Premier U-18 League Cup, Semi-Final 2017-18
       Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
       Saturday 17th February 2018, 11am

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

              4(1)             1(1)

    Jonathan De Bie(C) 1  Joao Virginia
         Tariq Hinds   2  Zak Swanson
      Jamie Reynolds   3  Dominic Thompson(C)
        Jamie Bowden   4  Matthew Smith
Brooklyn Lyons-Foster  5  Joseph Olowu
        Oliver Skipp   6  Harrison Clarke
      Rodel Richards   7  James Olayinka
       Paris Maghoma   8  Josh Benson
       Reo Griffiths   9  Fol Balogun
   Phoenix Patterson  10  Jordan McEneff
J'neil Lloyd-Bennett  11  Trae Coyle

    Armando Shashoua  12  Bukayo Saka
          (10)65Mins      (11)18Mins
   Kacper Kurylowicz  13  Daniel Barden
     Maxwell Statham  14  Jay Beckford
     Dilan Markanday  15  Bayli Spencer-Adams
           (7)75Mins      (5)82Mins
                      16  Alfie Matthews

Scorers:-
          Maghoma 19      Balogun 3 
Griffiths 50,80,90+3

Booked:-
     Clarke 59(Trip)      Swanson 55(Foul)

Coach:-
        Scott Parker      Kwarme Ampadu

Referee:– Stuart Cheek
Assistants:– Andrew Ball & Kane O'Beirne

It was a chilly bright morning for the semi-final of this new cup competition. Spurs reached this stage by beating Liverpool 4-0 while the visitors won 4-3 on penalties after they drew 4-4 with Norwich. Arsenal have beaten Spurs 6-0 earlier in the season at their place in the league. Both sides made changes from that match.

Spurs lined up with De Bie in goal behind Lyons-Foster and Skipp with Hinds at right back and Reynolds on the left. Bowden anchored the midfield with Maghoma and Patterson ahead of him. They were flanked by Richards on the right and Lloyd-Bennett on the left in support of Griffiths up front.

Arsenal won the toss and picked the South end so that De Bie would have the sun in his eyes in the first half. The visitors started well moving the ball quickly and took the lead when McEneff attacked down the left slipping the ball through for Balogun to run across and turn it in past De Bie.

As Spurs began to get into the game Maghoma fired over when played in by Patterson. Spurs won the ball in the centre and advanced in numbers with Maghoma firing from distance winning a corner from Virginia's save. Maghoma had options but from the corner he was at the far post for a simple header to draw Spurs level.

Coyle had to be replaced early and his replacement Saka -who scored twice in the league game- fired wide having made space for himself. The visitors pressed for another goal with Smith drawing a save and Balogun also being denied by De Bie. Patterson sent Lloyd-Bennett away down the left to force a save from Virginia. The half ended with Sako winning a corner from the keeper's save and Swanson also won a corner in added time which was due to several players needing treatment.

Spurs began the second half much better and Clarke was booked for a professional foul on Maghoma as he carried the ball out of his own half. Lloyd-Bennett worked his way down the left and produced the perfect cross onto the head of Griffiths who only had to direct it past Virginia in the goal.

Patterson had his effort cleared off the line while Sako saw his dipping volley hit the crossbar. Swanson was booked for a foul from behind on Lloyd-Bennett before Patterson had a free kick saved. After Griffiths fired over, Sako won a corner from his free kick at the other end. Spurs made their first change replacing Patterson with Shashoua in midfield. Sako drew another save and Balogun fired over before Spurs' second change, which saw Markanday come on for Richards on the right. Markanday soon made an impression when he was given the ball and he got round the back and found Griffiths at the near post who converted his pass.

De Bie saved a header from sub Matthews while Maghoma fired over. In added time Markanday dribbled into the area to shoot. When his shot was blocked, Griffiths reacted quickest to turn and fire in for his hat-trick.

This was a fairly even game with both sides having chances. The first half was very stop start with injuries and fouls but Spurs' better finishing won out in the end. If Sako had played from the start the result may have been different but Spurs played well. Chelsea won the other semi-final at Everton so it will be another meeting with the west London side who knocked Spurs out of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday 2-0 at Stevenage.

Ray

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