Premier U-18 League, Southern League 2016-17
                 Bell Lane, London Colney
               Saturday 4th March 2016, 11am.

                  ARSENAL    v     SPURS
                (Red/White)     (White/Blue)
                  4-2-3-1         4-1-4-1

                    1(0)            2(2)

Spurs(4-1-4-1):– Whiteman; Eyoma(C), Dinzeyi, Skipp, Hinds; Oakley-Boothe; Patterson(Omolabi 72), Duncan(Reynolds 80), Roles, Griffiths(Gonzalez-Velasco 85); Sterling

Scorers:– Eyoma 7, Roles 27

Booked:– Marsh 20, Roles 76, Eyoma 90+2

Spurs travelled to Arsenal on a bright morning for their last match in the first phase with nothing to play for but pride. Second placed Arsenal beat Swansea 1-0 in their last game while Spurs lost to Aston Villa 2-1 playing an U-17 side as they were to play Newcastle United two days later in the Youth Cup that they won 5-3. Four of that side played in the U-23 game against Arsenal yesterday so could not play today, but Griffiths and Hinds who were substitutes were in today's starting line-up. Earlier in the season the gooners beat Spurs 4-2 at Hotspur Way.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman in goal behind Dinzeyi and Skipp with Eyoma at right back and Hinds on the left. Oakley-Boothe anchored the midfield with Duncan and Roles ahead of him flanked by Patterson on the right and Griffiths on the left in support of Sterling up front. I waited a couple of hours to get the home side from the Arsenal website, but as they lost they are taking their time to put it up unlike yesterday when it only took them an hour to put up the report of the U-23 game.

Spurs defended the South end with the wind behind them in the first half and more than matched their opponents. They took an early lead when Eyoma headed home a free kick by Patterson from the left. Hinds' cross was hit wide by Roles before Whiteman had to make his first save. Dasilva drew a save before he was the first player booked. Spurs increased their lead when Patterson got down the right and put in a cross with Roles arriving late to head in. Arsenal had one more chance before the break which Whiteman saved.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw the home side step up with the wind behind them. The game became end to end as the gooners pushed forward and Spurs found more space to attack. Both Arsenal wide men got through to draw saves from Whiteman while Duncan saw his curling effort cleared off the line. With the Spurs defence wobbling but holding, Dasilva resorted to hitting an effort from distance which caught out Spurs ending in the far corner of the net.

With Arsenal seeking to keep the pressure on Spurs their left back hit Patterson late to go into the ref's book. The tackle led to the end of the game for the Spurs wideman who was replaced by Omolabi. Roles was next to be booked for a foul. Hinds played in Griffiths for a chance that was saved before Duncan was replaced by Reynolds in midfield. With the game becoming more stretched Spurs sent on Gonzalez-Velasco in place of Griffiths.

The home side lost their composure with passes going astray allowing Spurs to pick them off. Roles drew a save before firing a free kick wide. Gonzalez-Velasco was played in on the right but took a touch that allowed Olowu to tackle him. With Spurs running the clock down Eyoma was booked for a foul but Spurs finished winners.

It is always good to beat Arsenal and Spurs played well in doing so. They withstood great second half pressure from the hosts to break them in the end. Spurs finished in seventh position and go into group 2 in the second phase where they will play Fulham, Aston Villa and Norwich City again along with Everton, Derby, Middlesborough and Stoke City from the Northern League. They will play each other once with Spurs playing four of those teams away.

Ray.

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