Premier U-18 League, South 2019-20
      Landore Training Centre, Swansea
       Saturday 31st August 2019, 11am

          SWANSEA     v     SPURS
        (All White)       (All Blue)
          4-4-1-1          4-1-4-1

            0(0)             4(0)

         Lewis Webb   1  Kacper Kurylowicz
   Panashe Makokowe   2  Kallum Cesay
        Jacob Jones   3  Dermi Lusala
        Erick Kenko   4  Michael Craig
       Ben Erickson   5  Matthew Craig
        Scot Butler   6  Luis Binks(C)
    William Rickard   7  Chay Cooper
       Ryan Bevan(C)  8  Max Robson
      Ali Al-Hamadi   9  Kion Etete
        Adnaan Moti  10  Rafferty Pedder
   Bradley Gibbings  11  Tarrelle Whittaker

        Luke Motruk  12  Enock Asante
          (3)66Mins      (9)66Mins
        Tyler Evans  13  Thimothee Lo-Tutala
      Morgan Clarke  14  Romaine Mundle
          (3)66Mins      (11)74Mins
      Luke McKendry  15  Marques Muir
                         (8)74Mins
      Conor Shields  16 
         (10)78Mins

Scorers:-
                         Cooper 48
                         Etete  60 (pen)
                         Butler 70 (o.g.)
                         Asante 90

Booked:-
                         Matthrew Craig 51(Late)

Coaches:-
      Anthony Wright     Matthew Taylor

Referee:– James Cox
Assistants:– Graham Pugh & Haydyn Lavender 

Spurs travelled to South Wales on a rainy morning looking to build on last week's first win of the season against Norwich while Swansea drew 3-3 at Villa. Last season Spurs won 5-1 after conceding in the first minute. That match produced six bookings which saw Rickard sent off before J'Neil Bennett completed his hat trick. On this occasion it was annoying that the U-16's were playing on the next pitch which meant that if I lost sight of the ball I found myself picking up the play on the other pitch.

Spurs lined up with Kurylowicz in goal behind Matthew Craig and Binks with Cesay at right back and Lusala on the left. Michael Craig anchored the midfield with Robson and Pedder ahead of him. They were flanked by Cooper on the right and Whittaker on the left in support of Etete up front. There was a short bench with keeper Lo-Tutala playing for the U-16 side in the first half.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the North end but found a well organised Swansea defence in their way. While defending in depth they still broke forward to threaten the Spurs goal. Ali-Hamadi fired wide before drawing a save from Kurylowicz at his near post winning a corner. From the corner Butler headed wide. Moti fired over before Spurs had an effort over the bar by Pedder. Spurs second chance was a header by Etete from a cross by Cooper before the break which showed how well the home defence dominated.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw an early break by the "Swans". Ali-Hamadi had the ball in the net, but the "goal" was disallowed. Before the home side could recover, Spurs attacked down the left with Etete squaring for Cooper at the far post to score.

Matthew Craig was booked stopping another break by Rickard before Spurs got a second. When a corner was not cleared Whittaker got into the area on the left and was brought down by Ali-Hamadi. Etete stepped up to beat Webb from the spot to the keeper's right.

Pedder played in Etete to draw a save winning a corner. Swansea now had to come out of their defensive shell making changes with Spurs replacing Etete up front with Asante. Spurs were now able to get forward with their passing play and Cooper had an effort blocked for a corner. Cooper and Cesay combined on the right before the full back put in a cross for Robson to strike. The ball was deflected off Butler into the net for 3-0.

With the game won, Spurs made their other two changes with Mundle replacing Whittaker and Muir on for Robson. Webb saved from Lusala before Gibbings drew a save from Kurylowicz. Asante had an effort saved and was unlucky to see another effort cleared off the line by Butler after he had robbed Webb. Asante headed over from a ball by Mundle before he finally got his goal. It came after Rickard had fired over for the home side. Asante headed home from a centre by Muir in the last minute for a 4-0 win.

Spurs had plenty of possession throughout the game but Swansea defended very well in the first half. Once Spurs went in front and got the penalty the hosts had to change which opened the game up to Spurs' advantage. Spurs go into a busy September in fourth place with the next game being West Ham at home after the international break.

Ray

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