Spurs’ Under 23 side traveled to the Cobham Training Centre to face a strong Chelsea side which included Trevor Chalobah and Malang Sarr, in their final Premier League 2 fixture of the 2021/22 season. Spurs lost the match, with Chelsea scoring two goals late on in the second half, to make sure that they avoided relegation to the Second Division of the Premier League 2. Spurs lined-up with Thimothée Lo-Tutala in goal, while Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Dermi Lusala started in defence. Spurs’ captain Jamie Bowden and Nile John started in midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Kion Etete would lead the line for Spurs, who got the match underway on a nice day at the Cobham Training Centre. Early on in the match Malachi Fagan-Walcott made an important and good challenge on Harvey Vale. Then a couple of minute later Yago Santiago had a cross from the left flank pushed away by Chelsea goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom, just before Romaine Mundle won a free-kick on the edge of the Chelsea box. However, his resulting effort was blocked by the Chelsea wall. Santiago hit an effort wide after going inside with the ball onto his right foot, from the left flank.

Marqes Muir received an early yellow card for a challenge on Harvey Vale, before Spurs managed to create a good chance. Yago Santiago managed to win the ball off of Trevor Chalobah, he then passed the ball to Kion Etete, who gave the ball to Romaine Mundle on the right side of the Chelsea box, but his effort was blocked well by Malang Sarr. After Mundle managed to get onto the ball following a pass from Malang Sarr, he passed the ball to Alfie Devine inside the Chelsea box, but Devine’s effort was blocked. Thimothée Lo-Tutala saved Thierno Ballo’s low effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area, before Marqes Muir did well to block Thierno Ballo’s effort inside the Spurs box. Malachi Fagan-Walcott had a header saved by Bergstrom, from a Bowden cross, before Jamie Bowden received a yellow card, with the referee then sounding his whistle for half-time. Chelsea got the second half underway. A good Spurs move saw Mundle pass the ball to Devine on the right side of the Chelsea box, and the midfielder then crossed the ball for Kion Etete at the back post, but his effort was deflected behind off a Chelsea player.

Spurs took the lead in the 57th minute of the game, through Kion Etete. Jamie Bowden’s corner-kick was met by Kion Etete at Luca Bergstrom’s back post, and Etete was able to head the ball towards the centre of the goal, with it already having crossed the line when Xavier Simons headed it into the roof of the goal, 1-0. After going on a great run with the ball, Romaine Mundle had an effort from the edge of the Chelsea penalty area saved. Then J’Neil Bennett replaced Alfie Devine, who had picked up an injury. Mason Burstow came very close to meeting a cross into the box, a couple of yards out from the Spurs goal. Nile John hit an effort over from the right side of the Chelsea box, before Kallum Cesay received a yellow card. Max Robson then replaced Nile John, who seemed to have picked up an injury. After going past Dermi Lusala with the ball on the left side of the Spurs box, Lewis Hall squared the ball for Dion Rankine to tap home from close range, 1-1. Max Rosbson received a yellow card just before the game got started again.

Lo-Tutala was able to save Harvey Vale’s curling effort, before Chelsea took the lead for the first time in the game. After receiving a pass from Xavier Simons on the right side of the Spurs box, Mason Burstow hit a deflected effort on goal via a deflection off of Fagan-Walcott, which Lo-Tutala was able to save, but not gather. As Joe Haigh was able to tap the ball into the goal, 1-2. Maksim Paskotši replaced Marqes Muir, in what was Spurs’ final change of the game. Malachi Fagan-Walcott sent a looping header just wide of the Chelsea goal, after meeting Jamie Bowden’s free-kick inside the Chelsea box. Trevor Chalobah then made a challenge on Max Robson inside the Chelsea box, which Robson was adamant should have been a penalty for Spurs. Mason Burstow’s effort from the right side of the Spurs box was saved by Lo-Tutala, before Spurs managed to create one last good chance. Romaine Mundle’s cross to Kion Etete inside the Chelsea box, was headed down by the centre-forward to Santiago, who then passed the ball to Jamie Bowden on the edge of the Chelsea box, but his effort went over the goal. The referee sounded his final whistle a couple of minutes later, to bring Spurs’ Premier League 2 season to an end.

