Spurs’ Development side played their second group game of this seasons Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night, when they faced League One side Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium. Wayne Burnett’s side played well against Cambridge United, and they probably created the better chances. However, Sam Smith’s goal in the 72nd minute of the game won it for Cambridge. Spurs lined up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while a back four consisting of Matthew Craig, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Kallum Cesay started in front of him. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Harvey White started in central midfield, and Dilan Markanday and Jack Clarke started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Alfie Devine led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway on a cool evening, but it was Cambridge who had the first real chance of the game. A long ball over the top of the Spurs defence resulted in Jack Lankester being able to get inside the Spurs box, with the ball, but Oluwayemi came close to the Cambridge player, made himself big and made the save, before the ball was put out of play. Oluwayemi then gathered a low cross from George Williams on the right flank before Spurs managed their first effort on target of the game. Devine passed the ball to Harvey White on the edge of the Cambridge penalty area, and he tried his luck with a powerful and awkward effort for the goalkeeper to deal with. Kai McKenzie-Lyle did manage to save the Spurs midfielder’s effort though.

After receiving the ball and turning with it Dilan Markanday brought the ball forward at pace. He then passed the ball to Devine inside the Cambridge box, but the second year scholars effort on goal was saved. Matthew Craig blocked Ben Worman’s effort well on the edge of the Spurs box, and then a couple of moments later George Williams saw his deflected effort tipped behind by Oluwayemi. After connecting with Ben Worman’s corner kick Lloyd Jones saw his headed effort blocked, before then hitting the ball over the Spurs goal. Devine then had a low effort saved by McKenzie-Lyle, before Markanday had an effort blocked after going on a good run forward. Spurs were playing well and after Harvey White found Dilan Markanday in a good position on the right flank the very skilful Spurs winger showed great skill to enter the Cambridge box, but he didn’t connect with the ball how he would of hoped, and his effort went across the face of the goal and wide. Alfie Devine then had an effort blocked, and then a couple of minutes later he had a headed effort saved from a Matthew Craig cross. Oluwayemi was shown a yellow card for an off the ball incident just before half-time, and then Sam Smith hit an effort across the Spurs goal, before Jensen Weir then hit it over, in what turned out to be the last effort of the first half. 

Cambridge United got the second half underway. After receiving Nile John’s pass inside the Cambridge box Alfie Devine hit the ball over the goal. After showing some great skill inside the Cambridge penalty area Dilan Markanday then had an effort blocked, before the ball then came to John, who also had an effort blocked. Matthew Craig blocked behind an effort at the other end, before Dilan Markanday hit an effort wide from the edge of the Cambridge box. Oluwayemi did well to save an effort from the edge of the Spurs box a couple of minutes later, before out of nothing Markanday created a great chance. After receiving the ball around the halfway line he brought the ball forward at pace, showing great skill to enter the Cambridge box. He eventually had an effort blocked, but the ball then came to a Jack Clarke, who curled his effort wide of the goal. Marqes Muir then did well to stop a promising Cambridge move. Spurs captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was replaced by Yago Santiago, who took up the centre-forwards position. Despite Spurs’ excellent defensive work throughout the game, they conceded what turned out to be the Cambridge winner in the 72nd minute of the match. A cross from the left flank was met by Jack Lankester inside the Spurs, and his volleyed effort was headed past Oluwayemi by Sam Smith, 0-1.

A Cambridge United forward then curled over an effort from the edge of the Spurs box, before Nile John had an effort saved by McKenzie-Lyle inside the Spurs box, after receiving Markanday’s pass. Spurs then had an excellent late chance, as Alfie Devine hit Jack Clarke’s cross into the side netting of the Cambridge goal at the back post from close range, leaving him clearly very disappointed. Kallum Cesay replaced Michael Craig for the final minutes of the game, as it finished 1-0 to the home side. Spurs’ next game at this level is at home to Derby County in the Premier League 2, on Monday.

