Premier U-18 Southern League 2017-18
       Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
       Saturday 21st October 2017, 11 am

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

             1(0)             2(1)

   Jonathan De Bie(C) 1  Luca Ashby-Hammond
       Matthew Lock   2  Djed Spence
        Tariq Hinds   3  Tristan Cover
      Paris Maghoma   4  Reece York
Brooklyn Lyons-Foster 5  Zico Asare
    Moroyin Omolabi   6  Jose Garrido(C)
    Jeremie Mukendi   7  Christopher Kelly
   Armande Shashoua   8  Tyrese Francis
      Reo Griffiths   9  Cameron Thompson
     Jamie Reynolds  10  Sonny Hilton
  Pheonix Patterson  11  Nicholas Santa-Clase

Maurizio Pochettino  12  Elias Frei
    Charlie Freeman  13  George Wickens
    Maxwell Statham  14  Ryan De Haviland
                         (11)75Mins
     Rodel Richards  15  Timmy Abraham
         (11)83Mins
     Maximus Tainio  16  Joe Felix
                         (10)85Mins

Scorers:-
       Griffiths 52      Thompson 6, 82 (pen)

Booked:-
    Lyons-Foster 25      Asare 50(Holding)
    Maghoma 61(Foul)     Spence 52

Coach:-
        Scott Parker     Steve Wigley

Referee:– Scott Rudd
Assistants:– Joe Can-Pye & Joe McKay

It was a very windy morning with the sun shining for Spurs' return to league action. The wind was blowing hard from the south which meant that goal kicks did not reach the halfway line and affected the game. High-riding Fulham came to this match having lost their last game 3-0 to Aston Villa while Spurs beat West Ham 3-1 but most of the team travelled to Madrid for the Champions Youth League game that finished 1-1. Last season Spurs Spurs lost 3-0 to the Whites, but did win 5-2 in the merit game at the end of the season. I was joined by the Swedish Spurs who were over for tomorrow's Liverpool game.

Spurs lined up with De Bie in goal behind Omolabi and Lyons-Foster with Lock at right back and Hinds on the left. Maghoma anchored the midfield with Shashoua and Reynolds ahead of him flanked by Mukendi on the right and Patterson on the left in support of Griffiths up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half with the wind at their backs attacking the North end but found the visitors defence solid and quick to counter with pacy forwards. Fulham took an early lead when Omolabi lost the ball to Thompson who slotted it past the stranded De Bie.

With Fulham defending deep Maghoma was able to get forward a lot and he received a pass from Patterson that was deflected for a corner. Patterson laid the ball off for Reynolds to bring a save from Ashby-Hammond before the ball was quickly moved upfield for first Santa-Clase and then Hilton to draw saves from De Bie. Maghoma was brought down on the edge of the Fulham penalty area but the only thing given was a yellow card to Lyons-Foster. Hinds linked with Patterson down the left before hitting the bar with his effort. Santa-Clase made a break with a good run that ended with his shot hitting the near post. Spurs hit the crossbar again when Mukendi played in Reynolds before Francis fired wide on the break before the interval.

Neither side made changes for the second half but Fulham pushed up on the Spurs back line to make them play long into the wind. The visitors had the first chance when Francis saw his effort saved. Asare was booked for pulling Reynolds back as he got past him through the middle. He was followed into the ref's book by Spence as Spurs increased the pressure.

Spurs worked the ball on the right and Lock got round the back and his cross was headed home by a flying Griffiths. Maghoma hit a free kick wide of the far post before he was booked for a foul on Thompson. York headed wide from a corner and Hilton had a chance blocked from a Santa-Clase run and pass. The two players combined again but De Bie saved Hilton's deflected shot.

Griffiths played in Patterson for an effort that was saved and Reynolds saw his drive saved. Fulham then quickly moved the ball upfield for Thompson to fire wide. Patterson fired wide for Spurs before De Haviland hit a free kick wide at the other end. Fulham then won a penalty when Kelly was fouled by Omolabi in the area. Thompson hit it down the middle to give the visitors the lead again. Patterson was replaced by Richards as Spurs looked for a second but Fulham saw out the game to take the points.

Spurs had most possession but again could not break down a stubborn defence and were caught out by a quick counter attack. Spurs remain in ninth place while Fulham move above Arsenal who lost to Leicester. Spurs will play Fulham again in the Premier League Cup on the 4th November which will be after the Champions Youth League game against Real Madrid again before returning to League action with a trip to Swansea.

Ray

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