Player reviews:

• Thimothée Lo-Tutala: The Spurs goalkeeper made some good saves, but it was how he commanded his box and came rushing out his goal to clear the ball on occasions, which impressed me the most today. 
• Kallum Cesay: The right-back defended well, but he also showed some good skill on the ball.
• Marqes Muir: I was impressed once again with how the first year professional defended, during the game today. Marqes made a good block in the first half, but he was at times very clever in how he defended against a good Chelsea side.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: My man of the match, see below.
• Dermi Lusala: The left-back often stayed deep, but he did get forward well on occasions.
• Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain made some good passes and took some good set-pieces today. He was creative with the ball, but he also read the game well.
• Nile John: The midfielder was tidy on the ball, and he supported the forwards well, before unfortunately having to be substituted.
• Romaine Mundle: Very inventive with the ball during the first half, Romaine Mundle went on some good runs with the ball down the right flank.
• Alfie Devine: The Spurs CAM made some good passes during his time on the pitch and worked well with the forwards. However, he unfortunately had to be substituted because of injury.
• Yago Santiago: On his 27th competitive appearance of the season for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side, Yago Santiago started the Chelsea match as a winger on the left flank. He would later move to the CAM position after Alfie Devine was substituted.
• Kion Etete: The centre-forward made his first competitive appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 23 side on Sunday, after returning from loan club Cheltenham Town. The 20 year old would lead the line well against Chelsea, score a good headed goal and he also held the ball up well.
• J’Neil Bennett: The second half substitute went out to the left flank, where he played as a winger.
• Max Robson: The second half substitute went on a good run with the ball down the left flank, into the Chelsea penalty area, and he was adamant that Trevor Chalobah had fouled him, and that he should have had a penalty. 
• Maksim Paskotši: The late substitute replaced Marqes Muir on the right side of central defence.

My man of the match: Malachi Fagan-Walcott. Starting the match as a left sided centre-half, 20 year old defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott was in my opinion very good defensively against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. The defender read the game so well, made some really good challenges and he didn’t deserve to be on the losing side today. He was excellent.

Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Arsenal to Hotspur Way on Saturday morning, for their final Premier League South fixture of the 2021/22 season. Spurs lost the north London derby 5-0, in what was a disappointing end to the season, with Arsenal the much better side on the day. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, while a back four of Maxwell McKnight, Will Andiyapan, Alfie Dorrington and Jahziah Linton started in front of him. George Abbott and Dante Cassanova started in midfield, as Thomas Bloxham and Billy Heaps started out on the flanks, either side of CAM and Spurs captain Jamie Donley. Jaden Williams would lead the line for Spurs. Arsenal got the match underway. Early on in the match Mauro Bandeira hit an effort which deflected just wide of the Spurs goal. Then from the following corner-kick which was delivered by Bandeira, Alfie Dorrington tried to clear the ball, but it came to James Sweet inside the Spurs box, and he was able to finish past Maguire, 0-1. Aaron Maguire saved a deflected effort soon after the goal, and then against the run of play Spurs were awarded a penalty kick, after Henry Jeffcott handled Maxwell McKnight’s cross inside the Arsenal penalty area. However, Jamie Donley’s resulting penalty kick was saved low down by Remy Mitchell.