Player reviews: 

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper did well against Cambridge United. Oluwayemi was particularly impressive in how he dealt with crosses.
• Matthew Craig: Despite playing out of position this was a very good performance at right back from Matthew Craig. The 18 year old defended really well down his side of the pitch and made some really good tackles. Craig also kept very good positioning throughout the match.
• Marqes Muir: Keeping good positioning and defending well alongside Tobi Omole in central-defence, Marqes Muir put in another solid performance for Spurs.
• Tobi Omole: The more experienced of the two central defenders, Tobi Omole and Marqes Muir complimented each other well in defence, and like Marqes Muir I thought that Tobi had a good game.
• Kallum Cesay: Bringing the ball forward well down the left flank and getting into good forward positions, the full-back showed some good quality on the ball.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Playing the game at a good intensity in central midfield, Spurs captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster made some good passes along with Harvey White early on in the game. Lyons-Foster kept good positioning, as always, and also made some good interceptions.
• Harvey White: The midfielder impressed with his passing and positioning, and once again playing further forward in midfield allowed him to get on the ball a lot more, and also to try and create chances as well.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below. 
• Nile John: Playing as the CAM for Spurs, midfielder Nile John made some good runs into the Cambridge box and showed good skill on the ball.
• Jack Clarke: Playing on the left flank for this match, Jack Clarke looked to get on the ball whenever he could, and he also worked hard off it as well.
• Alfie Devine: Making some clever runs off the ball, Alfie Devine was unlucky not to have scored a couple of goals on Tuesday. His movement was good, and he would often drop deep to get on the ball to try and make things happen.
• Yago Santiago: The second half substitute came on to play as the centre-forward for Spurs.
• Michael Craig: The late substitute came on and played in midfield. 

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. The winger went on many excellent runs forward with the ball from the right flank, and he was without doubt Spurs’ most creative player against Cambridge United. Markanday showed some fantastic skill on the ball, worked hard off it and deserved a goal for the quality of his performance. The 20 year old seems to be getting better and better by each game that he plays. He has been outstanding so far this season.

Spurs’ Under 23 side traveled up to County Lancashire to face Blackburn Rovers at the LFA County Ground, in the Premier League 2 on Friday night. Wayne Burnett’s side had gone 2-0 up during a fascinating first half, which ended up being 3-2 to Spurs. The game however, ended up finishing 3-3, after Harvey White had a late penalty kick saved. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal for Spurs, while a back four consisting of Matthew Craig, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Tobi Omole and Kallum Cesay lined up in front of him. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Harvey White started in central midfield, and Jack Clarke and Alfie Devine started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Dilan Markanday returned to lead the line for Spurs. It was Wayne Burnett’s side who got the game started, and it was Spurs who created the first real chance of the game. After John went on a surging forward run with the ball, the midfielder passed it to Devine, down the left hand side of the Blackburn penalty area. However, Devine ended up hitting the ball over the goal from a promising position. Malachi Fagan-Walcott blocked behind Connor McBride’s effort from inside the Spurs box, before at the opposite end of the pitch Nile John hit a low effort wide from distance. A good run into the Spurs box by left-back Lenni Cirino ended in him hitting a low effort wide of Oluwayemi’s near post. Devine then had an effort blocked by a Blackburn defender, before Spurs took the lead in the 14th minute of the game.

Dilan Markanday brought the ball into the Blackburn penalty area down the right hand side. He was then tackled by a defender, and the ball ended up coming to John, who went past an opposition player well before powerfully finding the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Jared Harlock volleyed over Luke Brennan’s cross from inside the Spurs box as the home side looked to respond. Markanday was then shown a rather harsh yellow card (in my opinion) for being deemed to have fouled Sam Durrant, and stopping a promising move. After picking the ball up out on the right flank Jack Clarke looked up before crossing the ball into the Blackburn box, where he managed to pick out Harvey White in a central area. The Spurs midfielder connected well with the ball, and his looping headed effort ended up beating goalkeeper Antonis Stergiakis, and going into the bottom left hand corner of his goal, 2-0. Shortly after the game got started again and after Harvey White received Tobi Omole’s pass, he tried his luck with a powerful effort from distance, which was well saved by Stergiakis. A couple of minutes later the ball was given to Harvey White inside the Blackburn box, but he curled his effort over the goal. After a Spurs player gave away the ball in a good position for the home side, Lyons-Foster was forced to make a sliding challenge to try and win the ball off of McBride. However, the referee thought that he didn’t get the ball and booked him and awarded a free kick against Spurs, much to the Spurs midfielders’ disbelief.

