Spurs under 18’s 0 -3 Fulham: (match report)

“It’s very disappointing that we didn’t seize the initiative in the first half when we should have done. We had ample opportunities to score goals and then just shot ourselves in the foot with the goals conceded. Fulham were excellent, they made themselves very compact and hard to break down, we tried to force the game and left ourselves vulnerable to the counter-attack, which they exploited.” (John McDermott)

Our under 18’s fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Fulham on Friday afternoon, to virtually diminish any chance of getting into tier one of the under 18 league. Having beaten Fulham 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier on in the season, I really fancied the lads chances against Fulham and although the 3-0 scoreline suggests otherwise, I thought they could have recorded a comfortable victory based on their dominant first half display. We had command of the game from early on as we attacked the Fulham defence with great purpose, a wonderful one two played by Shashoua to Griffith’s ended with the former putting the ball in to the back of the net, only to be judged offside. 18 minutes in Spurs should have been one up, when Bennett’s played a nice one two with Griffith’s inside the area, only to see his close range effort go waywardly wide ofthe post. The cottagers were dangerous on the counter attack creating a few chances which Spurs’ defence dealt with appropriately. Just after the half hour mark Alfie Whiteman was forced into making a fine reaction save when he denied Michael Elstone’s effort from inside the box. Shortly afterwards Spurs went desperately close to breaking the deadlock,after Jack Roles showed brilliant technique to curl his free kick onto the inside of the post. With the rebound falling for Bennett’s but Fulham’s Ashby-Hammond got in front of the winger, and just moments later Griffiths hit the ball across the area and into the path of Bennett’s, but with just the goal gaping the Spurs man had unfortunately only managed to put the ball high over the crossbar.

For all our domination in the first half Spurs were not to be rewarded for their hard labour, as shortly before the interval the visitors caught us on the counter attack and took the lead through a fortuitous goal. Fulham’s Harris whipped the ball into the area and the ball was scrambled past the line by Spurs defender Jaden Brown, after a spill from Whiteman. After Tashan Oakley-Boothe went off at half time, going into the second half we lacked that bit of creative spark from the midfield and despite creating a couple of decent chances early on, McDermott’s side soon fell further behind. When O’Riley curled a delicious effort from out wide, high into the top corner deceiving Whiteman and the whole Spurs defence. Fulham’s second was the killer blow, Spurs looked depleted, unable to deal with a Fulham side growing into the game by every passing minute. It was deeply frustrating, because Spurs were much the better side but they were simply unable to regain their composure. Spurs were struggling at the back, as Fulham bombarded us in our own penalty area, and just minutes after their second O’Riley almost scored a carbon copy of his first. The midfielder saw his free kick from out wide smash against the upright leaving Whiteman rooted to the spot.

Fulham’s attacking intensity didn’t cool in the following minutes, they produced numerous chances where they went close to extending their lead, Spurs had fell apart and looked a shadow of the side they have been for the most part of the season. With just two minutes remaining of normal time, the cottagers got their third of the game yet again catching us on the counter attack. Keeper Ashby Hammond threw the ball high over the Spurs defence and into the path of Thompson who rounded the rushing Whiteman to slot the ball into the back of the net, the final score Spurs 0-3 Fulham. A really disappointing result for the under 18’s, they haven’t enjoyed this month at all and yesterday’s match was no exception, they’ll feel as if they should have got something out of the game. The young Lillywhites will have to up their game for their visit of Newcastle United in the all important FA Youth cup quarter final at the end of the month. John McDermott’s side are in action again on Tuesday, when they face Swansea city at Hotspur way, I thought I’d add that the absent trio of Japhet Tanganga, Nick Tsaroulla and Kazaiah Sterling were all training with the under 23’s and could all be involved in Mondays PL2 match against Sunderland.

