FA Youth Cup Round 3
               Brisbane Road, Leyton
           Monday 2nd December 2013, 7pm

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

              2(1)               1(0) 

            Luke McGee  1  Joe Fryer
    Kyle Walker-Peters  2  Robbie Tinkler
        Connor Ogilvie  3  Jonathan Helm
           Harry Winks  4  Bryn Morris(C)
Cameron Carter-Vickers  5  Matthew Elsdon
       Filip Lesniak(C) 6  Dael Fry
       Emmanuel Sonupe  7  Callum Cooke
         Joshua Onomah  8  Priestley Griffiths
       Shayon Harrison  9  Bradley Fewster
        William Miller 10  Mark Kitching
          Nathan Oduwa 11  Junior Mondal

    Kane Vincent-Young 12  Thomas McAloon
                           (2)70Mins
        Liam Priestley 13  Aynsley Pears
      Joseph Pritchard 14  Josef Wheatley
      Anthony Georgiou 15  Jordan Jowers
             (7)78Mins     (7)83Mins
     Daniel Akindayini 16  Ross McNab
             (9)81Mins

Scorers:-   
        Ogilvie 28, 70     Morris 84 

Booked:-  
                           Kitching 35(Foul) 

Coach:-    
        J. McDermott       P. Jenkins

Attendance:- 403

Referee:– M. Webb
Assistants:- P. Cruise & C. Burton
Fourth Official:– G. McFarlane

It was a cool evening for Spurs' opening cup match being played at Leyton Orient's ground where a noisy crowd supported the team throughout the game. Middlesbrough are mid-table in the northern group and lost to Spurs at Hotspur Way in August 4-0. The tie was being played early due to the Academy taking part in a tournament in Florida later in the month.

Spurs lined up with Lesniak alongside Carter-Vickers at the back with Walker-Peters on the right and Ogilvie on the left in front of McGee in goal. Winks anchored the midfield trio with Miller and Onomah alongside him. Harrison led the attack with Sonupe on the right and Oduwa on the left.

Spurs defended the North end in the first half and were soon on the attack as Onomah played in Miller for a strike that was saved. Spurs' quick passing game was too good for the visitors as Fryer saved from Onomah when he was put through by Harrison. Winks' drive was blocked by Elsdon who also blocked Harrison's follow up effort.

Fewster was played in for a chance that was saved by McGee but all the action was up the other end. Onomah played in Oduwa for a shot that was saved. When a "Boro" attack broke down, Sonupe received McGee's throw and ran sixty yards down the right flank before putting in a cross for Harrison to test the keeper, winning a corner. Spurs took the lead from a corner when Ogilvie headed in at the near post from Winks' kick.

Oduwa was causing the visitors defence all sorts of problems on the left and when Kitching came back to help out he was booked for a tackle from behind. Onomah fired over, and then had a free kick deflected for a corner. Spurs' superiority had not produced more goals and just before the break Fry headed a corner onto a post to remind them that the game was not won.

Middlesbrough started the second half in a more attacking fashion with Elsdon heading a corner wide and Mondal driving wide. Spurs were still on top with Oduwa firing wide from a Winks pass. Onomah played Winks in for a chance that was saved. McGee saved from Kitching before Onomah played in Harrison who was on target but Fryer saved at the expense of a corner. From the corner Onomah drew a save when it was not cleared.

Fryer saved from Harrison before he was beaten again by Ogilvie. This time it was from a free kick which the defender curled over the wall into the near side. The visitors opened up the game as they looked to put some attacks together and Fewster had a effort saved by McGee.

Miller had a weak effort saved, before Spurs made their first change. Georgiou replaced Sonupe and went to the left side with Oduwa moving to the right. Kitching had an effort fly wide before Georgiou got to the line and whipped in a cross that Oduwa back-heeled wide of the far post. The hard working Harrison was replaced by Akindayini up front. Winks drove the ball in from the edge of the area but Fryer saved and also saved Miller's follow up effort.

Middlesbrough got back into the game when an attack down the left was half cleared by Winks. It fell nicely for Morris 25 yards out to drive low into the right corner of the net past an un-sighted McGee. The goal gave them hope and Morris had another drive saved winning a corner as well as one that flew over. Middlesbrough pushed Elsdon up front as they looked for an unlikely equaliser, but Spurs held out for the win.

This was an easy victory for an in form Spurs. The visitors were out-played for most of the game, which was more one-sided than the scoreline suggests. Spurs Academy now travel to Florida to take part in a tournament in Bradenton while their name goes into the hat for the next round in the New Year.

Ray

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