34 year old Blackburn Rovers captain Bradley Johnson stepped up to hit a powerful low effort beyond Oluwayemi and into the bottom right hand corner of the Spurs goal, 2-1. Clarke was shown a yellow card for a foul on Lenni Cirino, before a free-kick for the home side ended up coming into the Spurs box, but Oluwayemi was able to stop McBride’s effort on goal. Then after Oluwayemi came but missed the ball when trying to gather from a corner kick, the ball eventually came to George Pratt, who was fouled by Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who claimed that he had got the ball. However, the referee ended up pointing to the spot and Fagan-Walcott and also Devine were shown yellow cards. Connor McBride stepped up to tuck the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 2-2. Spurs responded well though, and after John won a free-kick right on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area, Harvey White curled the ball right onto the crossbar. Alfie Devine nodded wide Jack Clarke’s free-kick, before Oluwayemi gathered Luke Brennan’s cross at the opposite end of the pitch. However, in the fifth minute of first half added time a Harvey White corner kick was headed on by Devine to Tobi Omole inside the Blackburn penalty area, and he managed to put the ball past Stergiakis and into the back of the net. It was to be the final piece of action from the first half.

The home side got the second half underway. Oluwayemi did well to stop Sam Burns from scoring inside the Spurs box, before Brennan hit the ball over down the left side of the Spurs box. Harvey White had an effort blocked and then Jared Harlock had an effort from distance saved by Oluwayemi. Lyons-Foster importantly put behind Luke Brennan’s promising cross into the Spurs box, before Oluwayemi then saved Cirino’s effort on goal. Sam Burns then ended up running all the way into the Spurs box before hitting his effort wide of the goal. Markanday then hit an effort wide from the edge of the Blackburn box, at the other end of the pitch. Blackburn managed to get the equaliser on 67 minutes, but they were quite fortunate. Substitute Adam Wharton’s effort on goal was saved by Oluwayemi, but the ball ended up bouncing off of Omole and into the back of the Spurs goal, 3-3. John showed some nice skill before powerfully hitting the ball across the face of the Blackburn goal, but he was then booked moments later after the referee thought that he had gone down to easily inside the Blackburn box from a challenge. Yago Santiago came on to replace Jack Clarke. A Blackburn player ended up giving the ball to Markanday on the edge of the Blackburn box, but his curling effort was well saved by Stergiakis. Rafferty Pedder replaced Nile John, and then Fagan-Walcott did well to clear Luke Brennan’s cross into the Spurs box.

The newly introduced Yago Santiago did really well to work his way into the Blackburn box, before crossing the ball for Markanday, whose first time effort was stopped from going in by the hand of Lenni Cirino, who was subsequently sent off, and a penalty kick was awarded for Spurs. Harvey White stepped up, but his effort to the goalkeepers right was well saved by Stergiakis. Devine then headed Harvey White’s following corner kick into the side netting, before Blackburn had two very late chances to win the game. First of all Sam Burns hit an effort against Oluwayemi’s near post, before another player from the home side hit an effort just wide from the edge of the Spurs box, in what was the final piece of action from the game. Spurs’ next game at this level is against senior opposition in Cambridge United on Tuesday night, in the Papa Johns’ Trophy.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made some important saves on the night, and overall I thought that he did well.
• Matthew Craig: The right-back often stayed deep down the right flank to defend against Blackburn winger Luke Brennan. 
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: The right sided centre-half made some good blocks and clearances.
• Tobi Omole: Omole scored our third goal of the game, but defensively both him and Malachi Fagan-Walcott helped to keep centre-forward Connor McBride generally quite quiet.
• Kallum Cesay: Like Matthew Craig on the opposite flank, Kallum Cesay often stayed deep during the game.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Starting the match as a four in central midfield, Spurs’ captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster demonstrated good leadership skills. Often seen pointing things out to his teammates, Lyons-Foster’s  defensive performance allowed Harvey White to get forward a lot more. However, Lyons-Foster did make some important defensive interventions during the match.
• Harvey White: My man of the match, see below.
• Jack Clarke: Very direct and good at tracking back, winger Jack Clarke set-up Harvey White for his goal with a fine cross into the Blackburn penalty area. Clarke showed good pace, and was always looking to take defenders on down the right flank.
• Nile John: One of our best players on Friday, CAM Nile John took his early goal really well, and he really demonstrated his quality on the ball when going on forward runs.
• Alfie Devine: The Spurs left-winger once again made some good runs off the ball, but he was especially potent from corner-kicks. Devine got the assist for Tobi Omole’s goal, and on another day he could have scored a couple of goals from corners.
• Dilan Markanday: Like Alfie Devine out on the left flank, centre-forward Dilan Markanday moved well off the ball. He helped to create our opening goal of the game and also had what would have been the winner denied, because of a handball from Lenni Cirino.
• Yago Santiago: The second half substitute went on one really clever run into the Blackburn box late on in the game to set-up Dilan Markanday for his late chance.
• Rafferty Pedder: The late substitute came on to play in the CAM role in the final minutes of the game.