Player review:
– Alfie Whiteman: A rare off day for Whiteman, his first half mistake lead to the opener for the visitors. However, Whiteman did produce some fine saves and wasn’t at fault for the other two goals.
– Matt Lock: An impressive display from the right back, Lock has really good agility and ball control, and looked good going forward.
– Jaden Brown: Although he doesn’t attack down the wing like Tsaroulla, Brown had a good game at left back and was decent defensively.
– Oliver Skipp: My man of the match Skipp had a fantastic game, see below.
– Jonathan Dinzeyi: Wasn’t up to his usual standards on Friday, although he was dominate in the air he struggled at the back, and he wasn’t as composed as he is when paired up with Tanganga.
– George Marsh: Filling in at centre half Marsh was superb, as tenacious as ever he got stuck in on multiple occasions and his defensive wit also impressed McDermott who said: “George Marsh really stood out. He reads the game really well and whatever job you give him, he does it diligently, aggressively and I also think he did it with a lot of football intelligence today.”
– Samuel Shashoua: Had a good game and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet, made some lovely runs and worked an opening on a couple of occasions. However, he was at times quite isolated on the left.
– Tashan Oakley-Boothe: He only played the first half but I thought the midfielder had a good game he provided a creative spark from the midfield and I was surprised when he was taken off at halftime, although it may well have been due to an injury.
– Dylan Duncan: Coming on at half time in place of Oakley-Boothe, Duncan made a decent impact on the game, he brought an attacking flair to the midfield.
– Reo Griffiths: Wasn’t to be his day against Fulham, despite working his socks off, his hard work and good movement was not rewarded.
– Jack Roles: Had a decent game, his excellent first half free kick came so close to putting Spurs ahead.
– Jamie Bowden: The under 16 made his first appearance for the under 18’s and the highly rated midfielder looked quite good when coming on, definitely one to watch over the coming seasons.
– Keanan Bennett’s: A frustrating day for Bennett’s as he’ll feel that he should have gotten on the score sheet. The winger brought plenty of energy to the match and put some nice crosses into the box. However, he wasn’t clinical enough in front of goal.

My man of the match: Oliver Skipp, who had an excellent game against Fulham Skipp was very efficient in the centre of the park breaking up play and mopping up with great effect. Skipp who is still and under 16, is such an astute player and he looked years ahead of his game.

Spurs U18s: Whiteman, Lock, Brown, Skipp, Dinzeyi, Marsh (c), Shashoua, Oakley-Boothe (Duncan 46), Griffiths, Roles (Bowden 57), Bennetts. Substitutes (not used): Hinds, Reynolds, Freeman (GK).

Spurs under 23’s 2-3 Liverpool: (match report)

Our under 23’s were defeated 3-2 by Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in a PL2 encounter at Anfield. Ugo Ehiogu’s experienced side saw Joshua Onomah, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marcus Edwards all start. I was in the Kop watching Sunday afternoons match and although I was disappointed that the lads didn’t get something out of the match, I did think it was a really good game of football, and I felt that there were plenty of positives for Ehiogu’s side to take out of the game. We started the match at a chilly Anfield in positive fashion and it wasn’t long before Spurs’ attacking football had Liverpool on the back foot. The Lillywhites bright start was rewarded on 18 minutes, when Marcus Edwards opened the scoring for Spurs. A nice piece of play which started on the right wing when Walker-Peters deflected cross came into the path of Marcus Edwards and the England youth international cut inside before unleashing a powerful low shot which gave the Reds goalkeeper Grabara no chance, 1-0 to Spurs. Spurs were able to build on their lead and they were making an experienced Liverpool side look uncomfortable on the ball. Seven minutes later Spurs doubled their advantage over the Reds, after Nathan Oduwa won the ball off of Alexander-Arnold, Oduwa passed the ball to Tracey in the box. However, Tracey’s shot was blocked, coming to the alert Will Miller whose deflected effort eventually found the back of the net, 2-0 to the Lillywhites! It was a brilliant start at Anfield by Spurs but I just knew that Liverpool would turn on the pressure, and that happened just minutes after Miller’s goal. Right back Alexander-Arnold burst into the box wrong footing left back Joe Muscatt who panicked, his mistimed challenge resulting in a penalty for Liverpool, which was expertly despatched by Welsh winger Harry Wilson.

