by Joshua Oluwayemi, who then almost gave the ball straight to Bierith, but was able to recover the ball well and just in time. Max Robson then replaced J’Neil Bennett late on in the game. Oluwayemi saved yet another effort on goal, before Mika Bierith hit an effort wide on the turn, inside the Spurs box. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time a couple of minutes later. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 game is away to Liverpool, next weekend.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: I thought that the Spurs goalkeeper had a really strong game, making a really good number of good saves, to keep Spurs in the match.
• Dermi Lusala: The right-back completed the first half of the game, before being substituted at half-time.
• Marqes Muir: Starting the match on the right side of central-defence, the first year professional was clearly disappointed at having the ball taken off of him by an Arsenal player, which led to the home side taking the lead. However, Muir did have some good moments in defence, before being substituted at half-time.
• Tobi Omole: The former Arsenal Academy player distributed the ball out well from the back, and also made some important defensive interventions. He recovered well after scoring an unfortunate first half own goal.
• Marcel Lavinier: I thought that at left-back, Marcel Lavinier had a strong game and did well for the team. The 21 year old went on some good forward runs with the ball. 
• Matthew Craig: The midfielder started the game just behind Harvey White, in central-midfield. Very busy in midfield during the first half, Craig started the second half on the right side of central-defence, but was dismissed on 73 minutes, after being shown a second yellow card.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain put in an assertive performance in midfield, was creative with the ball and won a number of challenges in midfield. The 20 year old had a good game on his return to the Under 23 side, and the quality of his set-pieces were as always very good.
• J’Neil Bennett: Starting out on the right flank, J’Neil Bennett only swapped flanks with Romaine Mundle once during his time on the pitch. Bennett tried his luck on goal a number of times, and tracked back well to help the defence.
• Alfie Devine: My man of the match, see below.
• Romaine Mundle: This was a very good performance from Romaine Mundle out on the left flank. The 18 year old winger went on some excellent skilful and unpredictable runs with the ball during the game, and came very close to scoring a goal on one occasion during the second half.
• Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward moved well off the ball, and held the ball up well. Scarlett came very close to getting Spurs level during the second half, when he had an effort cleared off the line.
• Yago Santiago: The midfielder came on at half-time, and he started the second half just behind centre-forward Dane Scarlett. Santiago sometimes went out to the left flank to receive the ball.
• Kallum Cesay: The right-back replaced Dermi Lusala at half-time, at right-back. Cesay had to defend against the talented Marcelo Flores down his side of the pitch.
• Max Robson: The midfielder came on to replace J’Neil Bennett late on in the game, and he worked well off the ball during his short time on the pitch.

My man of the match: Alfie Devine. This was a tireless performance from the midfielder and second year scholar, as he played a big part in helping Spurs get back into the game, after going 2-0 down inside the opening 24 minutes. Starting the game behind centre-forward Dane Scarlett, Devine was constantly being inventive with the ball, making some really clever runs off it and scoring a really good goal during the first half, after going on a long run with the ball. Devine went on a number of impressive surging runs with the ball during the first half. He knew when to make those runs, but also when to drop deep off the ball to make space for himself to receive the ball. He could have scored a hat-trick against Arsenal on another day, but this was a very good performance from Alfie, who worked really well for the team throughout the match, even when Spurs were reduced to ten men and he had to do a slightly different role on the pitch.