My man of the match: Harvey White. On another day the Spurs midfielder could have scored five goals. The Maidstone born player passed the ball about well, was willing to make good forward runs off the ball, took his headed goal well and also came very close to scoring (including the late penalty miss) on quite a few other occasions. However, this was another strong performance from Harvey.

Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side welcomed Liverpool to The Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon, in what was their fourth Premier League 2 match of the new season. Spurs deservedly won the match 2-1, and on another day they could have won it by a lot more. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal while a back four of Matthew Craig, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Kallum Cesay lined up in front of him. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Harvey White started in midfield, and Jack Clarke and Alfie Devine started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Yago Santiago led the line in the absence of Dilan Markanday and Dane Scarlett. Liverpool got the game underway, and it was actually from their first real chance of the game that they took the lead. Kaide Gordon received a long pass out to him on the right flank, and the winger then came inside before finding the bottom right hand corner of Oluwayemi’s goal, despite the Spurs goalkeeper managing to get a hand on the ball, 0-1. Spurs tried to respond, and Jack Clarke hit an effort wide across the face of the Liverpool goal from the right hand side of the Liverpool box. Then Mateusz Musialowski hit an effort narrowly wide of Oluwayemi’s goal from just outside of the Spurs box. Spurs came close again to getting an equaliser though, as Clarke received Nile John’s pass down the right side of the Liverpool box, but again he hit the ball just wide, across the face of the goal.

Harvey White had an effort from a free-kick deflected behind, and then from Harvey White’s following corner kick Alfie Devine managed to meet the ball, but his header was pushed onto the crossbar by Marcelo Pitaluga. After a great run from Yago Santiago, which saw him go past Liverpool defender Billy Koumetio, the former Celta Vigo player had an effort on goal saved by Pitaluga, before Devine hit the ball over the goal from close range on the half volley. A brilliant forward run from left-back Kallum Cesay ended in him having an effort on goal blocked by Dominic Corness, before Spurs finally managed to get their equaliser. Nile John passed the ball to Devine, who managed to work his way towards the edge of the Liverpool box, before then powerfully hitting the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 1-1. Clarke then had an effort blocked behind before a good move which started with the former Leeds United player passing the ball to Santiago on the right flank, ended with Santiago’s cross being met by John in the Liverpool box. However, his effort was saved by Marcelo Pitaluga, in what was the final piece of action from the first half. Spurs got the second half underway, and they almost got off to a great start. After Devine found Harvey White down the left of the Liverpool box, the Spurs midfielder hit the ball across the Liverpool goal and just wide.

