Premier U-18 Southern League, 2016-17
             Belvoir Park, Leicester
        Saturday 15th October 2016, 11.30am.

            LEICESTER   v     SPURS
            (All Blue)     (All Yellow)
             4-2-3-1         4-2-3-1

               0(0)            2(0)

Spurs Team:– De Bie; Hinds(Lock 79), Tanganga, Dinzeyi, Brown; Oakley-Boothe(C)(Marsh 60),Duncan; Shashoua, Roles, Bennetts; Oteh(Sterling 60)

Unused Subs:- Freeman; Reynolds

Scorers:– Tanganga 90+5, Bennetts 90+7

Booked:– Sterling 90+1(Dissent)

Leicester City team unknown

Spurs travelled to Leicester after the International break to resume their league programme. The home side lost their last game to bottom club Swansea while Spurs lost the derby game against the Arsenal. In fact neither sides had won in the last four games so it was vital for both sides to get a result. Last season the game ended 1-1 with Duncan scoring in the 84th minute and Leicester equalising a minute later.

Spurs lined up with keeper Jonathan De Bie making his first appearance behind Tanganga and Dinzeyi with Hinds at right back and Brown on the left. Oakley-Boothe was given the captain's armband and anchored the midfield with Duncan, while Roles was ahead of them flanked by Shashoua on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Oteh up front.

Spurs defended the West end in the first half which saw the home side quickest out of the blocks forcing new keeper De Bie to save from the "Foxes"' winger at the expense of a corner. The winger had another attempt with a header that was wide before Spurs had their first chance when Shashoua drew a save. Shashoua then set up Duncan for an effort that went over the bar.

After Leicester had another chance fly wide Brown got down the left and cut inside before his shot was saved and he put the rebound wide. Oteh played in Bennetts but he fired wide as did Roles when played in by Shashoua.Spurs were now having the better of the game and Oteh had a chance that was saved.Shashoua saw his effort saved with Roles following up to put the ball wide. Hinds combined with Shashoua to get down the right and his pull back was hit by Shashoua to the far post which Oteh diverted into the net. Unfortunately he was offside. Duncan had another effort fly wide just defore the break.

There were no changes for the second half which saw an early effort from a Leicester free kick go wide. Spurs began to get on top with Oteh heading wide. Leicester lost a player to injury following a 50:50 challenge in the centre circle for which Tanganga was penalised.

Dinzeyi headed wide from a corner by Bennetts before Spurs made a double change. Sterling replaced Oteh up front and Marsh took over from Oakley-Boothe in front of the defence. The change took place during a long stoppage for treatment to the Leicester keeper who was caught by Oteh as he cleared a back pass. With no keeper on the bench the "Foxes"' right back went into goal after a long delay.

The home side had another chance fly wide but they were now looking to protect their rookie keeper and wasting time to run the clock down. Spurs continued to press and could have had a penalty when Sterling was pushed over in the area. Shashoua fired over before Spurs made their last change replacing Hinds with Lock.

Sterling laid the ball off for Shashoua but his effort was blocked before Sterling saw his own far post effort hit the post. Sterling drew a save from the keeper and Marsh tried a shot from distance that was easy for the keeper. A minute into added time Sterling was tripped on the edge of the area and after protesting too strongly was booked by the referee. The free kick was hit over by Bennetts.

Sterling won another free kick near the corner flag on the left which was taken by Shashoua and headed home by Tanganga at the far post to break the home side's resistance. Two minutes later and Spurs got a second. Shashoua got into the area but his shot was saved only to fall invitingly for Bennetts to drive in. The final whistle was blown soon after to end the match and also to end Spurs' winless streak.

Spurs made hard work of this win which was sorely needed with a trip on Tuesday to Leverkusen for the U-19 Champions Youth League match. De Bie in goal, and his back four were not troubled much, so both fullbacks were able to get upfield in attack. Duncan was able to stay forward leaving Oakley-Boothe as the holding midfielder in what was more like a 4-1-4-1 formation. Next week Spurs host Chelsea at Hotspur Way having moved up to fifth in the table.

Ray

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