Spurs’ Under 21 side faced League Two side Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium, on Tuesday evening, in their final group-stage fixture of the 2022/23 Papa Johns Trophy. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the game 1-0, meaning that they finished in fourth place in the group. Josh Keeley started in goal for Spurs, while Max Robson, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Alfie Dorrington and Marqes Muir started in defence. Captain Matthew Craig, Kallum Cesay and Nile John started in central midfield. Romaine Mundle, Yago Santiago and Jamie Donley started in the forward areas for Spurs, who got the game underway. Jordan Roberts hit a volleyed effort over the Spurs goal, from the edge of the Spurs box, early on in the game. After skilfully turning his way past a Stevenage player, Yago Santiago worked his way into the Stevenage penalty area, before having an effort saved by Aaron Chapman, and Santiago’s resulting pass was read well by a Stevenage defender. 

Stevenage’s Danny Rose headed behind a cross inside the Spurs box, before a looping cross into the Spurs penalty area by Max Clark, was met by Jordan Roberts, whose volleyed effort went past Josh Keeley in the Spurs goal (he managed to get a hand on the ball), as it went into the goal, 0-1. Malachi Fagan-Walcott did well to clear away a low cross into the Spurs box by Kane Smith, shortly after the game got started again. Romaine Mundle had a curling effort from the edge of the Stevenage penalty area saved by Aaron Chapman, before Danny Rose volleyed over an effort inside the Spurs box, from a resulting free-kick. Danny Rose then had a free-kick effort from the right flank tipped over by Josh Keeley, in what was the final chance of the first half. 

Stevenage got the second half underway, and shortly after Jordan Roberts volleyed Max Clark’s cross (Nile John had received a yellow card, shortly before the chance) into the side-netting of Josh Keeley’s goal. Roberts was however, put off by Alfie Dorrington, who did well. Jamie Donley curled an effort wide from the right side of the Stevenage box, before Spurs made two substitutions, as Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Will Lankshear came on for Romaine Mundle and Matthew Craig respectively. A good long pass from Malachi Fagan-Walcott over the top of the Stevenage defence, was able to find the run of Nile John who entered the penalty area, before having his low effort saved by the feet of Aaron Chapman. It was to be Spurs’ best chance of the game. Malachi Fagan-Walcott managed to block Jake Taylor’s effort well, before then doing really well to make a sliding block to stop Josh Keeley from having to make a save from Arthur Read’s effort. 

Stevenage were doing well in the game, and after Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had blocked Arthur Read’s effort, Dean Campbell’s deflected effort on the edge of the Spurs penalty area was saved by Josh Keeley. First year scholar Damola Ajayi replaced Jamie Donley late on in the game, before Nile John was shown a second yellow card after making a challenge. Roshaun Mathurin replaced Yago Santiago for the final minutes of the game, before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ Under 21 side face Fulham on Saturday in the Premier League 2, in their next match. 

My Spurs player of the match – Malachi Fagan-Walcott. The 20 year old central defender had in my opinion a good game on the right side of central defence, alongside Alfie Dorrington, who also did well. Malachi Fagan-Walcott read the game well, made some good sliding challenges and blocks, and he was good on the ball. Also, Max Robson did well at right-back (this was the first time that I’d ever seen him start a game in that position), and Marqes Muir did well at left-back. In the forward areas of the pitch, I was impressed with Yago Santiago, and his movement off the ball. Also, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster made a good impression on the game, after being substituted on during the second half.

Spurs’ Under 21 side faced League One side Peterborough United at the Weston Homes Stadium, on Tuesday night, in what was Spurs’ second group game of the 2022/23 edition of the Papa John’s Trophy. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the game 3-0. Spurs lined-up with Adam Hayton in goal, while Maxwell McKnight, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Will Andiyapan started in defence. Harvey White and Spurs’ captain Nile John started in central midfield, with Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Max Robson. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. After getting past Marqes Muir on the left flank, Ricky-Jade Jones managed to find Jonson Clarke-Harris inside the Spurs penalty area. However, Clarke-Harris’ effort went over the Spurs goal. Jonson Clarke-Harris headed over Joe Ward’s cross, before Romaine Mundle then had an effort blocked at the other end of the pitch.

After going into the Spurs box Ricky-Jade Jones had an effort on goal deflected behind, off of Marqes Muir. Peterborough had started the game well, and on 19 minutes they took the lead. Adam Hayton was unable to gather Kwame Poku’s corner-kick, as Joe Ward was then able to head the ball into the Spurs goal, 0-1. After going on a good run with the ball Romaine Mundle had an effort blocked by Frankie Kent. After turning with the ball Jonson Clarke-Harris had an effort from distance saved by Adam Hayton. Peterborough made it 2-0 shortly after, as Kwame Poku’s low cross from the right flank found Jack Taylor, whose effort from inside the Spurs box was saved by Adam Hayton, before Ricky-Jade Jones was able to finish from close range, 0-2. Adam Hayton was able to save a low effort from distance, before at the other end of the pitch, Romaine Mundle hit a low effort wide of the Peterborough goal, also from distance.

Kwame Poku volleyed an effort just wide of the Spurs goal, from Joe Ward’s cross, as Peterborough continued to be the better team. After receiving the ball inside the Spurs box, Jack Taylor turned with the ball, before hitting an effort on goal, which Adam Hayton saved, with Jonson Clarke-Harris then hitting an effort over the Spurs goal. Late on in the first half Adam Hayton did well to gather the ball from the feet of Jonson Clarke-Harris, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Peterborough got the second half underway, and they soon extended their lead. After Yago Santiago had lost the ball, Jack Marriott went forward with the ball into the Spurs box, before curling a fine effort into the top right corner of Adam Hayton’s goal, 0-3. George Abbott came on to replace the injured Will Andiyapan, before Romaine Mundle had an effort from distance blocked.

Adam Hayton did well to save an effort from Jack Marriott inside the Spurs penalty area, after Spurs had given the ball away. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster came on to replace Max Robson, and then the alert Adam Hayton saved Kwame Poku’s effort from distance. The 18 year old Spurs goalkeeper then managed to save Jack Marriott’s clever volleyed effort on goal. Nile John had an effort blocked inside the Peterborough box, with Spurs then making further changes. As Damola Ajayi and Roshaun Mathurin came on to replace Jaden Williams and Nile John, respectively. Kwame Poku had an effort saved from the edge of the Spurs penalty area by Adam Hayton. The Spurs goalkeeper then saved well from Joe Taylor’s effort on the right side of the Spurs box. Joel Randall hit an effort just wide, after meeting a low cross inside the Spurs box, as the game started to come to an end.

George Abbott and Romaine Mundle both hit efforts over the Peterborough goal in quick succession, before the referee brought the game to an end. Spurs’ Under 21 side now don’t have a game until the 30th of September, when they face Brighton & Hove Albion (away) in the Premier League 2.

My Spurs player of the match – Maxwell McKnight. On his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, the player who has so often played as a winger for the Spurs Under 18 side over the past year had in my opinion an impressive game, firstly at right-back, and then later at left-back, after Will Andiyapan had picked up an injury. Considering that this was his first ever appearance for the Spurs Under 21 side, the talented 17 year old showed fine defensive reading of the game. Maxwell has already made five competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, so far this season. Also, Romaine Mundle was in my opinion Spurs’ best forward during the game, as he showed some really good skill and pace on occasions, impressing whenever he got on the ball.