Lyons-Foster hit a low effort wide from distance, before Jack Clarke had an effort blocked. Oluwayemi was able to save Jack Bearne’s effort at his back post, and then at the other end of the pitch Lyons-Foster headed over Harvey White’s corner kick. Owen Beck then hit the ball over the Spurs goal from distance, before Fagan-Walcott blocked Tyler Morton’s low effort on goal. Rafferty Pedder came on to replace Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, and went up front as Yago Santiago replaced Michael Craig. Kallum Cesay was shown a yellow card by the referee, before Rafferty Pedder was given the ball by Tyler Morton, and he went forward with it towards the edge of the Liverpool box, but ended up hitting the ball over the goal. Jack Clarke was shown a yellow card as Spurs went in search of the winner, and that winner came almost ten minutes from the end. Alfie Devine managed to latch onto Jack Clarke’s through-ball pass. Devine entered the Liverpool box where he was met by Marcelo Pitaluga, but he showed great composure in front of goal to just deftly put the ball over the Liverpool goalkeeper and into the back of the goal, 2-1. Devine had a very late effort deflected behind for a corner kick, in what was the final piece of action of the game. Next up for Spurs is a trip up to Lancashire to face Blackburn Rovers next Friday. I will be attending that game.

Player reviews: 

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper really didn’t have that much to do against Liverpool apart from one important save that he made in the first half of the game.
• Matthew Craig: Despite playing out of position at right-back, midfielder Matthew Craig did well in my opinion against winger Mateusz Musialowski, during his time on the pitch.
• Marqes Muir: The right sided centre-half read the game well and also dealt well with Liverpool centre-forward Max Woltman, alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: A composed but assertive defensive performance from the left sided centre-half on Saturday against Liverpool, made it difficult for the Liverpool forwards on the day.
• Kallum Cesay: Playing at left-back Kallum Cesay got forward really well down the left-flank, and some of his very skilful forward runs were excellent.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The Spurs captain in my opinion did very well in central midfield. His passing and positioning was good, and he protected the defence well during his time on the pitch.
• Harvey White: The midfielders passing from midfield was as good as always, and also he made some clever forward runs from midfield, and came very close to scoring a goal at the beginning of the second half.
• Jack Clarke: This was another good performance from Jack Clarke on the right flank. Clarke was direct with the ball, showed some good pace and skill with it and also tracked back well. Clarke got the assist for Alfie Devine’s winning goal.
• Nile John: The CAM completed most of the game, and he went on some good forward runs with the ball. John got the assist for Alfie Devine’s first goal of the game.
• Alfie Devine: My man of the match, see below.
• Yago Santiago: Playing as a centre-forward, Yago Santiago pressed the Liverpool defenders excellently during his time on the pitch. He also showed nice skill on the ball, and traveled forward well with it.
• Rafferty Pedder: The second half substitute went to play at centre-forward, and apart from the chance which he had, which he created, I thought that he worked really hard off the ball.
• Michael Craig: The midfielder came on to fill in for Brooklyn Lyons-Foster in midfield, and he stopped one potentially good chance for the away side during his time on the pitch.
• Maksim Paskotši: The defender came on during the final minutes of the game to replace Nile John.

My man of the match: Alfie Devine. The midfielder turned left-winger for Saturday’s match, had a very good game against Liverpool. Devine’s movement off the ball and runs behind the Liverpool defence on occasions were quality, and he took both of his goals on the day excellently well. Devine worked hard of the ball as well, but he showed great quality on it, even though he was playing out of position.

Spurs’ Development side played their first group-stage game of this seasons Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday evening, when they took on Stevenage FC at the Lamex Stadium. Wayne Burnett’s side won the match 4-3 despite the fact that they were missing a number of players because of international call-ups. It was a very good and mature performance from Spurs, who really took the game to Stevenage right from the start of the match. Burnett’s side showed a real desire to press the opposition, and that real desire led to them creating numerous fine chances during the game. Spurs lined-up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while a back four consisting of Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier started in front of him. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Harvey White started in central midfield, while Kallum Cesay and Jack Clarke started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Dilan Markanday. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway on a cool evening in Stevenage, and after a good start the first chance of the game came their way. Dilan Markanday’s low effort on goal from the edge of the Stevenage box was saved by Stevenage goalkeeper Sacha Bastien. Then at the opposite end of the pitch Stevenage’s Arthur Read hit an effort wide on the turn. 

