Spurs’ Under 21 side welcomed Liverpool to Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Friday evening, for a Premier League 2 fixture. The game finished in a 3-3 draw. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, as Matthew Craig, Marqes Muir, Charlie Sayers and Tyrell Ashcroft started in defence. Harvey White and captain Nile John started in central midfield, with Romaine Mundle and Roshaun Mathurin starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. After Jamie Donley passed the ball to Yago Santiago on the left side of the Liverpool box, Santiago hit a low effort across the face of the Liverpool goal, in what was Spurs’ first real chance of the match. After Jamie Donley had won the ball off of Jarell Quansah, the England youth international continued forward with the ball before passing it to Romaine Mundle in the Liverpool penalty area, and be finished with a good, low first time finish past Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies, 1-0. 

A long ball over the top of the Spurs defence resulted in Spurs goalkeeper Aaron Maguire rushing out of his goal, but he was unable to clear the ball. The ball then came to Melkamu Frauendorf on the edge of the Spurs box, but his looping effort went just over the Spurs goal. Melkamu Frauendorf volleyed a cross from Luke Chambers just wide of the Spurs goal, before Roshaun Mathurin then had an effort blocked on the edge of the Liverpool box, with Harvey White then receiving the ball and hitting the ball over the goal. An excellent volleyed effort from distance from Jake Cain, hit the Spurs crossbar. Maguire then gathered the ball bravely from the feet of Max Woltman inside the Spurs box, following a good through-ball pass. After Santiago had a low cross from the right blocked by a Liverpool defender, the ball came to Romaine Mundle inside the Liverpool box. However, his effort went over the Liverpool goal.

A well weighted through-ball pass from Matthew Craig, resulted in Yago Santiago making a good run in behind the Liverpool defence to meet the ball. Santiago ran into the Liverpool box with the ball, before finishing well across goal into the left corner of the goal, 2-0. A pass forward fortunately came to Yago Santiago shortly after, and the forward ran forward, showing good pace as he entered the Liverpool penalty area, before going past goalkeeper Harvey Davies and finishing into the goal, 3-0. Lee Jonas headed wide Liverpool captain Jake Cain’s late free-kick, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Max Robson replaced the influential Harvey White in central midfield for the start of the second half, which Liverpool got underway. Not long into the half Charlie Sayers had unfortunately picked up an injury and had to be substituted for Kallum Cesay, with Matthew Craig going into central defence. Liverpool managed to get a goal back after Luke Chambers had a low effort saved by Maguire from the left side of the Liverpool box, and then the ball came back to the left-back, who this time was able to find the bottom right corner of the goal, 3-1.

Max Woltman had an effort blocked on the edge of the Spurs box, and then Dominic Corness hit an effort wide of Aaron Maguire’s goal. Maguire managed to save a headed effort from close range, just before Layton Stewart hit an effort over his goal from the left side of the Spurs box. Jake Cain’s curling free-kick effort then went wide of the Spurs goal. Liverpool were in full control of the match at this point, and after an effort from the left side of the Spurs box hit one of Maguire’s posts, the ball came to the impressive Luca Stephenson, but his effort went wide of the goal. James Norris had an effort from the edge of the Spurs box saved by Maguire, before Spurs made a change, as Jaden Williams came on to replace Romaine Mundle. After receiving Jake Cain’s pass, Max Woltman hit an effort into the far corner of the Spurs goal, from the left side of the box, 3-2. Woltman then had an effort saved by Maguire shortly after the game got started again.

Liverpool managed to score an equalising goal in the 77th minute of the game, through substitute Harvey Blair. After receiving the ball on the right side of the Spurs penalty area, Harvey Blair hit a powerful and unstoppable effort into the Spurs goal, 3-3. Max Robson headed Roshaun Mathurin’s cross wide of the Liverpool goal, just before Jaden Williams won a free-kick on the edge of the Liverpool box. Roshaun Mathurin stepped up to take the resulting free-kick, but his curling effort went just wide of the Liverpool goal. After showing great pace to go forward with the ball down the right flank, Yago Santiago crossed the ball into the Liverpool box, and Jaden Williams’ resulting volleyed effort went just wide of the goal. Spurs were looking for a late winner. Nile John volleyed Roshaun Mathurin’s corner-kick into the Liverpool box wide. However, Liverpool then went forward with the ball. Substitute Oakley Cannonier hit an effort wide, across the Spurs goal from the right side of their penalty area, just before the referee brought the game to an end.

Spurs’ Under 21 side face Wycombe Wanderers in their next match (on Tuesday), in a Papa Johns Trophy group-stage fixture.

Some overall notes: I thought that Spurs played well in the first half, with the influential Harvey White in midfield, doing well as he made a good impression on the game. The Spurs defence also did well, and Spurs definitely missed Charlie Sayers after he had to be substituted early on in the second half. However, Yago Santiago was in my opinion Spurs’ best and most influential player on the day.

My Spurs player of the match – Yago Santiago. The Spurs centre-forward for much of the match, Yago Santiago made some really good runs with the ball at pace, and he moved well off the ball. The 19 year old took both of his goals really well, and he almost got an assist during the second half, after doing well to create a good chance for substitute Jaden Williams.