Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Brighton & Hove Albion’s Under 18 side to Hotspur Way on Saturday, for Spurs’ first Under 18 home Premier League South fixture of the season. Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side won the game 4-2. In goal for Spurs was Carey Bloedorn, as Leo Black, James Rowswell, captain Archie Chaplin and Maeson King started in defence for Spurs. Tyrese Hall, Kieran Morgan and Mikey Moore started in midfield, with Oliver Irow and Yusuf Akhamrich starting either side of centre-forward Ellis Lehane. Spurs got the game underway. An early pass over the top of the Spurs defence from a Brighton player resulted in Joe Belmont getting on the ball inside the Spurs penalty area. However, Spurs defender James Rowswell made a great sliding recovery challenge/block, as Carey Bloedorn managed to save the effort from Joe Belmont. Spurs responded well however, and on four minutes Spurs took the lead in the game. Tyrese Hall found Mikey Moore on the left side of the Brighton penalty area, and the first year scholar managed to find Ellis Lehane in the centre of the penalty area, and the centre-forward finished from close range, 1-0. Brighton defender Charlie Penman blocked an effort from James Rowswell inside the Brighton box, before Spurs doubled their lead. Leo Black managed to get on the ball on the right side of the Brighton penalty area following a block, and Leo Black managed to find the sliding Ellis Lehane, who scored from close range inside the penalty area, 2-0.

Archie Chaplin did well to stop Joe Knight’s forward pass, before Oliver Irow was found by Mikey Moore, and the Spurs forward had an effort blocked well inside the Brighton box. Leo Black received a yellow card shortly after, before Mikey Moore managed to win a free-kick on the edge of the Brighton penalty area, but his resulting effort went over the goal. Brighton’s Layth Gulzar hit an effort over the Spurs goal from distance, and then a couple of moments later Joe Belmont’s headed effort on goal from a free-kick, was really well cleared off the line by Kieran Morgan. At the other end of the pitch Mikey Moore had an effort blocked on the edge of the Brighton box, before Leo Black blocked well from Remeiro Moulton’s effort at the other end of the pitch, moments before Kieran Morgan blocked an effort from the same player. A volleyed effort from Callum Mackley on the edge of the Spurs box was then saved by Bloedorn. After Archie Chaplin had received a yellow card Spurs extended their lead through Yusuf Akhamrich. After Leo Black went forward with the ball he played a pass through to Akhamrich, who went forward with the ball into the Brighton box, before cutting inside with the ball onto his right foot, and finding the goal with an emphatic finish past Lorenzo Ferdinand. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after. 

Brighton got the second half underway. Ronnie Gorman hit an early effort wide of the Spurs goal, from inside their penalty area. Spurs once again wouldn’t let the visitors settle, and on 53 minutes they further extended their lead. Leo Black passed the ball to Mikey Moore on the left side of the Brighton box, and the very creative winger had an effort saved at his near post by Ferdinand, before getting on  the ball again and finding Oliver Irow at the back post, and the Spurs forward scored a goal with a first time finish, 4-0. Zane Albarus hit an effort over Carey Bloedorn’s goal, just before the Spurs goalkeeper made two good saves in quick succession from Remeiro Moulton, from close range. Callum Mackley then headed an effort from a corner-kick just wide of the Spurs goal. Yusuf Akhamrich hit an effort wide from inside the Brighton box, and Brighton still tried to test Spurs. The impressive James Rowswell blocked Nehemiah Oriola’s effort inside the Spurs box, before the ball came to Callum Mackley, who hit an effort over the goal. Herbie James had replaced Ellis Lehane not that long before Pele Arganese-McDermott had replaced Archie Chaplin in central defence. 

Spurs’ goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn managed to get a hand to Ronnie Gorman’s free-kick effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area, but ultimately couldn’t quite stop his curling effort from finding the back of the goal on 81 minutes, 4-1. Nehemiah Oriola then hit an effort against the Spurs crossbar shortly after, from inside the Spurs penalty area, before Carey Bloedorn saved another effort on goal. Finishing the game strongly, Brighton made it 4-2 soon after. Aidan West’s low cross into the Spurs box from the right flank found Shane Nti at the back post, where he was able to score from close range, 4-2. Spurs tried to regain a healthier lead, with Yusuf Akhamrich hitting an effort just wide from inside the Brighton box, before Kieran Morgan saw a very late deflected effort go wide of the Brighton goal. In the end though, this was another good win for Stuart Lewis’ side, who face Reading at home in the league on Saturday in their next game.

