Premier U-18 League, Merit Group 2, 2016-17
             Finch Farm, Halewood, Liverpool
               Tuesday 9th May 2017, 11am.

                EVERTON     v     SPURS
             (Blue/White)      (All Yellow)
                 4-4-2           4-1-4-1

                  0(0)             3(2)

               Ben Pierce   1  Alfie Whiteman
     Stephen Duke-McKenna   2  Matthew Lock
             Joe Anderson   3  Jaden Brown
           Con Ouzounidis   4  George Marsh(C)
             Nathan Moore   5  Japhat Tanganga
          Michael Collins   6  Moryan Omolabi
          Daniel Bramall(C) 7  Samuel Shashoua
              Liam Morris   8  Tariq Hinds
              Ellis Simms   9  Kazaiah Sterling
               Tom Warren  10  Nicholas Tsaroulla
          Manasse Mampala  11  Keanan Bennetts

               Joe Hilton  12  Jamie Reynolds
                               (9)60Mins
              Ryan Astley  14  Jack Roles
                (9)72Mins
            Bobby Carroll  15  Brandon Austin
                (2)58Mins

Scorers:-
                               Shashoua 25
                               Bennetts 43
                               Tsaroulla 58

Booked:-
                               Tsaroulla 21(Late)

Coaches:-
             Kevin Sheedy      John McDermott

Referee:– Barry Lamb
Assistants:– Darren Brown & Liam Ockleshaw 

Spurs travelled to Finch Farm for the re-arranged Merit group match on a bright but chilly morning, having lost the top of the table clash at Villa on the Saturday. (Merit Group 2)The hosts themselves had lost 2-1 to third placed Norwich in a disappointing group phase where they are bottom.

Spurs made a number of changes from Saturday with Whiteman going in goal behind Omolabi and Tanganga with Lock at right back and Brown on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with full backs Hinds and Tsaroulla ahead in centre midfield flanked by Shashoua on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Sterling up front. Both sides had short benches due to it being a midweek game during school time.

Spurs defended the West end in the first half and took a little time to settle as Everton pressed high and closed down quickly causing a turnover that led to Mampala drawing a save from Whiteman. Spurs gradually got into the game having their first attempt on goal after twenty minutes when Shashoua played in Hinds for a chance that was saved.

Marsh played in Sterling who fired over just before Tsaroulla was shown a yellow card for a foul on Bramell after the wideman got the better of him. A foul on Shashoua gave the Spurs player the chance to score from the free kick which he did by curling the ball over the wall into the near side.

Spurs were now on top pushing the "Toffees" back into their own half. Mampala fired over before Shashoua drove wide. Dogged defending by Everton kept Spurs at bay, pulling players back behind the ball forcing the visitors to shoot from distance. Just before half time Spurs got a second when Tsaroulla hit the inside of the right post from the edge of the area and Bennetts followed up to put the ball into an un-guarded net.

There were no changes at the start of the first half but Everton pushed players forward which created more room at the back for Spurs to exploit with Shashoua driving wide in the first minute. Tsaroulla fired wide and Bennetts drew a save when played in by Brown. Brown himself had a run and shot that was wide. Tsaroulla ran at the defence and exchanged passes with Shashoua before driving low past Pierce in goal for number three.

Both sides made a change with Spurs taking off Sterling for Reynolds who started on the left flank with Bennetts moving into the striker's role. Spurs were now dominating the play with both full backs making runs from deep. Shashoua set up Brown to draw a save before Bennetts' free kick was saved and Lock's run set up Hinds for a chance that was also saved. Bennetts played in Reynolds to draw a save before Moore forced a save from Whiteman advancing from his right back position.

Tsaroulla drew another save while Reynolds fired wide and Lock made another run playing in Shashoua to force another save from the overworked Pierce in the Everton goal. Shashoua intercepted a loose pass but fired wide. The last kick of the game was when Morris fired wide for the home side.

This was another fine performance from Spurs who after a sticky opening spell took control of the game creating numerous chances and giving little away. Both Brown and Lock were good going forward while Shashoua and Tsaroulla also made good weaving runs at the Everton defence. Everton defended strongly in the first half but once they opened up in the second it was all one way traffic which should have seen Spurs get more goals than the one they did manage after the break.

Spurs' last game is on Saturday – the third match in a week – when they play Derby County away. Villa, who are a point ahead of Spurs, will be playing Stoke City at home. If Villa drop points to Stoke and Stoke have drawn four of their six games then a win at Derby will see Spurs finish top of this group.

Ray

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