A Spurs Under 19 side played their first group stage match of the 2022 Terborg Tournament, when they faced talented Belgian side KRC Genk on Friday evening. Wayne Burnett’s side recorded a 1-1 draw in their opening group match of the tournament. It was a good performance from Spurs however, and in what was a very open second half, either side could have won the match. Adam Hayton started the match in goal, while George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Charlie Sayers and Dermi Lusala started in defence. Matthew Craig and captain Nile John started in midfield, with Romaine Mundle and Yago Santiago starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Jaden Williams would lead the line for Spurs. Genk got the game underway. Adam Hayton came rushing out of his goal to confidently get to a lofted forward pass, before then clearing number eight’s forward pass (unfortunately I couldn’t manage to find a team-sheet), fairly early on in the game. After Alfie Dorrington was unable to clear/control a forward pass, Genk’s centre-forward and number nine was able to get onto the ball and go forward with the ball down the right side of the Spurs box. Adam Hayton did really well to save the centre-forward’s effort, with Charlie Sayers then clearing the ball.

After receiving a pass from number five on the left side of the Spurs box, Genk’s number 11 hit Adam Hayton’s near post, with a fine effort. An effort from a Genk player was then deflected wide inside the Spurs box, before their number four had a headed effort saved by Hayton, from a Genk corner-kick. Jamie Donley had an effort blocked at the opposite end of the pitch, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time (each half is 25 minutes long). Spurs got the second hand underway. Wayne Burnett’s side got the second half off to a great start, as Spurs took an early lead. It was a good move, as Santiago passed the ball to Donley down the left side of the Genk penalty area, and his early low cross to Jaden Williams, was tapped past the Genk goalkeeper from close range, 1-0. Nile John hit an effort over from distance on the right flank, before Toby Adeyemo (a player from Watford FC) came on to replace Jaden Williams. After receiving the ball on the left flank and going inside onto his right foot, the Genk number 11 had an effort saved by Adam Hayton. George Abbott then blocked an effort on the edge of the Spurs box, before the Genk number 14 managed to find the bottom right hand corner of Hayton’s goal, 1-1.

After receiving a pass, the Genk number nine had a deflected effort on the turn saved by Hayton. Jack Grieves came on to replace George Abbott, a couple of minutes later. Charlie Sayers headed Yago Santiago’s cross into the Genk penalty area, just wide of the goal. Shortly after that chance for Spurs, Jamie Donley headed wide Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick. The Genk left-back then delivered a cross into the Spurs box, which was met by their number 11, whose headed effort on goal was excellently saved by Adam Hayton. The ball then came to another Genk player, but his effort from close range hit the post, before being cleared. After gettting on the ball on the edge of the Spurs box following a corner-kick, the Genk number 15 hit an effort over Adam Hayton’s goal. Romaine Mundle hit a free-kick from out on the right flank, into the side-netting of the Genk goal, before at the other end of the pitch, the Genk number seven came inside with the ball onto his right foot, before hitting an effort over the Spurs goal.

Spurs came very close to getting a late winner, after Jamie Donley brought the ball forward towards the edge of the Genk box, before hitting a powerful effort which hit the crossbar. Matthew Craig received a late yellow card, before the referee sounded his final whistle. Spurs’ next group match is against Brazilian side Fluminense, tomorrow afternoon.

Player reviews:

• Adam Hayton: My man of the match, see below.
• George Abbott: Starting the match at right-back, first year scholar George Abbott defended well, and often stayed deep to help the central defenders, during his time on the pitch. 
• Alfie Dorrington: The right sided centre-half worked well alongside Charlie Sayers, and the defender from Enfield did some good defensive work, and was also good in the air.
• Charlie Sayers: This was a very impressive performance from the left footed central defender, who was really assured in defence. Sayers made some really good decisions, was always alert and his positioning was also good. The second year scholar also went on one very good run with the ball, out from defence.
• Dermi Lusala: Starting the match at left-back, full-back Dermi Lusala supported Yago Santiago well in forward areas.
• Matthew Craig: The defensive-midfielder worked well in central midfield, before then going to right-back, during the second half. 
• Nile John: The Spurs captain often got forward well, and like Matthew Craig he worked well in midfield.
• Romaine Mundle: The winger went on some good forward runs with the ball during the game, and he started the match well. Romaine started the match out on the right flank. 
• Jamie Donley: This was a good performance from the Spurs CAM, who set-up Jaden Williams’ goal, and also hit the crossbar late on in the game with a really good effort. Donley worked really hard, and his movement off the ball was good.
• Yago Santiago: Starting the match out on the left flank as a winger, Yago Santiago went on some runs forward with the ball, and he was direct with it. He was also involved in Spurs’ goal.
• Jaden Williams: The Spurs centre-forward led the line well, and was in a good position to score his goal, early on in the second half.
• Toby Adeyemo: The Watford player went to centre-forward after replacing Jaden Williams.
• Jack Grieves: The Watford player went into central midfield after replacing George Abbott during the second half.

My man of the match: Adam Hayton. The goalkeeper and second year scholar made two very good and important saves against Genk, on Friday evening. However, they weren’t the only saves that Adam made, and his all-round performance in goal was very good.