Spurs’ Under 21 side faced League One side Peterborough United at the Weston Homes Stadium, on Tuesday night, in what was Spurs’ second group game of the 2022/23 edition of the Papa John’s Trophy. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the game 3-0. Spurs lined-up with Adam Hayton in goal, while Maxwell McKnight, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Will Andiyapan started in defence. Harvey White and Spurs’ captain Nile John started in central midfield, with Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Max Robson. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. After getting past Marqes Muir on the left flank, Ricky-Jade Jones managed to find Jonson Clarke-Harris inside the Spurs penalty area. However, Clarke-Harris’ effort went over the Spurs goal. Jonson Clarke-Harris headed over Joe Ward’s cross, before Romaine Mundle then had an effort blocked at the other end of the pitch.

After going into the Spurs box Ricky-Jade Jones had an effort on goal deflected behind, off of Marqes Muir. Peterborough had started the game well, and on 19 minutes they took the lead. Adam Hayton was unable to gather Kwame Poku’s corner-kick, as Joe Ward was then able to head the ball into the Spurs goal, 0-1. After going on a good run with the ball Romaine Mundle had an effort blocked by Frankie Kent. After turning with the ball Jonson Clarke-Harris had an effort from distance saved by Adam Hayton. Peterborough made it 2-0 shortly after, as Kwame Poku’s low cross from the right flank found Jack Taylor, whose effort from inside the Spurs box was saved by Adam Hayton, before Ricky-Jade Jones was able to finish from close range, 0-2. Adam Hayton was able to save a low effort from distance, before at the other end of the pitch, Romaine Mundle hit a low effort wide of the Peterborough goal, also from distance.

Kwame Poku volleyed an effort just wide of the Spurs goal, from Joe Ward’s cross, as Peterborough continued to be the better team. After receiving the ball inside the Spurs box, Jack Taylor turned with the ball, before hitting an effort on goal, which Adam Hayton saved, with Jonson Clarke-Harris then hitting an effort over the Spurs goal. Late on in the first half Adam Hayton did well to gather the ball from the feet of Jonson Clarke-Harris, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Peterborough got the second half underway, and they soon extended their lead. After Yago Santiago had lost the ball, Jack Marriott went forward with the ball into the Spurs box, before curling a fine effort into the top right corner of Adam Hayton’s goal, 0-3. George Abbott came on to replace the injured Will Andiyapan, before Romaine Mundle had an effort from distance blocked.

Adam Hayton did well to save an effort from Jack Marriott inside the Spurs penalty area, after Spurs had given the ball away. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster came on to replace Max Robson, and then the alert Adam Hayton saved Kwame Poku’s effort from distance. The 18 year old Spurs goalkeeper then managed to save Jack Marriott’s clever volleyed effort on goal. Nile John had an effort blocked inside the Peterborough box, with Spurs then making further changes. As Damola Ajayi and Roshaun Mathurin came on to replace Jaden Williams and Nile John, respectively. Kwame Poku had an effort saved from the edge of the Spurs penalty area by Adam Hayton. The Spurs goalkeeper then saved well from Joe Taylor’s effort on the right side of the Spurs box. Joel Randall hit an effort just wide, after meeting a low cross inside the Spurs box, as the game started to come to an end.

George Abbott and Romaine Mundle both hit efforts over the Peterborough goal in quick succession, before the referee brought the game to an end. Spurs’ Under 21 side now don’t have a game until the 30th of September, when they face Brighton & Hove Albion (away) in the Premier League 2.

My Spurs player of the match – Maxwell McKnight. On his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, the player who has so often played as a winger for the Spurs Under 18 side over the past year had in my opinion an impressive game, firstly at right-back, and then later at left-back, after Will Andiyapan had picked up an injury. Considering that this was his first ever appearance for the Spurs Under 21 side, the talented 17 year old showed fine defensive reading of the game. Maxwell has already made five competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, so far this season. Also, Romaine Mundle was in my opinion Spurs’ best forward during the game, as he showed some really good skill and pace on occasions, impressing whenever he got on the ball.