Premier U-18 League, Southern Group 2013-14
            Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
              Saturday 3rd May 2014, 12 noon

               SPURS     v     SOUTHAMPTON
           ( White/Blue)       (Red/White)
               4-3-3              4-5-1

                2(0)               2(1) 

             Harry Voss  1  Christopher Johns
Channing Campbell-Young  2  Colm Deasy
         Joseph Muscatt  3  Joshua Debayo
              Luke Amos  4  Armani Little
      Christian Maghoma  5  Ollie Cook
 Cameron Carter-Vickers  6  Kyle Clinton
        Emmanuel Sonupe  7  Dan Demkiv
      Zenon Stylianides  8  Niall Mason
      Daniel Akindayini  9  Ryan Seager
      William Miller(C) 10  Jack Hesketh
            Armani Daly 11  Marcus Barnes

          Charlie Owens 12  Chris Regis
              (8)62Mins     (7)56Mins
         Connor Ogilvie 13  James Needle
       Anthony Georgiou 14  Alfie Jones
             (11)56Mins     (6)73Mins
              Ryan Loft 15  Stuart Wilkin
              (9)56Mins     (11)73Mins

Scorers:- 
         Georgiou 83        Barnes 11
         Miller 90+3        Hesketh 87

Booked:-  
                            Deasy 81(Holding)

Coaches:-
         K. McKenna         J. Dodd

Ref:– A. Lewis

It was a bright sunny morning if a little chilly for this Academy game at Hotspur Way. The visitors Southampton sit mid-table and were beaten 2-0 in the away fixture back in August when Akindayini got the second. Neither side had many players from that game today and in fact Spurs gave a first start to Stylianides and Daly and a debut to Owens from the bench.

Spurs lined up with Voss behind Maghoma and Carter-Vickers with Campbell-Young at right back and Muscatt on the left. Amos anchored the midfield with Miller and Stylianides. Akindayini led the line with Sonupe on his right and Daly on his left. A new name on the bench in the form of Charlie Owens joined Loft.

Spurs defended the east end in the first half which saw few chances. Demkiv fired over early on before Johns saved from Akindayini with Sonupe mis-hitting the follow up. Voss saved from a Clinton header before Akindayini drew a save which was ruled off side.

The visitors scored when Mason crossed the ball for Barnes to drive in from the left. Spurs struggled to control the midfield as the "Saints" defended strongly. Seager hit the crossbar from a free kick before Barnes drew a save from Voss. In the closing minutes of the half Akindayini ran onto a through ball into the area where he was caught by a tackle from Clinton which the ref ruled a foul, awarding Spurs a penalty. Jones guessed right and saved diving to his left. Sonupe hit the ball wide following up.

There were no changes for the second half which saw Spurs' passing game begin to click. Sonupe made a great run from halfway to the edge of the area when the ball was deflected to Akindayini on the right. His attempted shot was deflected into the path of Sonupe who cleared the bar from close in.

Spurs made a double change replacing Daly with Georgiou and Akindayini with Loft. They were soon in the action as Georgiou cut inside and his shot was deflected to Loft who fired over. . Owens came on for Stylianides as Spurs began to pressure Southampton attacking down both flanks.

The "Saints" pulled players back until they had ten players within 20 yards of their goal and began to waste time. Miller crossed for Loft to head wide at the far post. A long ball from Debayo freed Seager for a strike at goal that Voss did well to save at the expense of a corner. Hesketh drew a save with another break and Seager was wide before Sonupe got down the right and crossed for Loft to turn wide.

Deasy was booked when Georgiou nutmegged him and he pulled him back. Johns saved a free kick by Miller as Spurs pressed. Sonupe cut in from the right to shoot. Johns saved but the ball fell nicely for Georgiou to claim the equaliser.

Southampton came out of their shell with Deasy crossing for Seager to drive wide. Seager came in from the right to pass to Hesketh who turned and drove the ball in off the left post to put them in front again. This time they did not pull everybody back and sought to see out the game. Deep in added time Spurs attacked down the right with Campbell-Young passing to Sonupe whose cross was half cleared to Miller who fired home Spurs' second equaliser. There was just time for the game to restart before the final whistle which showed how close Southampton were to winning.

Spurs did well with the inexperienced players to get the draw. Southampton have to think that the equaliser came in time added on for their time-wasting. The young players did alright and the experience will do them good for next season when we will see more of them.

Spurs' last group game is on Tuesday when Aston Villa will be the visitors for a game that kicks off at 5pm. They then go to Goodison for the play-off game on the 11th. The reason it is not at White Hart Lane is that they could not find a free date in the time available. I am annoyed that the game is on Sunday as Spurs play Villa at home on the last day of the Premier League season.

Ray

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