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

Ugo Ehiogu’s resilient Spurs side came back on two occasions to get a valuable and well deserved draw against Chelsea under 23’s, at Hotspur way this afternoon. The Blues began the game the better side on a bitterly cold afternoon in Enfield, Chelsea taking the lead just five minutes in to the first half through highly rated midfielder Mason Mount. Chelsea were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, following a handball by Walkes, Mount stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and beyond the reach of Pau Lopez as it nestled in to the top right hand corner of the net. Both sides had good spells in the minutes that followed but the visitors seemed the more likely to score the next goal however, six minutes from the interval Spurs striker Shayon Harrison drew the Lillywhites level with a header. Nathan Oduwa who had just returned from his loan with Peterborough was highly influential in the making of the goal. Oduwa showed clever feet as he dribbled away from the Chelsea defenders down the left, before putting in a perfectly weighted cross which Harrison disposed with a good header which flew past the Chelsea goalkeeper Collins, and into the back of the net.

We started the second half brightly but the blues always posed a threat going forward and ten minutes into the second half they regained the lead through striker Dominic Solanke. After the tall striker got the ball on to his left foot inside the penalty area after some good build up play, Solanke fired the ball low and into the back of the net, 2-1 Chelsea. Ehiogu’s didn’t give up and they showed a fighting spirit, which was duly rewarded, when we drew level for a second time on 58 minutes. Joe Pritchard whipped the ball in from the resulting corner and defender Connor Ogilvie rushed to the near post to meet the ball, powering it brilliantly beyond Collins and into the net. Both sides had their fair share chances in the remaining minutes of the match, but neither side could find a winner. Pau Lopez made a top reaction save to deny Ugbo’s header, whilst Oduwa’s curved free kick was just tipped over the crossbar by the Chelsea keeper at the other end, the final score Spurs 2-2 Chelsea.

Shayon Harrison was the standout out player (see below) but Nathan Oduwa, Connor Ogilvie, Luke Amos and Zenon Stylianides also stood our for me. Oduwa is an incredibly skilful player and I knows he capable of the spectacular, but his recent loans have been somewhat underwhelming, with the Nigerian youth international struggling for game time at Peterborough. However, Oduwa had a great match today he posed a significant attacking threat his dribbling, weaving runs and decision making all being of the highest order. Connor Ogilvie was defensively solid and managed to get us a point with his fine second half header. Whilst Luke Amos was impressive in the centre of the park he was tenacious and broke up play well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was named on the bench for Sunday’s match. Finally, Zenon Stylianides impressed me in the centre of the park, it may not be the most eye catching of jobs but Stylianides was very good in the centre of the park. He was one of the hardest workers on the field, his stamina and persistence had a real effect on the midfield and he pressed the Chelsea players constantly. It’s worth noting that the second half was keenly observed by Mauricio Pochettino and his assistants.

 

My man of the match: Shayon Harrison, the 19 year old striker netted his seventh goal of the PL2 campaign. Harrison’s skill and movement was impressive as to was his headed goal to draw level in the first half. I suspect Harrison will be part of the senior squad that take on Aston Villa at the Lane on Friday, in the FA Cup third round, his edging ever close to senior football.

Spurs: Pau Lopez, Walker-Peters, Ogilvie (Muscatt 78), Amos (c), Maghoma, Walkes, Pritchard (Owens 63), Stylianides, Harrison, Tracey, Oduwa (Goddard 84). Substitute (not used): Glover (GK).

Chelsea: Collins, Sterling, Tomori, T Chalobah, Dabo (c), Sammut (Maddox 65), Wakefield (St Clair 77), Ali, Ugbo, Solanke (Christie-Davies 73), Mount. Substitutes (not used): Colley, Thompson (GK).

Goals: Spurs – Harrison 39, Ogilvie 58; Chelsea – Mount 5, Solanke 55.

Referee: Wayne Barratt.

Spurs under 23’s 1-1 Manchester United: (match report)

On Friday afternoon our under 23 side drew 1-1 to Manchester United at Hotspur Way, Ugo Ehiogu’s side put in a very good performance against Man united and were unlucky not to have taken all three points. It was a great team performance by the young Lillywhites and they impressed throughout the entirety of the match. The match started pretty evenly with Spurs passing the ball around nicely across the field however, Warren Joyce’s side took the lead in the 20th minute after a wonderful solo effort from Joe Riley. Riley went forward down the left wing before cutting past the sliding Owens inside the box, tucking the ball beyond the reach of Glover. It didn’t take the lads long to respond and just over ten minutes late Spurs got a well deserved equaliser from Shayon Harrison. Anthony Georgiou found Goddard who hit his effort first time from 20 yards out, but his effort was blocked by a defender with the alert Shayon Harrison there to slot home with a fine finish. Man united almost regained the lead on the stroke of half time after Matthew Willock rushed through into the box only to have the ball taken off him by Charlie Owens who produced a magnificent sliding challenge from behind.

