On Saturday Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Brighton & Hove Albion in an Under 18 Premier League South fixture, at Hotspur Way. Spurs won the game 3-0, and it was a good second half performance from Spurs, after quite an uneventful first half. Spurs lined-up with captain Luca Gunter in goal, as Maxwell McKnight, Archie Chaplin, Will Andiyapan and Jahziah Linton started in defence. George Abbott and Han Willhoft-King started in central midfield, with Mikey Moore and Riley Owen starting out wide on the flanks, either side of CAM Callum Olusesi. Oliver Irow led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. George Abbott and Han Willhoft-King were both shown early yellow cards, before the first real chance of the game. That chance came Brighton’s way, as Remeiro Moulton hit a low effort wide of the Spurs goal, from the edge of their penalty area. 

Mikey Moore had an effort blocked inside the Brighton box, in what turned out to be the final chance of the first half. Brighton got the second half underway. Spurs had made a change at half-time as Tyrese Hall came on to replace Han Willhoft-King in central midfield. Charlie Penman hit an effort over the Spurs goal from the edge of their penalty area, before Brandon Bryan-Waugh came on to replace Callum Olusesi. Remeiro Moulton volleyed an effort from the edge of the Spurs box, before Luca Gunter tipped behind Yussif Owusu’s headed effort on goal, from a Brighton corner-kick. Thomas Bloxham replaced Riley Owen on 74 minutes, and then shortly after Maeson King replaced Jahziah Linton. Spurs did take the lead shortly after however, after Tyrese Hall had latched onto a loose pass. The midfielder then went forward with the ball before passing it to Oliver Irow, on the edge of the Brighton box. Oliver Irow continued into the penalty area before powerfully finishing past Brighton goalkeeper Tommy Reid, into the centre of the goal, 1-0. 

Archie Chaplin did well to block an effort from Remeiro Moulton inside the Spurs box, before Spurs doubled their lead. A cross from the right flank from the impressive Mikey Moore, managed to find Thomas Bloxham on the left side of the Brighton box. Bloxham’s resulting effort deflected off of a Brighton defender and went past the goalkeeper and into the goal, 2-0. Spurs made it 3-0 soon after, as Mikey Moore skilfully went past about four Brighton players, after going inside with the ball from the right flank, before entering the penalty area and finishing low past Tommy Reid, 3-0. James Roswell replaced Mikey Moore for the final minutes of the game, before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ next competitive match at this level is away to Aston Villa in the Premier League South on Saturday the 1st of October.

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The Spurs captain and goalkeeper made one important save during the second half. He was once again vocal throughout the match.
• Maxwell McKnight: Starting the match at right-back (he would also play further up the pitch at times in the game), Maxwell McKnight had a solid game defensively, and he got forward well on occasions as well.
• Archie Chaplin: The central defender defended well alongside Will Andiyapan, and he made some good and important decisions during the match.
• Will Andiyapan: Will Andiyapan did very well on the left side of central defence, alongside Archie Chaplin, and in the first half he made an important challenge inside the Spurs penalty area.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back did well on the left flank defensively, and he also liked to get forward up the pitch, when he could.
• George Abbott: Tenacious and hardworking in central midfield, while also showing his quality on the ball on occasions, George Abbott got the assist for Mikey Moore’s late goal.
• Han Willhoft-King: The first year scholar completed the first half of the match with Brighton, in central midfield alongside George Abbott.
• Riley Owen: The winger started the game on the right flank. He linked up well with right-back Maxwell McKnight, and he also showed some good skill on the ball.
• Callum Olusesi: Callum Olusesi played in the CAM role for Spurs against Brighton, on Saturday. Olusesi would link-up with centre-forward Oliver Irow, during the game.
• Mikey Moore: My man of the match, see below.
• Oliver Irow: The centre-forward for the match, Oliver Irow worked well of the ball, and his movement was good. He also took his goal really well during the second half.
• Tyrese Hall: This was an impressive performance from second half substitute Tyrese Hall. Always looking to make that forward pass from his midfield role, the first year scholar was direct with the ball, and he showed some good skill, but he also worked very hard off the ball. Tyrese set-up Oliver Irow’s goal.
• Brandon Bryan-Waugh: The second half substitute made a really good impression on the game from the right-back position. Bryan-Waugh got forward really well, to support the forward players.
• Thomas Bloxham: The Republic of Ireland youth international took his goal well after being introduced to the game in the 74th minute. Thomas Bloxham looked lively during his time on the pitch.
• Maeson King: The defender came on in the 77th minute of the game to replace Jahziah Linton.
• James Roswell: The late substitute went into midfield late on in the match.

My man of the match – Mikey Moore. The schoolboy footballer and England youth international got a goal and an assist against Brighton, and during the second half the skilful and creative winger made a really good impression on the game. Mikey Moore went on a really good and skilful run for his goal, in the second half.