Spurs took a deserved lead in the eighth minute of the game, thanks to a goal from Harvey White. A great pass from Lyons-Foster reached Jack Clarke on the left flank, and he continued forward before sending in a low cross into the Stevenage penalty area. Harvey White had made an intelligent run into the box to meet it and finish past Bastien with a composed and accurate first time finish, 1-0. Harvey White did receive a yellow card not long afterwards for a strong challenge that he made on Jack Smith. Marqes Muir cleared a cross from the left flank, before Spurs doubled their lead. A brilliant forward run from Markanday resulted in him passing the ball to Santiago, who continued into the Stevenage box before initially delaying his effort, before then powerfully finding the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-0. Luke Norris nodded narrowly wide a cross from the right flank, before the impressive Yago Santiago had a low effort saved by Bastien. Jack Clarke then came inside onto his right foot before trying his luck with a curling effort on goal, but it was saved by the Stevenage goalkeeper. Scott Cuthbert headed wide from a Stevenage corner kick, and then Joshua Oluwayemi pushed behind a low shot. An important defensive intervention from Malachi Fagan-Walcott followed, before Stevenage got a goal back. James Daly received Jack Smith’s pass on the edge of the Spurs box, before looking up and curling an unstoppable effort into the top left hand corner of Oluwayemi’s goal, 2-1.

A Stevenage player hit an effort narrowly wide of Oluwayemi’s goal shortly after the restart, and then moments later another Stevenage player came inside from the left flank to curl an effort over the Spurs goal. A couple of minutes later Oluwayemi gathered a low cross from the right flank, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. The home side got the second half underway but it was Spurs who almost extended their lead soon into the half. Santiago latched onto a loose ball before passing it to Harvey White in the Stevenage box, but the Spurs midfielder hit the ball over the Stevenage goal, in what was a great chance for Spurs. However, not long afterwards Spurs did get their third goal of the game. Dilan Markanday received the ball down the right hand side of the Stevenage box, before continuing forward and then squaring the ball for Harvey White to tap home, 3-1. But Spurs’ two goal lead didn’t last long as soon afterwards Ross Marshall powerfully headed Jack Smith’s corner kick home, 3-2. A quick throw-in from Stevenage then almost caught Spurs out, but Oluwayemi did well to keep out James Daly’s low effort on goal from inside the Spurs penalty area. A good forward run from Santiago ended in him being fouled on the edge of the Stevenage penalty area. Harvey White’s resulting free-kick hit the Stevenage wall before coming back to him. The Tottenham midfielder then put the ball into the box, where he managed to pick out Tobi Omole down the left. Omole’s first time effort was saved by Bastien before the ball came back to him and he squared the ball for Lyons-Foster to tap home from close range, 4-2.

Oluwayemi comfortably gathered Ben Coker’s cross before Ross Marshall headed over a Stevenage free-kick. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Tobi Omole both received yellow cards during the latter stages of the game, and once again Oluwayemi had to make a save, this time to stop a low effort from a tight angle. A difficult end to the game was to follow for Wayne Burnett’s side though, after Ben Coker’s cross was met by Luther John-Wildin on the volley, and his powerful effort went into the goal off of Tobi Omole, 4-3. Rafferty Pedder replaced Dilan Markanday for the final minutes of the game, as Spurs managed to hold on to get a vital three points.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made some good and important saves on the night, and he also dealt well with crosses into the box.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: It was a solid performance out of position from Malachi Fagan-Walcott at right-back. He cut out one dangerous Stevenage attack and also kept good positioning throughout the game.
• Marqes Muir: I thought that the right sided centre-half did very well alongside Tobi Omole against Stevenage. Muir worked really hard and I thought that him and Tobi Omole complemented each other well in central defence.
• Tobi Omole: The more experienced of the two centre-halves put in a commanding performance in defence, and his positioning and reading of the game was good. Omole also got the assist for Lyons-Foster’s goal.
• Marcel Lavinier: The left-back got up and down the left-flank really well and supported the attack when he needed to.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Playing as a number four for Spurs on Tuesday, Spurs captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was constantly giving advice and encouraging the younger members of the Spurs side, as he demonstrated his leadership qualities. Lyons-Foster was very good on the ball in midfield, played the game at a really good intensity, made some good forward passes and scored the all important fourth Spurs goal.
• Harvey White: The scorer of two goals and also involved in the buildup play to Brooklyn Lyons-Foster’s goal, Harvey White formed a very strong midfield partnership with Lyons-Foster during the game. The 19 year old midfielder took both of his goals well, made some good passes and also made some good and intelligent runs into the Stevenage box.
• Kallum Cesay: The defender played out on the right flank as a winger and I though that he had a good game. Cesay got forward well and also linked up well with right-back Malachi Fagan-Walcott.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Jack Clarke: The former Leeds United man got a good assist during the first half and showed quality going forward, but it was his excellent work-rate and tracking back which impressed me the most.
• Yago Santiago: The midfield player led the line very well and took his goal really well (his first at this level). He was composed on the ball and clever in how he moved off it.
• Rafferty Pedder: The late substitute was involved in one good Spurs counterattack during his time on the pitch.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. Once again it was a very good performance from the 20 year old winger. Markanday carried the ball forward really well and with great skill, and he took on the Stevenage players really well, and the CAM was always looking to make that forward pass. He also registered two assists against Stevenage during his time on the pitch.