We were by far the better side in the second half as Ehiogu’s team went in search for the winner. In the 69th minute we came close to taking the lead with two good chances in less than a minute, Walker Peters burst down the right channel only to see his fine effort saved well by Dean Henderson. Soon afterwards Shayon Harrison met Georgiou’s cross inside the box, but the strikers effort was blocked well by the alert united defender Regan Poole. Late on inthe match Shayon Harrison had the chance to net the winner for Spurs after substitute Shilow Tracey sent the ball into the box Harrison tried his best but just couldn’t make significant contact with the ball as it went wide of the left post. The final score Spurs 1-1 Manchester United, the players can be proud of their performance against a very good Man United side, up next for Ehiogu’s side are Arsenal in mid November.

The lads had an excellent game yesterday and there were many impressive performances, I though Anthony Georgiou was excellent down the flanks, his pace, skill and eagerness to put balls into the box caused a constant problem for the united defence. Goalscorer Shayon Harrison also had a good game, constantly pressing Harrison was excellent on the ball and he was unlucky not to add more goals to his account. Kyle Walker-Peters adapted well to playing on the right wing, the 19 year old made many good runs and beat his man on many occasions and was unlucky not to score the winner in the second half, Walker-Peters dropped back to full back later on in the game after Joe Muscatt was substituted. Spurs were very assured at the back with Christian Maghoma and Charlie Owens being solid throughout the match making some excellent challenges and interceptions.
My man of the match: Anthony Georgiou, Georgiou was excellent down the left wing he worked incredibly hard and constantly wanted to attack and put the ball into danger area.

Spurs: Glover, Muscatt (Tracey 83), Stylianides (Bennetts 87), Amos (c), Owens, Maghoma, Walker-Peters, Walkes, Harrison, Goddard (Pritchard 68), Georgiou. Substitute (not used): Austin (GK)
Manchester United: Henderson, Williams, Tuanzebe (c), Poole, Riley, Goss (Kehinde 77), Olosunde (Warren 82), Redmond, Willock, Harrop (Mitchell 58), El Fitouri. Substitutes (not used): Scott, O’Hara (GK).
Goals: Spurs – Harrison 31; Manchester United – Riley 20.
Yellow cards: Spurs – Muscatt 45+1, Georgiou 68, Pritchard 79; Manchester United – Harrop 17, Williams 50, Tuanzebe 88.
Referee: Alan Young.
Attendance: 180.

Spurs under 23’s 0-1 Southampton: (match report)

Yesterday evening our under 23’s fell to a 1-0 defeat against Southampton at St Mary’s, the much younger than usual under 23 side battled well against a considerably older opposition but were simply second best despite their best efforts. The game was evenly matched in the first 20 minutes with Spurs just having the upper hand and the young Lillywhites went close to breaking the deadlock with two good efforts in the space of just three minutes. The first of which came from winger Shilow Tracey who after beating a Southampton defender fired a low effort at goal which the Saints goalkeeper Harry Lewis denied with his legs. Shortly afterwards Lewis was again forced into action after under 23 debutant Reo Griffith’s hit a curling effort from 20 yards out which Lewis thwarted with a fine save. The home side took the lead in the 38th minute courtesy of a header from Jack Stephens. Stephens rose high in the box after the ball was whipped in from the following free kick and the defender powered a header onto the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net, despite Tom Glovers best efforts. The second half was for the most part flat however, following Keanan Bennett’s introduction shortly after the hour mark the 17 year old impressed down the left wing and the youngster went the closest Spurs had come to scoring all game in the 73rd minute.

Bennett’s hit a free kick from the edge of the box narrowly wide of the right post as his whipped effort hit the side netting. Three minutes later both sides were reduced to ten men after both George Marsh and Harley Willard were shown second yellow cards following an incident near the touchline. The game finished 1-0 to the Saints, our incredibly young side put in an excellent effort against one of the best sides in the PL2 but Ehiogu’s side just couldn’t create many clear cut chances against a much more experienced Southampton side. Our best player was right back Kyle Walker-Peters, the 19 year old was solid through out at right back, whilst he was also creative down the right wing as he went on skilful runs, cutting inside on numerous occasions as he caused the saints defence bother. 16 year old midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe also had a good game as he impressed in the centre of the park, whilst wingers Reo Griffiths and Shilow Tracey had good games on the wing. Second year scholar Keanan Bennett’s made a good impact on the game following his introduction in the second half, Bennett’s skill and pace caused the Saints problems down the left. Bennett’s also went desperately close to scoring from a free kick, up next for Ehiogu’s side is Manchester City at the lane on the 14th of October.

Southampton: Lewis, Bakary, McQueen, Jones, Cook, Stephens (c), Sims, O’Connor, Olomola, Slattery (Johnson 82), Willard. Substitutes (not used): Wood, Smallbone, Mdlalose, Parkes (GK).
Spurs: Glover, Walker-Peters, Muscatt (Eyoma 90+1), Marsh, Maghoma, Walkes (c), Tracey, Stylianides, Loft (Bennetts 63), Oakley-Boothe (Pritchard 78), Griffiths. Substitutes (not used): Owens, McDermott (GK).
Goal: Southampton – Stephens 38.
Yellow cards: Southampton – Cook 36, Willard 56, 76, Olomola 74; Spurs – Marsh 34, 74, Maghoma 60.
Red cards: Southampton – Willard 76; Spurs – Marsh 74.