Premier U-18 League, South 2017-18
          Cobham, Stoke D'Abernon
     Wednesday 18th April 2018, 12 noon

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

           0(0)             3(1)

        Karlo Ziger  1  Jonathan De Bie(C)
        James Clark  2  Maximus Tainio
    Marcel Lavinier  3  Tariq Hinds
        Jack Wakely  4  Oliver Skipp
     Jonathan Panzo  5  Timothy Eyoma
       Clinton Mola  6  Jonathan Dinzeyi
     Henry Lawrence  7  Dilan Markanday
    Billy Gilmour(C) 8  Jamie Bowden
Martell 
   Taylor-Crossdale  9  Reo Griffiths
       Tariq Uwakwe 10  Armando Shashoua
Tushaun 
    Tyreece-Walters 11  Phoenix Patterson

   Jonathan Russell 12  Rayan Clarke
         (10)73Mins     (7)82Mins
         Jake Askew 13  Jonathan Oluwayemi
        Dynel Simeu 14  Paris Maghoma
          (4)60Mins
     Renedi Musampu 15  Rodel Richards
          (2)46Mins     (11)70Mins
                    16  Troy Parrot
                        (8)80Mins

Scorers:-
                        Griffiths 15
                        Richards 73
                        Markanday 80

Coaches:-
        Jody Morris     Scott Parker 

Spurs travelled to Chelsea on a warm sunny morning looking to get the better of our West London rivals. They have met three times already this season without a win. Late goals saw the "Blues" pinch a point at Hotspur way in a 4-4 draw. Chelsea won the Premier League Cup 2-0 at Cobham and knocked Spurs out of the FA Youth Cup also 2-0 at Stevenage. Chelsea have a formidable record in recent years, not losing at home for three years and only losing once this season away to Southampton. Last season Spurs lost 3-2 having gone 3-0 down - with a late flurry.

Spurs lined up with De Bie in goal behind Eyoma and Dinzeyi with Tainio at right back and Hinds on the left. Skipp anchored the midfield with Bowden and Shashoua ahead of him. They were flanked by Markanday on the right and Patterson on the left in support of Griffiths up front. Having won the League on saturday Chelsea introduced two U-16's as they are to play Porto at the weekend in the Champions Youth League. Porto knocked Spurs out in the round of 16.

Spurs defended the East end in the first half which saw both sides getting forward but having to battle it out in midfield where Skipp was outstanding. Gradually Spurs began to get on top and Markanday played in Griffiths for a shot that was wide. Markanday was a threat all game and he played in Griffiths for a shot that deflected off Wakely dropping behind Ziger for the opening goal.

Markanday advanced and played in Patterson for a chance that was wide. Markanday had a long range effort himself that was wide before Chelsea had an effort by Taylor-Crossdale played through by Uwakwe that he hit well over. Taylor-Crossdale spent most of the half pulling back the Spurs centre-backs as they went forward and Uwakwe failed to con the ref with a dive.

Chelsea made a change for the second half going to three at the back and for a short while threatened the Spurs goal. Lavinier bundled over Shashoua and played in Taylor-Crossdale through the centre and he won a penalty as Eyoma slid in. The referee did have to check with his assistant before Taylor-Crossdale stepped up to take the kick. De Bie went the right way diving to his left to save.

A Lavinier header was deflected for a corner from which Wakely headed wide. With so many tall players that was the main threat from the home side. Griffiths had a run at goal but delayed his shot which was blocked for a corner. Patterson got down the left and crossed for Markanday, but his effort was blocked.

Spurs made their first change replacing Patterson with Richards. He was quickly on the scoresheet as Shashoua pressured Ziger into a poor clearance. Richards pounced, and advanced to score at the near post. Skipp got forward and drove wide before the ball was worked out to Hinds on the left and his low cross was turned in at the far post by Markanday for 3-0.

With the game won Spurs made their other changes. Parrot came on for Bowden and Clarke replaced Markanday. Lavinier came out of the back and drew a save from De Bie but it was too little to late for the "Blues" as Spurs saw out the game.

Spurs went at Chelsea from the start and did not let them settle. Once they got their passing game going it looked like they would win. Chelsea tried to get stuck in and the referee allowed some tough challenges but they could not stop the midfield. Markanday was almost unstoppable and ran the show. Shashoua was hard to knock off the ball and Patterson saw off Clark. Skipp was making runs from deep and Eyoma and Dinzeyi dominated Taylor-Crossdale better than the way Chelsea marked Griffiths. It was a good team performance and I hope it carries forward to the last game next week when the visitors to Hotspur Way are Arsenal. They inflicted a 6-0 defeat on Spurs at their home ground but with the final of the FA Youth Cup with Chelsea to play their minds may be elsewhere.

Following the Premier League away win on April 1st and the PL2 away win on 13th April, this under 18 side completed a remarkable clean sweep of three away wins against Chelsea! With this win Spurs also climbed to fourth in the table, although both Swansea and Leicesteer are on their tail.

Ray

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