Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Crystal Palace on Saturday morning at their training ground in south London, in a Premier League South fixture. Spurs won the game 3-1, and they had a good game, from start to finish. Captain Luca Gunter started in goal for Spurs, as George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and Will Andiyapan started in defence. Rio Kyerematen and Tyrese Hall started in central midfield, and Damola Ajayi and Jaden Williams started the game out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Will Lankshear led the line for Spurs. Crystal Palace got the game underway. Will Lankshear headed a cross from Will Andiyapan wide inside the Crystal Palace box early on in the game, before Spurs took the lead in the ninth minute of the match. Tyrese Hall’s low cross from the right side of the Crystal Palace box found Will Lankshear just in front of the goal, but the former Sheffield United player was unable to control the ball, as it came to Jamie Donley, who was able to finish from close range, 1-0.

After Rio Kyerematen went forward with the ball from midfield he passed the ball forward well to Will Lankshear, who had made a run in between the Crystal Palace defence. Lankshear passed the ball across the goal to Jaden Williams, who was able to tap home from close range, 2-0. Archie Chaplin did well to block Zach Marsh’s effort inside the Spurs box, before Crystal Palace managed to get a goal. Caleb Kporha skilfully worked his way into the Spurs box, before finding the bottom left corner of Luca Gunter’s goal, 1-2. Alfie Dorrington blocked Jake Grante’s effort well inside the Spurs penalty area soon after, before a long ball over the top of the Crystal Palace defence from Damola Ajayi, sent Will Lankshear through on goal. However, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jackson Izquierdo came rushing out of his goal, and he ended up clattering into Lankshear, and after consulting with the linesman on the far side, the referee showed him a red card. Jamie Donley sent the resulting free-kick from distance over the goal.

The impressive Rio Kyerematen had an effort deflected just wide of the Crystal Palace goal, from the edge of their penalty area. George Abbott then had a curling effort which was pushed behind by Laurence Shala, just before half-time. Spurs got  the second half underway, and early on in the half Wales youth international Will Andiyapan had a low effort from distance saved by the Crystal Palace goalkeeper. Luca Gunter saved Freddie Bell’s effort from the edge of the Spurs box, before Spurs regained their two goal lead on 59 minutes. The influential Jamie Donley’s low cross from the left flank managed to find Will Lankshear in the centre of the Crystal Palace penalty area, and he finished well past the goalkeeper in clinical fashion, 3-1. Adler Nascimento hit an effort over the Spurs goal from inside their penalty area, as the home side tried to respond. Rio Kyerematen then hit an effort over from the edge of the Crystal Palace box, before having an effort blocked soon after.

Spurs continued to control the game, and after Jamie Donley’s effort inside the Crystal Palace box was blocked behind for a corner-kick, at the other end of the pitch Luca Gunter saved Adler Nascimento’s effort from a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box. Alfie Dorrington then hit a low effort wide from distance, a couple of minutes before Oliver Irow and Yusuf Akhamrich came on for Damola Ajayi and Will Lankshear. The substitute Oliver Irow hit an effort just wide of the goal, from the edge of the Crystal Palace box. Kieran Morgan replaced Will Andiyapan soon after, before Dorrington did well to block an effort towards goal from Caleb Kporha. Luca Gunter saved another Crystal Palace effort, this time from a corner-kick, before then saving Eyimofe Jemide’s headed effort on goal. Jamie Donley had a late effort blocked on the edge of the box, with Tyrese Hall then departing the field moments later, after an impressive performance on his return to the side, as he was replaced by Riley Owen. Jaden Williams had an effort blocked, with Yusuf Akhamrich then hitting an effort over the goal, after getting on the ball following a Spurs free-kick. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. Spurs’ next game (in the league) is at home to Norwich City on Tuesday.

My man of the match – Alfie Dorrington. Showing his quality on the ball throughout the entirety of the match, central defender Alfie Dorrington made some good defensive decisions and blocks against Crystal Palace. The England Under 18 international also read the game impressively, and his overall performance was once again of a very good quality.

Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Chelsea to Hotspur Way for a Premier League South fixture on Saturday morning. Head coach Stuart Lewis saw his side lose the game 2-1, but it was still in my opinion a good performance from his side. Spurs lined-up with captain Luca Gunter in goal, as George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and Maxwell McKnight started the game in defence. Rio Kyerematen and Callum Olusesi started in central midfield for Spurs, as Jaden Williams and Mikey Moore started the game out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Will Lankshear led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. The game started at a good pace, and early on in the match Maxwell McKnight made a good headed clearance at the back post of the Spurs goal, to clear away Frankie Runham’s good cross. Travis Akomeah had a headed effort from a free-kick saved by Luca Gunter, before Archie Chaplin made an excellent sliding challenge to take the ball off of Tudor Mendel-Idowu, who was through on goal inside the Spurs penalty area.

After receiving Mikey Moore’s good pass inside the Chelsea box, Jamie Donley had a powerful effort saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Ted Curd. After going on a good run into the Chelsea box, Mikey Moore had an effort saved, before then having a low effort from distance saved a couple of minutes later. Louis Flower headed over Somto Boniface’s cross, and then he had a header saved by Luca Gunter shortly after. Jaden Williams headed wide Maxwell McKnight’s good cross into the Chelsea box, before Chelsea took the lead. After Frankie Runham had got past George Abbott on the left flank, the Chelsea winger found Michael Golding inside the Spurs box, and the midfielder curled an effort past Luca Gunter and into the Spurs goal, 0-1. Spurs tried to respond before half-time. After receiving Callum Olusesi’s pass inside the Chelsea box, Will Lankshear had an effort blocked, before Maxwell McKnight also had an effort blocked, with Jaden Williams then having an effort saved by the Chelsea goalkeeper.

Tudor Mendel-Idowu’s effort from the edge of the Spurs box was saved by Luca Gunter, before Spurs went forward with the ball. Maxwell McKnight brought the ball forward at pace, and he then played a one-two pass with Mikey Moore, before having an effort blocked. Archie Chaplin was shown a yellow card, and shortly after Frankie Runham’s free-kick delivery to Louis Flower resulted in the Chelsea forward having his good looping header well saved by Luca Gunter. Callum Olusesi was then shown a yellow card, just before Spurs managed to get an equalising goal. Rio Kyerematen managed to get on the ball, before passing it out to Mikey Moore on the left flank. The Spurs winger then found Jamie Donley on the right side of the Spurs box, and he was able to finish low past Ted Curd, 1-1. Louis Flower then hit an effort wide, across the Spurs goal from the left side of the Spurs box, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time.

Chelsea got the second half underway. A good turn inside the Chelsea box by Mikey Moore resulted in the Spurs winger having his effort deflected just wide of Ted Curd’s goal. Lankshear had an effort blocked on the left side of the Chelsea penalty area, with Alfie Dorrington’s lofted pass to Mikey Moore on the left flank seeing him take the ball into the Chelsea box really well, before having an effort saved by the goalkeeper. Alfie Dorrington blocked an effort inside the Spurs box at the other end of the pitch, before Luca Gunter managed to save Frankie Runham’s effort from inside the Spurs box. Spurs made a double change shortly after, as Han Willhoft-King and Damola Ajayi came on to replace Jaden Williams and Callum Olusesi respectively. Tudor Mendel-Idowu headed Harrison McMahon’s cross wide form inside the Spurs box, and then Frankie Runham hit an effort over the goal from the edge of the penalty area.

After receiving Tudor Mendel-Idowu’s pass just outside of the Spurs box, Josh Acheampong hit a powerful and quite unstoppable effort into the top left corner of Luca Gunter’s goal, 1-2. Luca Gunter then tipped over Tudor Mendel-Idowu’s headed effort from a cross into the Spurs box, before at the other end of the pitch Rio Kyerematen won a free-kick on the edge of the Chelsea box, which Jamie Donley then hit over the goal. A pass from Donley to Lankshear on the left side of the Chelsea box, saw the former Sheffield United player have his effort blocked by Harrison Murray-Campbell. Lankshear then had an effort from the right side of the Chelsea box tipped over by Ted Curd, before Rio Kyerematen had an effort on goal blocked. After receiving Damola Ajayi’s pass on the left side of the Chelsea box, the impressive Mikey Moore went past Frankie Runham, before having an effort saved by Ted Curd. Yusuf Akhamrich came on to replace Rio Kyerematen, and soon afterwards the winger went forward down Chelsea’s left side at pace, before crossing into the Chelsea box, but Jamie Donley’s header was saved. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time not long after. 

