FA Youth Cup Round 3
    Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage
         Monday 2nd December 2019, 7pm 

            SPURS     v    LIVERPOOL
         (White/Blue)      (All Red)
           4-1-4-1           4-3-3

             4(2)             2(1)

 Thimothee Lo-Tutala  1  Harvey Davies
        Dermi Lusala  2  Conor Bradley
       Dennis Cirkin  3  Owen Beck
        Harvey White  4  Ki-Jana Hoever
     Malachi Walcott  5  Remi Savage
          Luis Binks  6  Leighton Clarkson
  Tarrelle Whittaker  7  Tom Hill
        Kallum Cesay  8  Jake Cain
      Troy Parrott(C) 9  Layton Stewart
          Max Robson 10  Fidel O'Rourke(C)
      J'Neil Bennett 11  James Norris

        Enoch Asante 12  Jack Barnes
          (10)85Mins     (10)65Mins
   Kacper Kurylowicz 13
         Chay Cooper 14  James Balagizi
           (7)69Mins     (9)79Mins
        Marques Muir 15  Tyler Morton
                         (6)85Mins
     Rafferty Pedder 16
           (8)69Mins
      Romaine Mundle 17
         Yago Alonso 18

Scorers:-
Parrott (2 pens)17, 30 Bradley 44
Robson 75                     Stewart 62
Cooper 76 

Booked:-
Cesay 39(Push)            Cain 41(Late)
Lusala 84(Time)           Clarkson 69(Foul)
Binks 86(KBA)             Hill 90+4(UGC)
Bennett 88(KBA)
Parrott 90+4(UGC)

Coach:-
       Matthew Taylor     Barry Lewtas

Attendance:- 865

Referee:– Daniel Simpson
Assistants:– T. Healy & C. Griffin
Fourth Official:– T. Cartwright 

It was a cold evening as temperatures dropped to freezing at Stevenage for the third round of this season's FA Youth Cup competition when the big clubs enter the fray. Tottenham were drawn at home to the Cup winners who beat Manchester City last season in a penalty shoot-out. Last season Spurs lost in the fourth round away to Arsenal having taken a 2-0 lead before succumbing 5-2 in extra time.

Spurs lined up with most of the players that had that narrow 1-0 win over Olympiacos last week. Lo-Tutala was in goal behind Walcott and Binks with Lusala at right back and Cirkin on the left. White anchored the midfield with Robson and Cesay ahead of him. They were flanked by Whittaker on the right and Bennett on the left in support of Parrott (wearing the captain's armband) up front. I had expected Liverpool would also have a lot of the players from their 7-0 win over Napoli but it was mainly the subs from that game and they also had a very short bench.

Spurs defended the North end in the first half which saw both sides getting forward quickly. Stewart fired wide and Hill shot over in the opening minutes before Lusala played in White to fire over for a corner. Walcott headed over from that corner, and this was all inside the first five minutes. Bennett had the ball in the net at the far post from Robson's cross but it was ruled out for offside. Robson fired wide from a Whittaker cross as the pace remained high.

A mis-understanding between Binks and Lo-Tutala almost cost Spurs before Lo-Tutala saved twice from Hill. Whittaker sent Parrott away behind the Liverpool back line and Davies came out to clatter into the Spurs striker to concede a penalty. Parrott took the spot kick beating Davies to his left.

Binks headed wide from a corner before Parrott won another penalty. He robbed Hoever of the ball for a one-on-one with the keeper who came out quickly and fouled him again. This time Parrott hit the spot kick high to the keeper's right for his and Spurs second goal.

Lusala was the first player to go into the referee's book for a push. He was followed shortly after by Cain for a late tackle on White who was lucky not to get a second later for the same offence. When White went down again the referee waved play-on and Liverpool took full advantatage with Norris getting down the left, pulling the ball back for the advancing Bradley to score from 20 yards. In the last minute of the half Robson headed wide from Bennett's cross.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Liverpool push forward in search of the equaliser. Hill headed straight at Lo-Tutala from a Norris cross before the visitors got their second goal. A corner was half cleared to the right where Bradley crossed to the far post for the unmarked Stewart to fire in across the keeper.

The "Reds" were on top and pressing for a third, with Cain picking up a booking for stopping Parrott from breaking out. Spurs made a double change to get back in the game. Pedder replaced Cesay in the middle and Cooper took over from Whittaker on the right flank.

Cirkin made a driving run through the centre bringing a save from Davies, diving to his left. Cooper hit a follow-up shot over the bar. Pedder won the ball on the left to send Bennett away and his cross was headed in by Robson attacking the near post. Following the re-start Parrott won the ball off Hoever. Cooper took over possession and drove forward to score in the right corner. After two goals in a minute the game had turned again in Spurs' favour.

Liverpool kept trying to put pressure on Spurs with Balagizi replacing Stewart and Morton on for the injured Clarkson while Spurs looked to see out the game. The referee booked Lusala for time wasting at a throw-in before Spurs replaced Robson with Asante. Binks and Bennett were booked for kicking the ball away as the ref was having no nonsense.

Balagizi fired wide for a corner. Parrott went down due to a knee in his back that saw Hill have a go at him. This led to a melee and both players were booked. There was still time for Cooper to draw a save before the final whistle.

This had been a great contest between two attacking sides with the advantage shifting from one side to the other during the ninety minutes. Spurs' all round performance was good in all areas of the field from the back four to the front man. The number of bookings wrongly give the idea that it was a dirty game but it was an entertaining match that kept the crowd warm on a cold night. Spurs will play either Wigan or Croydon away in the next round that will be played in January.

Ray

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