Goalkeeper Tom Glover made a fine save five minutes before the interval, denying Ben Woodburn from the resulting free kick. Liverpool started the second half in even better fashion than they had finished the first, and just minutes after it had begun they had drawn level. Sheyi Ojo had the ball on the right side of the penalty area and the young winger seemed he had no option to go for goal, but Ojo deceived Glover with a superb curling effort which nestled into the far corner of the net, 2-2. We were on the back foot in the resulting minutes as Liverpool sparkled, playing some fine attacking football which cut Spurs right open. Corey Whelan’s headed effort on goal hit the cross bar after Muscatt managed to get a vital head on the ball. And former Spurs academy graduate Kevin Stewart rifled a ferocious long range effort at goal which whistled past the right post. However, the former Spurs man did put the ball into the net in the 82nd minute after Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball to the area, Stewart beat Carter-Vickers in the air to head home the winner, Glover was furious in the Tottenham goal. Our confidence had been shattered after that late goal and Ehiogu’s depleted side could only muster up one good chance when Oduwa met a corner deep in stoppage time, but his header was well saved by Grabara, the final score Spurs under 23’s 2-3 Liverpool.

I also thought i’d add that young forward Reo Griffith’s traveled with the team on Sunday, he was sat in the stands along with fellow Spur Zenon Stylanides and another player who I was unable to identify.

 
My man of the match: He may have only been on the field for 59 minutes but I thought Edwards was terrific. After a four month injury lay off, it was obvious that Spurs had missed his mesmerising skill and brilliant ball control. Edwards had the Liverpool fullbacks sweating every time he went forward, the ball stuck to his boots as he attacked down the right wing, his early goal was brilliantly taken, his fourth of the season. Despite having not played a competitive game in four months, I didn’t think he was missing his sharpness, but it’s inevitable that he will be at his best again in no time.

Player reviews:
– Tom Glover: The Australian goalkeeper was at no fault for any of the three goals Spurs conceded, he made a string of fine saves notably the one from Woodburn’s free kick. A few observations: I thought Glover was very good with the ball at his feet especially in his kicking. In addition his vocalness in front of the back four also impressed me
– Kyle Walker-Peters: The right back played well, his mazing forward runs causing the Liverpool defence some bother. It was also a very courageous performance from the brave right back.
– Cameron Carter-Vickers: The centre back made his first under 23 appearance of the season and it was a game of two halves for the American centre half. After an impressive first half where he was comfortable on the ball, the defender struggled in the second period he looked far less composed and didn’t impose his authority over the Liverpool attackers.
– Joe Muscatt: A decent performance from the left back I thought he had a good game, minus him giving a penalty away in the first half, Muscatt also made a key interception to deny Stewart’s effort in the second half.
– Luke Amos: A really good performance from the midfielder on loan at Southend, Amos was tenacious and unrelenting in the centre of the park.
– Will Miller: I thought Miller had a brilliant game, his movement was again top draw and his dizzying runs were a threat. He also netted Spurs’ second goal.
– Marcus Edwards: My man of the match. I thought Edwards demonstrated exactly why he’s training with the first team, he was very good on the ball despite severely lacking in game time.
– George Marsh: The second year scholar is an old school midfielder his second half introduction brought steel to the midfield, he was not afraid to get stuck in.
– Joe Pritchard: Since coming on in the second half, Pritchard failed to make much of an impact but this was down mainly to the fact that Liverpool had most of the ball in our end.
– Josh Onomah: He may be low on confidence of late, but I thought Onomah had a good game in his natural number 8 position. Onomah was very good on the ball and showed good feet, a Dembelesque performance from the youngster.
– Nathan Oduwa: Oduwa made some good driving runs down the right and was highly influential in the creation of our second goal.
– Cy Goddard: Came on very late.
– Shilow Tracey: Whilst his not a natural striker I thought Tracey done a good job up front, he worked very hard and was constantly pressing the Liverpool defence.

Liverpool: Grabara, Alexander-Arnold, Randall, Gomez, Whelan, Stewart, Wilson (c), Virtue (Williams 83), Brewster, Woodburn, Ojo. Substitutes (not used): Alves, Hart, Gomes, Kelleher (GK).

Spurs: Glover, Walker-Peters, Lesniak (c), Carter-Vickers, Muscatt, Amos, Miller (Marsh 56), Edwards (Pritchard 59), Onomah (Goddard 89), Oduwa, Tracey. Substitutes (not used): Maghoma, McDermott (GK)

Goals: Liverpool – Wilson 28 (pen), Ojo 47, Stewart 82; Spurs – Edwards 18, Miller 25.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Marsh 74.

Referee: Andrew Miller.