Premier U-18 League 2014-15
                  Hotspur Way, Enfield
            Saturday 27th September 2014, 11am

                 SPURS     v    CHELSEA
            (White/Blue)      (All Blue)
                 4-4-2           4-3-3

                  2(1)            4(0) 

            Thomas Glover  1 Bradley Collins
             Anton Walkes  2 Josh Grant
       Kyle Walker-Peters  3 Fikayo Tomori
                Luke Amos  4 Jake Carter-Salter(C)
        Christian Maghoma  5 Jay Dasilva
   Cameron Carter-Vickers  6 Ruben Sammut
               Lloyd Ross  7 Charlie Wakefield
      Joseph Pritchard(C)  8 Mukhtar Ali 
          Shayon Harrison  9 Tammy Abraham
               Cy Goddard 10 Kyle Scott
         Anthony Georgiou 11 Miro Muheim

           Joseph Muscatt 12
                (2)81Mins
               Harry Voss 13
        Zenon Stylianides 14
           Ismail Azzaoui 15
               (10)69Mins

Scorers:- 
         Amos 25             Abraham 51, 73, 83
         Carter-Vickers 58   Muheim 69

Coaches:- 
         K. McKenna          J. Edwards

Referee:- S. Harris

Spurs entertained the group leaders Chelsea at Hotspur Way as they defended their unbeaten start to the season. Chelsea beat West Brom last week 5-0 while Spurs held Leicester 1-1. It was a warm but overcast morning that got brighter as the game went on. The Chelsea line-up did not list the subs on the teamsheet so I am not able to comment on them.

Spurs lined up with Glover in goal behind Maghoma and Carter-Vickers with Walkes at right back and Walker-Peters on the left. Amos anchored the diamond in midfield with Goddard behind the front pair of Georgiou and Harrison with Ross and Pritchard forming the other points in midfield.

Spurs attacked the West end in the first half and had the better of the early play in a good open game drawing a save in the opening minute and Georgiou firing wide. Pritchard drew a save from Collins having been played in by Harrison. Tomori saw his effort deflected wide for a corner before Pritchard played in Harrison for a chance that he put wide.

Spurs went in front when Georgiou struck the left post with a low drive and Amos put in the rebound. The Blues almost struck back immediately when Muheim got through but fired wide for a corner and Dasilva drew a save from Glover. Harrison was played through but his attempt was blocked by Clarke-Salter as he shaped to shoot. Pritchard's free kick found its way to Harrison who struck the post with his low drive.

Chelsea also found the woodwork when Abraham headed onto the top of the crossbar from a corner. Walker-Peters played in Georgiou for a shot that was saved. Chelsea then hit the post just before the break when Muheim got down the left and hit the near post with his low drive with Sammut firing the rebound wide.

Chelsea replaced their captain at half time and started strongly putting pressure on the Spurs goal. They won a penalty when Amos caught Scott as he drove into the area. Glover saved the spot kick taken by Abraham diving to his left for a corner.

Abraham did score three minutes later heading home Dasilva's cross at the near post. Spurs made their first change with Stylianides replacing Ross in midfield. Georgiou played in Pritchard to fire wide before Walkes headed into the side netting at the far post from a Pritchard free kick before Spurs regained the lead. This time it was Harrison taking a free kick from the right that Carter-Vickers headed home.

Collins then made a double save when first he saved from Georgiou and then from Stylianides who volleyed in the rebound from the edge of the area. Georgiou drew another save from Collins before the keeper had to go off having had treatment earlier after a challenge from Pritchard.

Chelsea drew level for the second time when Muheim drove in from the edge of the area. Spurs then made their second change replacing Goddard with Azzaoui and going to 4-3-3. Georgiou saw his deflected shot saved before Chelsea took the lead. Grant got down the right and crossed for Abraham to head home.

Muscatt came on for Walkes going to left back with Walker-Peters moving to the right. Chelsea made sure of the game when Maghoma lost the ball and Abraham was able to get past Carter-Vickers and round Glover to complete his hat-trick. On 90 minutes Spurs had the last chance when a short corner to Muscatt was centred to the head of Carter-Vickers but the sub keeper saved. The visitors played out the four minutes of added time to take the points.

Spurs started the game well outplaying Chelsea in midfield using a diamond formation which the visitors countered in the second half. Spurs went to 4-3-3 which allowed the visitors more space in midfield. Both sides played quick attacking football on the deck in an open game that swung from end to end. Chelsea were the better side in the second half scoring all their goals while Spurs will be unhappy at missing a couple of good chances.

Next week the Academy go to Aston Villa hoping to get back into winning ways. Villa did not play today having lost last week 3-0 at Brighton. Last season Spurs got a 2-2 draw at Bodymoor Heath with goals from Goddard and Harrison.

Ray

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