Player reviews:

• Carey Bloedorn: The Spurs goalkeeper and second year scholar made some good and important saves against Brighton, and he had a good game on Saturday.
• Leo Black: Providing two assists during the game for Spurs, right-back Leo Black impressed with his decision making on the ball and in the final third.
• James Rowswell: The right sided central defender impressed in central defence, making a good impression on the game from that position. 
• Archie Chaplin: The Spurs captain made some good decisions in defence, even after he had received a booking he still played well.
• Maeson King: The Spurs left-back also did well on his side of the pitch, and he was solid in how he defended on the left flank.
• Tyrese Hall: The Spurs midfielder used the ball well in midfield, and his skill and intelligent movement both with and without the ball meant that he made a good impact on the game.
• Kieran Morgan: The defensive minded midfielder made two really good defensive interventions during his time on the pitch, including one really fine block during the first half.
• Mikey Moore: My man of the match, see below.
• Oliver Irow: The Spurs forward scored a finely taken goal during the second half. Oliver Irow started the game out on the right flank as a winger. 
• Ellis Lehane: The scorer of two goals on his first competitive start for the Spurs Under 18 side, centre-forward Ellis Lehane would lead the line well on his full debut for the side. Ellis was in good positions to score both of his goals.
• Yusuf Akhamrich: The skilful winger took his first half goal really well and he was unlucky not to add to his tally during the second half.
• Herbie James: The second half substitute went into one of the forward positions after replacing Ellis Lehane.
• Pele Arganese-McDermott: The second year scholar went into defence late on in the game.
• Dante Orr: The first year scholar was a late substitute against Brighton on Saturday.
• Roman Egan-Riley: Making his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side since joining Spurs from Manchester City in the summer, Roman Egan-Riley went into defence.

My man of the match – Mikey Moore. The first year scholar was in my opinion Spurs’ most creative player with the ball on Saturday. Starting the game in the CAM position, Mikey Moore provided two fine assists and he was unlucky not to score a goal himself. Whenever he receives the ball he is always looking to be inventive, and with his excellent skill and footballing brain, he always makes things happen. Mikey has started the season really well for the Spurs Under 18 side.

Spurs’ Under 21 side welcomed Blackburn Rovers to Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon, for their last Premier League 2 fixture until after the international break. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won the game 4-0, performing excellently throughout the match. Luca Gunter started in goal for Spurs, as Tyrell Ashcroft, Alfie Dorrington, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Charlie Sayers started in defence. Captain Matthew Craig, Rio Kyerematen and Jamie Donley started in midfield, as Jude Soonsup-Bell and Yago Santiago started either side of Spurs’ centre-forward Will Lankshear. Spurs got the game underway. Quite early on in the game Spurs’ goalkeeper Luca Gunter collided with a teammate while trying to gather a Blackburn Rovers free-kick into the Spurs box, and this resulted in Gunter dropping the ball. However, Jamie Donley was able to clear it off of the line in time. Will Lankshear hit an effort wide on the turn at the other end of the pitch, before a good passing move resulted in a chance for Jude Soonsup-Bell. After receiving the ball on the left side of the Blackburn penalty area, Lankshear found Soonsup-Bell with a lofted pass, from which the former Chelsea player volleyed an effort on goal, but goalkeeper Jordan Eastham made a fine save.

Spurs had started the game well and after Soonsup-Bell had received Craig’s pass on the right side of the Blackburn penalty area, the Spurs forward came inside with the ball, before having his resulting effort saved by Eastham. Zack Stritch then had a back-heeled effort inside the Spurs box, saved comfortably by Gunter, following a good move from the away side. Rio Kyerematen had an effort blocked, before Spurs deservedly took the lead. Yago Santiago’s corner-kick found Jude Soonsup-Bell inside the Blackburn penalty area, and he cleverly guided the ball with his head, into the bottom right hand corner of Jordan Eastham’s goal, 1-0. Yago Santiago received a yellow card moments after the game got started again, before Luca Gunter saved relatively comfortably from Zack Stritch’s headed effort on the Spurs goal. After Lankshear and Soonsup-Bell had exchanged passes near the Blackburn Rovers penalty area, Lankshear had an effort from the edge of the box saved by Eastham. A decent chance for the away side resulted in Harrison Wood receiving the ball on the right side of the Spurs box, but his effort from a difficult angle went wide of the Spurs goal. Luca Gunter did save a low effort from the same player shortly after. Just before half-time Jude Soonsup-Bell received a yellow card.

