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.