Spurs’ Under 18 side face Crystal Palace (away) next Saturday, in what is their next league fixture.

My man of the match – Maxwell McKnight. Playing out of position at left-back for the game against Chelsea on Saturday, second year scholar Maxwell McKnight continued his impressive start to the 2022/23 season by putting in a very good defensive performance against Chelsea, in my opinion. The player from Colchester in Essex, kept very good positioning throughout the match, and he defended really well against the talented and very creative Tudor Mendel-Idowu. Maxwell also got forward well, but it was his very good reading of the game and decision making, which impressed me most today.

Spurs’ Under 21 side faced West Ham United at the Rush Green Stadium on Friday evening, in their final Premier League 2 fixture until January. Spurs lost the game 1-0 to a resolute defensive West Ham side. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, as Kallum Cesay, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and captain Matthew Craig started in defence for Spurs. Pape Matar Sarr and Harvey White started the game in central midfield, and Jamie Donley and Romaine Mundle started the match out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs, who got the match underway. Will Greenidge blocked Jamie Donley’s early effort inside the West Ham penalty area, before Malachi Fagan-Walcott blocked Kamarai Simon-Swyer’s effort inside the Spurs box, a couple of minutes later. Spurs were starting to control the game, and after exchanging passes with Alfie Devine on the right side of the West Ham box, Kallum Cesay curled an effort over the goal. Matthew Craig received a yellow card, before Harvey White hit a good effort just over the West Ham goal, from distance.

After receiving Yago Santiago’s pass on the edge of the West Ham box, Romaine Mundle hit an effort over the goal. Then a couple of minutes later Brooklyn Lyons-Foster made a good and important clearance from Kamarai Simon-Swyer’s cross into the Spurs box. After Harvey White had conceded a free-kick and was shown a yellow card for a foul on the edge of the Spurs box, West Ham’s Oliver Scarles stepped-up to curl a really good effort into the top right corner of Josh Keeley’s goal, leaving the Spurs goalkeeper with no chance. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after. West Ham got the second half underway. Nile John had replaced Pape Matar Sarr at half-time. And the Spurs midfielder headed wide an early cross from Kallum Cesay, soon after the second half had started. Romaine Mundle was fouled by Michael Forbes inside the West Ham box, shortly after, resulting in a penalty kick for Spurs. Jamie Donley stepped-up to take the penalty, but his effort was saved really well to his left, by goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi. 

Nile John hit an effort over from distance, before then having a curling effort from the edge of the West Ham box saved by Hegyi. After meeting a good through-ball pass, Kamarai Simon-Swyer continued with the ball into the Spurs box, but his effort from a difficult angle went wide of the goal. Harvey White had an effort saved from the edge of the West Ham box, and then the midfielder delivered a cross for Jamie Donley, inside the West Ham box, but Donley’s effort was saved by Hegyi. Damola Ajayi came on to replace Romaine Mundle, before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster did well to block an effort from Keenan Appiah-Forson. Malachi Fagan-Walcott then received a yellow card. Spurs were trying hard to find that equalising goal. Kallum Cesay hit an effort over from the edge of the West Ham box, and then Malachi Fagan-Walcott had a headed effort cleared inside the West Ham box. 

Harvey White’s late effort from the edge of the West Ham box was saved, before West Ham went forward with the ball. The move ended with Brooklyn Lyons-Foster making a great sliding block, to stop Gideon Kodua from testing Keeley, on the right side of the Spurs box. The referee sounded his final whistle shortly after. Spurs’ Under 21 side now don’t have a competitive game until early January, when they face Liverpool away.

My Spurs player of the match – Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. The left sided central defender had in my opinion another very strong defensive game. Lyons-Foster defended really well I thought alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, and his reading of the game and overall decision making was good. He also made some good defensive interventions.

Spurs’ Under 21 side faced Chelsea at Kingsmeadow, in a Premier League 2 fixture on Monday evening. Spurs lost the game 3-0. Wayne Burnett’s side lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, and Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Charlie Sayers and Kallum Cesay started in defence for Spurs. Matthew Craig, captain Nile John and Alfie Devine started in midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Roshaun Mathurin started out on the flanks, either side of centre-forward Yago Santiago. Chelsea got the match underway, and the home side started the game the better of the two sides. Jude Soonsup-Bell hit a very early effort wide from the inside the Spurs box, with defender Brooklyn Lyons-Foster doing well to close down the angles for him. Matthew Craig then made a good and very important defensive recovery, before Josh Keeley saved Charlie Webster’s effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area. 