Rio Kyerematen replaced the injured Thomas Bloxham in what was Spurs’ first change of the game, before Jamie Donley had an effort blocked inside the Arsenal box. Jack Henry-Francis volleyed over Mauro Bandeira’s cross, before Arsenal doubled their lead. As Jack Henry-Francis volleyed James Sweet’s cross into the bottom right corner of the Spurs goal, 0-2. Amario Cozier-Duberry hit an effort into the side-netting of Maguire’s goal, from the left side of the Spurs box. After that chance Alfie Dorrington made a really good challenge on James Sweet inside the Spurs box. Arsenal made it 3-0 on 31 minutes, after Mauro Bandeira received a pass from Jack Henry-Francis inside the Spurs box, the midfielder went past Jahziah Linton with the ball, before hitting the ball into the goal, via a deflection off of Alfie Dorrington, 0-3. Billy Heaps hit an effort into the side-netting of the Arsenal goal from the left side of their box, before Charles JR Sagoe saw his deflected effort go over Aaron Maguire’s goal. Dorrington then made an important block from Charles JR Sagoe’s effort inside the Spurs box.

Maguire saved Mauro Bandeira’s effort from distance, before Dorrington blocked an effort from the same player soon after. Mauro Bandeira had an effort from the right side of the Spurs box saved by Maguire, just before Charles JR Sagoe headed Mauro Bandeira’s cross wide of the Spurs goal, in what was the final chance of the half. Spurs got the second half underway, with Riley Owen replacing Dante Cassanova at half-time. Bradley Ibrahim curled an effort just over Aaron Maguire’s goal, just before Maguire had saved Jack Henry-Francis’ effort with his feet inside the Spurs box, before then saving Charles JR Sagoe’s resulting effort. Bradley Ibrahim hit a low effort wide of the Spurs goal, and a couple of minutes later Maxwell McKnight did well to block Jack Henry-Francis’ volleyed effort at the back post of Aaron Maguire’s goal. A clearance from the Spurs goalkeeper then rebounded off of Charles JR Sagoe, but Will Andiyapan was able to clear the ball on the line, just in time. After going inside with the ball from the left side of the pitch, Amario Cozier-Duberry had an effort saved by Aaron Maguire. Then at the other end of the pitch Jamie Donley had a headed effort saved from a Riley Owen cross. 

Arsenal extended their lead after Jack Henry-Francis met Mauro Bandeira’s low cross inside the Spurs box, and his effort was blocked on the line by George Abbott, with the ball then looping up, and Alfie Dorrington was unfortunate not to be able to clear it for a second time, as it crossed the line, 0-4. Archie Chaplin replaced Jahziah Linton, before George Abbott hit an effort from the edge of the Arsenal box.  Charles JR Sagoe’s low effort inside the Spurs box was saved by Maguire, just before Arsenal got their fifth goal of the game. Ismail M’Hand managed to win the ball off of Archie Chaplin, before bringing the ball into the Spurs box, and finishing well past Aaron Maguire, at his near post, 0-5. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time a couple of minutes later. The season may now have finished for the Spurs Under 18 side, but the end of season Terborg Tournament in The Netherlands starts on the 27th of May, and I imagine that a number of players from Stuart Lewis’ side will travel to that tournament.

My Spurs player of the match: Aaron Maguire. Although centre-half Alfie Dorrington  made some really good challenges and blocks, as well as bringing the ball out well from the back, I thought that Spurs’ goalkeeper Aaron Maguire was Spurs’ best player against Arsenal. The second year scholar made a number of impressive saves to keep the score down to 5-0. Maguire has impressed every time that I have seen him play for Spurs this season. 

Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Brighton & Hove Albion in a Premier League South fixture on Tuesday afternoon, at The Amex Elite Football Performance Centre, in Lancing. Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side recorded a 3-3 draw with Brighton, in what was a brilliant game of football. Spurs lined-up with Adam Hayton in goal, while Maxwell McKnight, Will Andiyapan, Alfie Dorrington and Jahziah Linton started in defence. George Abbott and Dante Cassanova started in midfield, as Jaden Williams and Billy Heaps started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Rio Kyerematen. Spurs’ captain Jamie Donley led the line. Brighton got the game underway. After going inside with the ball from the right flank, Benicio Baker-Boaitey hit an effort over the Spurs goal. Will Andiyapan then managed to block Jack Hinshelwood’s effort inside the Spurs box, before Marcus Ifill managed to latch onto a loose pass in midfield and then went forward with the ball, before giving it to Zak Emmerson inside the Spurs box. However, Adam Hayton came off his line to close down Emmerson’s angles, before making a good save.

