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Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
Premier U-18 League
Southern Group 2015-16
London Colney, Shenley
Wednesday 23rd September 2015, 11.30am.
ARSENAL v SPURS
(Red/White) (White/Blue)
4-2-3-1 4-2-3-1
5(2) 3(3)
Hugo Keto 1 Thomas McDermott
Charlie Gilmour 2 Christopher Paul(C)
Ilias Chatzitheodoridis 3 Joseph Muscatt
Kostas Pileas 4 Charlie Owens
Josh DaSilva 5 Japhet Tangana
Jordi Osei-Tutu 6 Jaden Brown
Nathan Tella 7 Armani Daly
Marcus Agyei-Tabi 8 Zenon Stylianides
Aaron Eyoma 9 Kazaiah Sterling
Reiss Nelson 10 Marcus Edwards
Yassin Fortune 11 Keenan Bennetts
Phillips 12 George Marsh
(11)70Mins (5)46Mins.
Benson 13 Brandon Austin
Tyrell Robertson 14 Dylan Duncan
(7)49Mins (53Mins)
Eddie Nketiah 15 Samuel Shashoua
(3)46Mins
16 Ryan Loft
(11)66Mins
Scorer:-
Fortune 20 Edwards 4, 24
Nelson (pen) 27 Sterling 7
Robinson 52, 60
Nketiah 90
Coaches:-
F. De Kat K. McKenna
It was a sunny morning but with a chilly wind blowing across the pitch for Spurs' visit to the Arsenal training ground at Shenley. The match was delayed due to the M25 being blocked, but as it is so close I did not get delayed. This was the first time I have been at the ground since they closed the doors on the public. Last season Spurs did the double over their neighbours and arrived here having lost their last game 1-4 to Reading. The home side also lost their last game 1-2 to Fulham. The game was played on the George Armstrong memorial pitch and we were treated to a soaking from the sprinklers before the start.
There were no teamsheets for the game so the home side is appoximately correct as far as I have been able to work through the dis-imformation on their website. Spurs lined up with McDermott in goal behind Tanganga and Brown with Paul at right back and Muscatt on the left. Owens anchored the midfield with Stylianides while Edwards was ahead of them with Daly on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Sterling up front.
Spurs defended the South end in the first half and looked up for the game as they pushed forward quickly getting on top winning an early corner. In the fifth minute Bennetts was played in for a shot that was saved and he turned the rebound back for Edwards to fire home despite defenders trying to block.
We did not have time to relax as Owens laid the ball out to Edwards who sent Daly away on the right and his cross was met by Sterling to score.
The home side began to get into the game with McDermott saving a free kick twenty minutes in. They did score when Tella crossed from the right for Fortune to head in. Edwards hit a free kick over before getting his second goal of the match. Stylianides played a nicely weighted ball through to Sterling who laid it off for Edwards to score.
The "Gunners" responded well with Nelson making a run into the area to win a penalty from Brown's tackle. Nelson took it himself scoring to the right with McDermott unable to reach it. McDermott had to make two more saves before half time as the "Gunners" pushed for an equaliser.
Both sides made changes for the second half. The home side replaced both full backs with attacking players while Spurs replaced Tangana with Marsh at the back. Robinson, who was on as left back, got the equaliser when his run down the left beat the off side trap and, with only the keeper to beat, he slotted home. Spurs made a second change as the home side began to get on top with Duncan replacing Daly in midfield pushing Edwards to the right.
McDermott saved diving to his right and was up quickly to save when Fortune fired in the rebound. Robinson collected a clearance from a corner and drove the ball through the crowd of players coming out to score his second. Fortune had a couple of efforts fly over the bar as they got on top before he had to be replaced. Loft came on for Bennetts with Sterling moving to the left in an effort to get back into the game. Spurs had few chances in the half with Sterling bringing a save from the keeper. The home side had an effort go over before, in the last minute, Nketiah got through the middle to beat McDermott one on one to seal the points.
Spurs started well, moving the ball quickly and opening up the "Gunners"' defence and should have had more attempts at goal. As the home side became stronger Spurs tried to take more time than they had to move the ball and under pressure the passing accuracy declined allowing pressure to build on the defence. Sterling had a good first half but suffered in the second with a lack of service when they reorganised. Sterling still looked full of energy having made his first start for the U-21's on Monday. As this game was brought forward from Saturday the squad have a longer break before they play Chelsea in their next match at home on the 3rd October. This is likely to be another tough test as Chelsa won 4-2 last season
Ray
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