Brooklyn Lyons-Foster received a yellow card on 19 minutes, as Chelsea continued their good start to the match. Kallum Cesay did well to deflect behind an effort from Dion Rankine inside the Spurs box, before Spurs created a good chance of their own. Roshaun Mathurin did well to pass the ball to Alfie Devine, who went forward with the ball at pace from midfield. He eventually worked his way into the Chelsea box, skilfully going past both Zak Sturge and Benjamin Elliott, before hitting a low effort just wide of the goal. Roshaun Mathurin had a good low cross from the left side of the Chelsea penalty area cleared away by goalkeeper Eddie Beach, as Spurs started to grow into the game. Kallum Cesay was shown a yellow card after conceding a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box, in what was a good chance for Chelsea. However, Jude Soonsup-Bell’s effort hit the Spurs wall, before Charlie Webster hit an effort over on the edge of the Spurs box, soon after.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed wide a corner-kick from Romaine Mundle, and then a cross from Romaine Mundle to Yago Santiago in the Chelsea box, resulted in Santiago having his first time effort saved by the Chelsea goalkeeper, Eddie Beach. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster then had a headed effort blocked inside the Chelsea box, before at the other end of the pitch Benjamin Elliott’s effort from the edge of the Spurs box, wasn’t fully gathered by Josh Keeley, with Charlie Sayers eventually clearing the ball. After Lyons-Foster had cleared away a cross, Jude Soonsup-Bell had a headed effort saved by Josh Keeley. The Spurs goalkeeper then saved well from Charlie Webster’s effort inside the Spurs box, and then moments later he got a vital foot on the ball to divert Webster’s effort from the left side of the Spurs penalty area. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after. Spurs got the second half underway. 

Josh Keeley saved well with his feet after Dylan Williams’ cross was met by Dion Rankine at Keeley’s far post, whose good volleyed effort was saved. After Yago Santiago went forward with the ball, he had an effort blocked on the edge of the Chelsea box. After Cesare Casadei headed a Chelsea corner-kick to Alfie Gilchrist inside the Spurs box, the defender volleyed an effort wide of the Spurs goal. Soon after Lyons-Foster made an important defensive intervention, before Romaine Mundle had an effort saved from the edge of the Chelsea box. However, Chelsea took the lead soon after. Dion Rankine passed the ball to Jude Soonsup-Bell on the left side of the Spurs box, and he found the far corner of Josh Keeley’s goal with a powerful effort. Soon after the game got started again, Lyons-Foster did well to make another good defensive intervention, before Cesare Casadei hit an effort just wide from inside the Spurs penalty area.

Spurs made two changes during the second half, as Marqes Muir and Jamie Donley came on to replace Roshaun Mathurin and Charlie Sayers respectively. Around a minute after being introduced to the match, Jamie Donley had a great chance for Spurs. After receiving Nile John’s pass on the right side of the Chelsea box, Donley hit an effort off his left foot into the side-netting of the goal. Chelsea then made it 2-0, shortly after Matthew Craig had blocked Leo Castledine’s effort inside the Spurs box, Charlie Webster hit a powerful effort in off Josh Keeley’s right post, 0-2. Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed over Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick, before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had an effort from close range, inside the Chelsea box, saved by Eddie Beach. However, Chelsea then went forward with the ball, as Cesare Casadei passed the ball through to Malik Mothersille, who went forward into the Spurs box and finished low past Josh Keeley, 0-3. Romaine Mundle received a late yellow card before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ final Premier League 2 fixture of 2022, is on Friday evening at the Rush Green Stadium, as they face West Ham United.

My Spurs player of the match – Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. The central defender, who started the match against Chelsea on the right side of central defence, was in my opinion Spurs’ best player on the day. Lyons-Foster read the game very well I thought, and he made some good and important defensive interventions during the game. His maturity, calmness and composure on the ball was clear to see throughout the match. It’s great to see him playing regular football again for Spurs after his injury.