Benicio Baker-Boaitey hit the post after volleying a cross on the edge of the Spurs box, before Brighton took the lead. Baker-Boaitey was able to make a through-ball pass to Emmerson in the centre of the Spurs box, and the former Oldham Athletic player was able to finish low past Hayton, who did manage to get a hand the ball, before it went in off one of the posts, 0-1. Dante Cassanova hit the Brighton wall from a free-kick effort, and then the alert Adam Hayton came rushing out of his goal to clear away Samy Chouchane’s forward pass. Hayton then managed to stop Marcus Ifill’s low effort from going into the goal, before then saving Zak Emmerson’s effort on the turn, inside the Spurs box. Benicio Baker-Boaitey hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, after going inside with the ball. A couple of minutes later Leigh Kavanagh deflected Dante Cassanova’s effort from the edge of the Brighton box, onto the crossbar. Jamie Donley had an effort blocked, with Rio Kyerematen then hitting a low effort wide, after meeting George Abbott’s pass inside the Brighton box.

Zak Emmerson headed wide Casper Nilsson’s cross, with Spurs then going forward with the ball. Rio Kyerematen headed the ball to Donley, who had an effort saved by Hugo Fisher in the Brighton goal. Abbott hit an effort wide from a Spurs corner-kick, just before Spurs got an equaliser. A good Spurs move ended with Abbott passing the ball to Billy Heaps on the left side of the Brighton box, and the first year scholar curled a good effort into the goal off of Hugo Fisher’s left hand post, 1-1. Alfie Dorrington then received a yellow card, just before Jaden Williams had an effort blocked inside the Brighton box. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after. Spurs got the second half underway. The second half got of off to a brilliant start for Spurs, after Jamie Donley curled in a free-kick effort from the edge of the Brighton box, into the top right hand corner of Hugo Fisher’s goal, 2-1. However, Brighton soon equalised, after Maxwell McKnight lost the ball on the edge of the Spurs box to Marcus Ifill, who went down the left side of the Spurs box before hitting the ball into the goal, off of Hayton’s left hand post, 2-2.

After going inside with the ball from the left flank, Billy Heaps had an effort saved. Then Jamie Donley had an effort blocked on the edge of the Brighton box, before Marcus Ifill hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal from the left flank. Cassanova blocked Zak Emmerson’s effort, as the match continued to be lively. Donley curled over a free kick, just before Billy Heaps made a brilliant forward pass to Donley, inside the Brighton box. However, his low effort was saved by the feet of Hugo Fisher. George Abbott then had an effort blocked, before Thomas Bloxham came on to replace Dante Cassanova. Joshua Duffus had an effort saved by Adam Hayton, with Billy Heaps then having an effort blocked at the other end of the pitch. Jamie Donley received a yellow card, before Rio Kyerematen received a pass from Donley inside the centre of the Brighton box. However, his initial effort was saved by Hugo Fisher, with his second effort being blocked by a defender. Billy Heaps had a free-kick effort blocked, and then shortly after that chance, Brighton took the lead.

Zak Emmerson’s good effort from the left side of the Spurs box, deflected past Maxwell McKnight and past Adam Hayton in the Spurs goal, 2-3. However, in the 90th minute of the match Spurs were able to draw level once again. A really good lofted forward pass from Billy Heaps to Jamie Donley inside the centre of the Brighton box, saw Donley bring the ball down, before finishing well past Hugo Fisher, 3-3. Alfie Dorrington headed over Billy Heaps’ free-kick at the back post, inside the Brighton box, just before the referee sounded his final whistle to bring an end to a brilliant game of football. Spurs’ final Premier League South match of the season is a home north London derby against Arsenal at Hotspur Way, on Saturday.