Spurs’ Under 23 side played their third Premier League 2 match of the new season on Friday at Hotspur Way, as Wayne Burnett’s side lost to 2-1 in the first North London Derby of the season with Arsenal. For the most part it was a very even game, but the sending off of left-back Marcel Lavinier in the second half gave Arsenal a big advantage. Spurs lined up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while a back four consisting of Kallum Cesay, captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier lined up in front of him. Nile John and Harvey White started in central midfield, while Alfie Devine started just in front of them. Dilan Markanday and Jack Clarke started out on the flanks and Dane Scarlett led the line, as he made his first appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 23 side. Arsenal got the game underway on a warm afternoon in Enfield. A fine early pass from Clarke to Markanday on the right flank resulted in the inform Spurs winger having a shot on goal, but his low effort was saved by Karl Hein. A loose pass from Devine at the opposite end of the pitch resulted in Omari Hutchinson receiving the ball. However, after travelling forward with it he had an effort well blocked by Lyons-Foster inside the Spurs box. A good lofted pass from Harvey White towards Alfie Devine in the Arsenal box was well cut out by Arsenal first team player Gabriel at the vital moment. Arsenal centre-forward Mika Biereth then hit a low effort just wide of Oluwayemi’s goal from the edge of the Spurs box.

The game continued to be an even one and Mazeed Ogungbo saw his cross from the left volleyed over at the back post by Taylor-Hart, before Swanson had an effort on goal brilliantly blocked by former Arsenal player Tobi Omole. A really fine pass from the Spurs captain Lyons-Foster managed to find Markanday down the right flank. He skilfully worked his way past Mazeed Ogungbo before finding John, whose shot was blocked with the ball coming out to Harvey White, who also had an effort blocked. The ball then came to Lavinier, who had an effort saved by Hein. Clarke had an effort blocked by Zane Monlouis, before Marcel Lavinier hit an effort well wide of the Arsenal goal. After receiving Lavinier’s pass Jack Clarke dribbled his way into the Arsenal penalty area, before having a deflected effort saved by Hein. Lavinier hit an effort wide a couple of moments later, and then shortly after that he received a yellow card after making a strong challenge on Biereth. A Harvey White free-kick ended up deflecting into the path of Lyons-Foster in the middle of the Arsenal box, but he had little time to react, and the ball ended up coming off his right foot and going wide of the goal. He then received a yellow card shortly afterwards before Markanday hit the ball right across the face of Karl Hein’s goal. Tobi Omole then blocked behind Mika Biereth’s effort from the edge of the Spurs box.

