In their final pre-season friendly before going to France to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen, Spurs’ Under 21 side faced Isthmian League Premier Division side Billericay Town, at their New Lodge ground, on Saturday evening. Spurs won the game 4-1, and it was a deserved win for Wayne Burnett’s side, who were the better team for much of the game. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, while Maksim Paskotši, Marqes Muir, Alfie Dorrington and Marcel Lavinier started in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Kallum Cesay started in central midfield, while Roshaun Mathurin and Yago Santiago started on the flanks, with Nile John starting in the CAM position. Jamie Donley led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. An early effort from Maksim Paskotši on the right side of the Billericay penalty area, was blocked by Toby Stevenson. A couple of minutes later, John Ufuah went past Makism Paskotši with the ball, and into the Spurs box, but Marqes Muir did well to block his effort. Spurs took the lead soon after that chance for the home side, as Roshaun Mathurin passed the ball to Yago Santiago on the edge of the Billericay box. He then gave the ball to Kallum Cesay, who gave the ball back to Santiago, who had gone into the penalty area, where he finished low past goalkeeper Harry Seaden, 1-0.

Marqes Muir blocked Montel Agyemang’s volleyed effort from the edge of the Spurs box, before Billericay got an equalising goal. A long ball forward by Marvel Ekpiteta, was headed away by Alfie Dorrington, but the ball came to Bradley Stevenson, whose lobbed, volleyed effort on the right side of the Spurs box, went over Josh Keeley, who had came off his line, and into the goal, 1-1. Muir and Dorrington switched sides in central defence, before the game got back underway. Marcel Lavinier blocked Bradley Stevenson’s effort on the right side of the Spurs box, before Spurs’ goalkeeper Josh Keeley gathered an effort from John Ufuah. Spurs continued to do well, but after Nile John had an effort from distance blocked by Bradley Stevenson, Billericay managed to create a good chance. After receiving John Ufuah’s pass, Bradley Stevenson had an effort well blocked by Marcel Lavinier, inside the Spurs penalty area. Alfie Dorrington then guided a header onto the Billericay goal, after meeting Jamie Bowden’s corner-kick, but the Billericay goalkeeper Harry Seaden did well to keep it out and make the save.

Spurs regained the lead in the 41st minute of the game, after the alert Yago Santiago latched onto a loose pass out from the Billericay defence inside their penalty area. Despite Montel Agyemang making a sliding challenge, Santiago calmly found the back of the goal, with a low effort, 2-1. Montel Agyemang hit an effort over the Spurs goal from distance, before Josh Keeley managed to save John Ufuah’s free-kick effort, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Billericay got the second half underway. Marqes Muir did well to win the ball in defence, before stepping forward with it and passing it to Roshaun Mathurin, who skilfully worked his way into the Billericay box, before hitting an effort over from a tight angle. Josh Keeley saved John Ufuah’s effort from the left side of the Spurs box, before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Jeremie Mukendi replaced Marqes Muir and Alfie Dorrington respectively. Roshaun Mathurin had an effort saved from distance. Then, after getting on the ball inside the Spurs box, Billericay’s Trialist B missed the goal with his effort, which went wide of the Spurs goal.

A forward pass from Yago Santiago into the path of Jamie Donley inside the Billericay penalty area, resulted in the centre-forward showing good composure in front of goal, as he finished low into the goal, 3-1. Max Robson replaced Nile John, and then a couple of minutes later Jahziah Linton and George Abbott came on in place of Marcel Lavinier and Jamie Donley respectively. Spurs made it 4-1 soon after, as Jamie Bowden’s cross into the Billericay box, from the left flank, was missed by Jeremie Mukendi, before Maksim Paskotši had an effort saved by goalkeeper Emmanuel Nwosu, but Max Robson read the situation well, and headed the loose ball into the goal, 4-1. Anthony Jeffrey hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, from the right side of their penalty area, a couple of minutes before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had an effort blocked inside the Billericay box. The referee sounded his whistle soon after for full-time. Spurs’ Under 21 side will travel to France next week to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen, which begins on Friday.

Player reviews:

• Josh Keeley: The Spurs goalkeeper made some saves, all of which were fairly comfortable saves, on Saturday evening against Billericay. This was Josh Keeley’s second appearance for the Spurs Under 21 side, after he made his debut for them against Bromley, on Wednesday.
• Maksim Paskotši: Versatile defender Maksim Paskotši started the match at right-back, and would later move to central defence during the second half, before finishing the game at right-back. The 19 year old almost scored a goal late on in the game.
• Marqes Muir: I thought that this was a very good and assured performance in central defence from Marqes Muir. He made two important blocks, read the game well, was solidly defensively and I don’t recall him making a single error during his 60 minutes on the pitch.
• Alfie Dorrington: Central defender Alfie Dorrington started the game on the left side of central defence. However, he would later switch with Marqes Muir, to the right side of central defence, during the first half. Dorrington had some good moments in the game, showed his quality on the ball and he almost scored a goal from a header. He completed 60 minutes of the match.
• Marcel Lavinier: Starting the game at left-back, I thought that Marcel Lavinier had a good game in defence. He read the game well.
• Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain started the game as the defensive-midfielder, where he did well, and made some good forward passes. However, he finished the game in central defence, where he looked assured and composed defensively.
• Kallum Cesay: Providing the assist for Yago Santiago’s first goal of the game, defender Kallum Cesay started in central midfield for this game. He impressed with his all-round play, and he also went on some good skilful forward runs with the ball. 
• Roshaun Mathurin: The highly skilful and creative winger used the ball well out on the right flank, brought it forward well with good skill and he was also involved in Spurs’ opening goal of the game.
• Nile John: The Spurs CAM had an effort blocked during his time on the pitch, and he did well with his link-up play on occasions.
• Yago Santiago: My man of the match, see below.
• Jamie Donley: Always looking to drop deep to receive the ball, centre-forward Jamie Donley took his second half goal well, and he showed some good skill on the ball during the game.
• Jeremie Mukendi: The second half substitute played at centre-forward for the final 30 minutes of Saturday’s match. Jeremie Mukendi worked hard off the ball, and he came close to scoring a late goal.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The defensive-midfielder got another important 30 minutes of game time, as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
• Max Robson: The late substitute scored a headed goal during the second half, to get Spurs’ fourth goal of the game.
• Jahziah Linton: The late substitute went to left-back, on his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side.
• George Abbott: The late substitute went into central midfield after entering the pitch in the 73rd minute of the game. He also made his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side.

My man of the match – Yago Santiago. With two goals and an assist, Yago Santiago had a really good game for Spurs’ Under 21 side against Billericay Town. The 19 year old started the match on the left flank as a winger, and he was confident with the ball, and at going forward with it. Santiago took both of his goals well, and he showed good vision to find Jamie Donley, for his goal during the second half.