Player reviews:

• Adam Hayton: The Spurs goalkeeper had a good game today, against Brighton. The second year scholar made some very good and important saves, and he also read the game well, as well as communicating well with the defence throughout the match. 
• Maxwell McKnight: The right-back had a lot of defending to do against Brighton, but he did get forward well when he could.
• Will Andiyapan: Starting the match at centre-half, Will Andiyapan had a good game alongside Alfie Dorrington, in my opinion. He did have to defend a lot against the talented Zak Emmerson.
• Alfie Dorrington: Starting the match on the left side of central defence, Alfie Dorrington made some good clearances, and he also supported the forwards whenever he could.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back had a solid and good game defensively, against Brighton on Tuesday.
• George Abbott: The defensive-midfielder had a good all-round game, and the first year scholar provided an assist for Billy Heaps’ goal. He covered a lot of ground in midfield.
• Dante Cassanova: The central midfielder read the game well and got on the ball quite a lot during the match.
• Jaden Williams: Starting the match as a winger on the right flank, forward Jaden Williams was direct, but he also showed some good skill on the ball.
• Rio Kyerematen: Starting the match in the CAM role, Rio Kyerematen went on some forward runs with the ball, and was unlucky not to score from his two chances that he had during the second half.
• Billy Heaps: My man of the match, see below.
• Jamie Donley: The Spurs captain led the line really well and his all-round performance today was very good. He scored two well taken goals, and was unlucky not to score a hat-trick. Donley worked so hard off the ball, as he tracked back to help out defensively.
• Thomas Bloxham: The second half substitute was involved quite a lot in Spurs’ forward play during his time on the pitch.

My man of the match: Billy Heaps. Starting the match as a winger on the left flank, first year scholar Billy Heaps had a very good game against Brighton on Tuesday. The midfielder worked really hard off the ball as he helped out the defence, but it was his reading of the game as well as his excellent passing ability which impressed me the most today. The player from Stevenage created two really good chances for Jamie Donley, as he provided one assist, as well as scoring a well taken first half goal.

Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Brighton & Hove Albion in their final home Premier League 2 match of the 2021/22 season, on Monday afternoon. Wayne Burnett’s side recorded a 0-0 draw with Brighton, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs lined-up with Thimothée Lo-Tutala in goal, while Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Dermi Lusala started in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Nile John started in central midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. Brighton got the match underway. Nile John had an early effort blocked on the edge of the Brighton box, before Spurs’ captain Jamie Bowden hit an effort from the edge of the Brighton penalty area, narrowly over the goal. A good Spurs move followed, as Devine passed the ball to Mundle on the right flank, and he then gave the ball to Yago Santiago, down the right side of the Brighton box. However, the former Celta Vigo player had his resulting effort saved by James Beadle, before the ball was then cleared away.

After receiving Nile John’s pass on the edge of the Brighton box, Romaine Mundle showed some good skill on the ball, before passing the ball to Alfie Devine on the right side of the Brighton penalty area. However, Devine’s powerful effort was tipped behind well by Beadle. Dane Scarlett headed wide from a Jamie Bowden corner-kick, before Santiago had an effort blocked. A long ball forward from a Brighton defender resulted in Lo-Tutala going out of his box to try and clear the ball, but he was unable to, but Malachi Fagan-Walcott was able to get the ball clear in time. Bowden headed an effort wide from Romaine Mundle’s cross, and then shortly after Dermi Lusala saw his deflected effort go wide of the Brighton goal. After receiving the ball on the left side of the Spurs box, Cameron Peupion had a low effort on goal saved by Lo-Tutala. Dane Scarlett just missed being able to meet Romaine Mundle’s cross into the Brighton box, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. 