Lavinier had an effort blocked before Mika Biereth missed a free header inside the centre of the Spurs box. Kallum Cesay then blocked Taylor-Hart’s effort after a very good move from Arsenal. Spurs got the second half underway and after an early yellow card was shown to Nile John, Spurs took the lead. Harvey White’s fine delivery from a corner kick was met by Alfie Devine at Arsenal’s near post, and he flicked the ball past Hein on the volley to give Spurs the lead, 1-0. Oluwayemi saved Mazeed Ogungbo’s effort from down the left of the Spurs box, before Hein tipped behind Clarke’s low effort at the other end of the pitch. Oluwayemi then saved Omari Hutchinson’s effort at his near post, before Arsenal got the equaliser. A forward move ended with Hutchinson squaring the ball for Taylor-Hart inside the Spurs box, and he finished past Oluwayemi and into the left corner of the Spurs goal, 1-1. After Lavinier had fouled Hutchison and also handled the ball, the referee showed him his second yellow card and sent him off, in what would prove to be a turning point in the game. Jack Clarke then received a yellow card before Charlie Patino’s low effort on goal was saved by the feet of Oluwayemi. A good forward run from Jack Clarke resulted in him finding Dane Scarlett down the right side of the Arsenal box, but the centre-forward hit his effort into the side-netting of the goal. Zac Swanson’s low cross was hit over by Mazeed Ogungbo inside the Spurs box, but only because Kallum Cesay managed to get a foot on the ball in time.

Oluwayemi saved Omar Rekik’s header from an Arsenal corner kick, and then Spurs made their first change of the game as Maksim Paskotši replaced Dilan Markanday, and went to right-back. Zac Swanson curled an effort just wide of the Spurs goal from inside the Spurs box before Arsenal then took the lead. Hutchinson’s cross in from the right flank was missed by Mika Biereth inside the Spurs box, before the ball then came to Taylor-Hart, who finished emphatically past Oluwayemi, 1-2. The impressive Omari Hutchinson then hit a free-kick effort onto the Spurs post, before at the other end of the pitch Lyons-Foster skilfully worked his way into the Arsenal box before then seeing his effort on goal saved by Hein. J’Neil Bennett replaced Dane Scarlett, Kallum Cesay then blocked Hutchinson’s effort on goal, before Oluwayemi saved Joel Ideho’s effort. Matthew Craig replaced Brooklyn Lyons-Foster for the final moments of the game, but the newly introduced J’Neil Bennett managed two goal attempts. The first one from distance went well over the Arsenal goal, before the second one was well saved by Karl Hein. The final score – Spurs 1-2 Arsenal.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made a number of good and important saves during the game in what was a good performance from him.
• Kallum Cesay: I thought that Kallum had a good game at both ends of the pitch and he prevented a certain Arsenal goal during the second half.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: My man of the match, see below.
• Tobi Omole: Playing as the left sided centre-half, Tobi Omole made a number of good blocks against his former team.
• Marcel Lavinier: Going on some good forward runs down the left-flank during his time on the pitch, unfortunately the full-back was sent off during the second half.
• Nile John: Playing as the deepest midfielder Nile John brought the ball forward well, and he went on some good surging forward runs.
• Harvey White: One of Spurs’ best performers on the day, midfielder Harvey White created our only goal of the game from a corner kick, made some good forward passes and covered a lot of ground in the central areas of the pitch. I thought that he was especially very good during the first half.
• Dilan Markanday: Playing out on the right flank Dilan Markanday was always looking to take on Arsenal full-back Mazeed Ogungbo. Dilan had to defend a lot more after Spurs were reduced to ten men during the second half.
• Alfie Devine: The furthest forward of the three midfielders took his goal well and was always looking to pass the ball forward.
• Jack Clarke: I was impressed with how the former Leeds United player was always looking to take on players and try to be inventive with the ball at his feet. I thought that he played well against Arsenal.
• Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward led the line well, moved well off the ball and worked very hard inside the Arsenal half. He came close to scoring during the second half.
• Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international slotted into the defence after he came on when Spurs only had ten men on the pitch.
• J’Neil Bennett: The late substitute managed two goal attempts during his time on the pitch.
• Matthew Craig: N/A.

My man of the match: Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. The Spurs captain and centre-half saw a lot of the ball inside Spurs’ half of the pitch, and once again his distribution was very good. However, defensively speaking I thought that this was another strong performance from Brooklyn, whose positioning, communication skills and effort in defence could not be criticised. Lyons-Foster also stepped out of defence well on occasions, but at the back he made some important defensive interventions and blocks, and dealt well with Arsenal centre-forward Mika Biereth.