Premier U-18 Southern League 2015-16
            American Express Training Centre, Lancing
               Saturday 31st October 2015, 11.30am.

                   BRIGHTON     v     SPURS
                 (White/Blue)      (All Purple)
                   4-2-3-1           4-2-3-1

                     1(0)              0(0)

Spurs team (4-2-3-1):–
McDermott; Paul, Tangana, Maghoma(C), Brown; Owens(Hayford 69), Roles; Edwards, Duncan(Bennetts 69), Shashoua; Loft(Oteh 76)

Unused Sub:– Whiteman

Booked:– Paul 77(Holding)

Spurs travelled to the South coast to play Brighton on a cool overcast morning. Spurs beat their hosts 5-1 on the opening day of the season at Hotspur Way and recorded a 3-0 win on their visit last season which was Brighton's first in the Premier League. Last week Brighton drew with Fulham while Spurs lost at home to Leicester City.

There were no teamsheets so the home side was unknown apart from a few names picked up later. Spurs included players who had appeared at Aldershot the previous evening in the U-21 side that beat Chelsea. Spurs lined up with McDermott in goal behind Maghoma and Tanganga with Paul at right back and Brown on the left. Owens wearing the No.14 shirt linked up with Roles making his first start in defensive midfield. Duncan, flanked by Edwards on the right and Shashoua on the left, supported Loft up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the North end and soon put the home defence under pressure. They defended well and had the first chance of the game when Mandrou headed a free kick by Cox wide. Shashoua played in Roles for a chance that flew wide. When Loft was fouled in the dee, Edwards took the free kick and curled it over the wall but Sanchez saved diving to his left. The keeper had a good game saving from Duncan and then Loft when he was sent clear by Roles. Sanchez then followed that with a save from Roles.

McDermott saved from Mandrou who also fired wide having got the ball following a mistake by Tangana. Shashoua worked the ball in from the left but saw his effort cleared off the line by Cadman. In the closing minutes of the half Sanchez saved a header from Tangana.

Brighton made one change for the second half which saw Spurs continue to push for the opening goal. Sanchez saved from Loft a minute in. There was a lengthy stop when Cadman was injuried following a Spurs set piece that was punched clear by Sanchez in a crowded box. The defender went off with his arm strapped up. The injury seemed to galvanise the home side who went into tackles harder than before and sought to get forward.

McDermott had to come out and save when a player got clear on the right. Spurs made a double change with Owens being replaced by Hayford and Bennetts coming on for Duncan to play wide on the right. This allowed Edwards to come inside with his dribbling skills.

Sanchez saved from Roles before a quick break saw Sanders hit the cross bar with an effort from the left. The rebound was cleared for a corner which was put over by Mandrou. Spurs' last change saw Oteh replace Loft in attack.

Brighton were getting forward more and Paul was booked for holding before they scored. As with the goal conceded last week it came from a Spurs set piece. This time it was a corner that was cleared upfield and turned defence into attack with Sanders' ball in from the right which was turned in at the far post by Mandrou.

Spurs pushed for an equaliser with Sanchez saving from Shashoua. When Sanchez slipped clearing a ball that fell to Roles, the midfielder mis-hit his attempt to put it into the empty net. Brighton continued to defend strongly picking up a yellow card for a foul on Edwards as they saw out the last ten minutes. Spurs had one chance in that period when a free kick by Roles was blocked for a corner.

Spurs had a lot of possession and chances in the first hour of the game but failed to convert any and paid the price when Brighton opened up in the last third of the game. Spurs created some good approach play but Brighton had a solid defence who tackled hard and had a good keeper behind them. Roles had a good first game but the team could have done with more experience to unlock the defence. They also need to work on how to not concede from their own corners.

Spurs stay in seventh place due to favourable results but are losing ground on those above them. Next week they entertain West Ham at Hotspur Way who beat Fulham today 1-0.

Ray

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