Spurs got the second half underway. Devine hit an effort over the Brighton goal, before Andy Moran managed to find Odeluga Offiah, on the right side of the Spurs box. However, Offiah’s effort went into the side-netting. Dane Scarlett then hit over Romaine Mundle’s low corner kick, inside the Brighton box. Jamie Bowden then hit a free-kick effort (it took a deflection off of the Brighton wall) onto James Beadle’s crossbar. Santiago then headed Mundle’s resulting corner-kick into the side-netting of the Brighton goal. The alert Marqes Muir managed to block behind Cameron Peupion’s effort from inside the Spurs box, just before Alfie Devine received a yellow card after making a challenge. Spurs’ first changes of the game saw J’Neil Bennett and Maksim Paskotši came on to replace Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Dane Scarlett respectively. After meeting Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick inside the Brighton penalty area, Yago Santiago had a good headed effort brilliantly kept out of the goal by James Beadle, before then heading an effort wide from the resulting corner-kick.

After showing good skill on the ball after going inside from the left flank with the ball, Romaine Mundle had an effort saved by Beadle. Brighton then created a good chance, after Andy Moran passed the ball to Todd Miller on the left side of the Spurs box, but Marqes Muir managed to keep up with him, and after doing well to close down his angles, Miller hit the ball into the side-netting of Lo-Tutala’s goal. Max Robson came on to replace Romaine Mundle, and then a couple of minutes later Cameron Peupion’s curling effort on goal was tipped over well by Lo-Tutala. Ed Turns headed a Brighton corner-kick into the side-netting of the Spurs goal, a couple of minutes later. At the other end of the pitch Maksim Paskotši headed over Yago Santiago’s corner-kick. Jamie Bowden then had an effort blocked, before J’Neil Bennett also had an effort blocked. Bowden made an important challenge on Lorent Tolaj, just before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ final Premier League 2 fixture of the season is away to Chelsea, next Sunday afternoon.

Player reviews:

• Thimothée Lo-Tutala: The Spurs goalkeeper kept his fourth clean-sheet of the season for Spurs’ Under 23 side, on Monday afternoon. Lo-Tutala made two important saves for Spurs on the day.
• Kallum Cesay: The right-back got forward well on occasions during the match.
• Marqes Muir: My man of the match, see below.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: This was a good performance from the centre-half, who during his 66 minutes of the pitch, made one really fine and important challenge. The 20 year old had a good game alongside Marqes Muir.
• Dermi Lusala: The left-back completed the whole of the match, at left-back.
• Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain started the match in the defensive-midfield role, and he managed a good number of goal attempts.
• Nile John: The midfielder started the match in central-midfield, alongside Jamie Bowden, rather than starting the match in the CAM role.
• Romaine Mundle: In my opinion Romaine Mundle was Spurs’ most creative player against Brighton on Monday afternoon. The winger went on some good and skilful runs with the ball, and his set-pieces were good.
• Alfie Devine: He may not have got on the ball as much as he has done in matches this season, but on his return to the Spurs Under 23 side Alfie Devine made a good impression on the game, both with and without the ball.
• Yago Santiago: Starting the match out on the left flank, Yago Santiago managed a good number of goal attempts today, and he was very unlucky not to score a goal.
• Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward returned to the Spurs Under 23 side today, and during his time on the pitch he made some good runs off the ball.
• J’Neil Bennett: The skilful winger went out to the left wing, after replacing Dane Scarlett.
• Maksim Paskotši: The second half substitute went to the left side of central defence.
• Max Robson: The late substitute worked hard off the ball during his time on the pitch. 

My man of the match: Marqes Muir. The right sided centre-half was solid, alert and decisive in how he defended against Brighton on Monday. The Lambeth born first year professional made some good decisions in defence today, and he defended well against the talented Andy Moran. Muir did well to close down Todd Miller’s angles to stop him from scoring a goal inside the Spurs box, and that was just one example of his fine defending and reading of the game, during the match against Brighton.