Blackburn Rovers got the second half underway. Will Lankshear had an effort blocked on the edge of the Blackburn Rovers penalty area, and then a couple of moments later the Spurs centre-forward headed over an effort, from Yago Santiago’s free-kick into the penalty area. Another good Spurs passing move resulted in Tyrell Ashcroft passing the ball to Jamie Donley inside the Blackburn penalty area. Donley then found Yago Santiago on the left side of the box, but his fine and low curling effort went just wide of Jordan Eastham’s goal. After Donley had received a forward pass from Alfie Dorrington, the Spurs forward found himself through on goal. He continued into the penalty area, before calmly curling an effort past Eastham, and into the goal, 2-0. Matthew Craig received a yellow card soon after, before Jamie Donley curled over a free-kick effort from just outside the Blackburn Rovers penalty area. A good chance came to Donley a couple of minutes later, inside the penalty area, however, his effort was well blocked by a defender. Another great Spurs passing move, this time on 70 minutes, resulted in Spurs extending their lead. After Donley received Santiago’s pass on the left flank, the Spurs forward delivered a fine cross towards Lankshear in the centre of the Blackburn penalty area, and the Spurs forward clinically side-footed the ball into the goal, 3-0.

A double substitution for Spurs saw Dante Cassanova and Max McKnight replace Matthew Craig and Rio Kyerematen respectively. The alert Luca Gunter tipped over a powerful effort on goal from Harrison Wood soon after, before Max Robson came on to replace Tyrell Ashcroft. The excellent Will Lankshear held off a defender with ease, before having an effort from the edge of the penalty area saved by Eastham. Charlie Sayers made a good and important block inside the Spurs box, to stop a good chance for Blackburn Rovers. Following another good move Spurs substitute Max McKnight slipped the ball through well to Lankshear on the right side of the Blackburn penalty area, but the centre-forward just missed the target, from his lofted effort. Will Andiyapan moved into defence after he was substitute on to replace Will Lankshear. Spurs made it 4-0 on 91 minutes, following yet another really good passing move. After Max Robson had initially won the ball, he passed the ball to Soonsup-Bell inside the Blackburn penalty area, and the Spurs forward calmly and clinically found the bottom right corner of the goal, 4-0. Jude Soonsup-Bell almost got a hat-trick just before the game came to an end, as he hit an effort over Jordan Eastham’s goal, after receiving Yago Santiago’s pass on the right side of the Blackburn Rovers penalty area.

Spurs’ next competitive game at this level is not until Tuesday the 19th of September, when they face Colchester United (away) in their first group-stage fixture of the 2023/24 EFL Trophy.

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The Spurs goalkeeper made some routine saves and one good save on Saturday, and his distribution was good once again.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: This was another good defensive performance at right-back from Tyrell Ashcroft, who has played so well this season, since making his return in pre-season from a bad injury.
• Alfie Dorrington: The right sided central defender for the game, was solid in defence and he also got the assist for Jamie Donley’s goal. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Playing on the left side of central defence, the influential Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was very good at going on skilful surging forward runs out of defence and into midfield, and once again he read the game well in defence.
• Charlie Sayers: The left-back had a good game, and he made one very good block during the second half.
• Matthew Craig: The Spurs captain was always looking to pass the ball forward and try to be inventive with the ball. He covered a lot of ground in midfield, during his time on the pitch.
• Rio Kyerematen: The central midfielder went on some excellent surging forward runs with the ball, from midfield. Rio also worked well off the ball.
• Jamie Donley: This was another very good performance from the Spurs CAM. Jamie Donley scored one goal and provided one assist, but his work off the ball was just as good.
• Jude Soonsup-Bell: This was an excellent performance on the right flank from the former Chelsea Academy player, as he scored two goals. Jude has played as a winger before, when he was with Chelsea. And he was clever and inventive on the ball, showing good skill, pace and strength with it. He took both of his goals well, and he was unlucky not to have got a hat-trick on the day.
• Will Lankshear: My man of the match, see below.
• Yago Santiago: The Spurs winger provided an assist and came very close to scoring a goal against Blackburn Rovers. Yago did well on the day.
• Dante Cassanova: The Spurs substitute played as the defensive-midfielder after entering the pitch.
• Max McKnight: On his Premier League 2 debut for Spurs, the substitute set-up one very good chance for Will Lankshear to score from.
• Max Robson: The late substitute provided an assist after going into midfield. He was very positive with the ball.
• Will Andiyapan: A very late Spurs substitute, Will Andiyapan went to right-back after being substituted on.

My man of the match – Will Lankshear. I could have named all of the Spurs players who started the match, man of the match. However, for me the Spurs centre-forward did so well off the ball once again. He pressed the Blackburn defence so, so well, and Will Lankshear’s physicality and strength to hold players off at ease, meant that the Blackburn Rovers defence had a really difficult game. Lankshear took his goal well, and on another day he could well have had a hat-trick.