Premier U-18 League, Southern Group, 2017-18
         Hotspur Way, Whitewebbs Road, Enfield
            Wednesday 14th March 2018, 11am

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

                  0(0)             0(0) 

        Jonathan De Bie(C) 1  Alex Lang
         Maxwell Statham   2  Cameron Evans
   Brooklyn Lyons-Foster   3  Matthew Blake
            Jamie Bowden   4  Tom Price
        Jonathan Dinzeyi   5  Ben Cabango(C)
        Armando Shashoua   6  Joe Lewis
         Dilan Markanday   7  Craig Daies
       Phoenix Patterson   8  Kees De Boer
             Troy Parrot   9  Shaquile Wynter-Coles
          Rodel Richards  10  Oliver Cooper
            Rayan Clarke  11  Marc Walsh

            Matthew Lock  12  Dan Williams
              (10)84Mins
        Joshua Oluwayemi  13  Nathan Shepperd
           Elliot Thorpe  14  Jayden Reid
                              (9)50Mins
     Maurizio Pochettino  15  Josh Edwards
               (8)61Mins      (7)84Mins

Booked:-
                              Price 60(Foul)
                              De Boer 72(10yds)

Coach:-
            Scott Parker      Jon Grey

Referee:– C. Barnett

It was a bright chilly morning with a wind that got stronger as the game went on - blowing from the East. Today's visitors' last game was over a month ago when they lost 5-1 at Chelsea. Spurs' last game was the 4-0 victory over Reading. Last season Spurs beat the "Swans" 4-0 and have already won 5-2 at Swansea this season. Because of the UEFA Champions Youth League game against Porto yesterday the team fielded by Scott Parker was much changed from that earlier game against Swansea. There were only five starters for Spurs from that game, while Swansea had eight. Spurs gave a first start to U-16 striker Parrot and had Thorpe on the bench.

Spurs played with a changed formation today with Dinzeyi flanked by Statham on the right and Lyons-Foster on the left in front of De Bie. Bowden anchored a midfield diamond with Richards at the top and Patterson and Shashoua between them. Outside Richards, Markanday was on the right flank and Clarke on the left in support of Parrot up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the West end with the wind at their backs. Swansea looked to close down Spurs quickly and had an early effort saved. Spurs' quick passing in midfield saw them dominate possession but the visitors defended their area well. Blake had an effort wide before Lang had to make a double save at the other end. First Clarke drew a save at the near post and then Patterson reacted quickly to follow up.

A foul on Patterson gave Bowden a chance from the free kick which hit the top of the bar. Clarke crossed for Markanday to stoop for a header which the keeper saved and bundled away for a corner. Parrot had an effort wide as Spurs failed to capitalise on the possession they had with the half ending with Cooper firing over for the visitors.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw the wind increase, allowing Swansea to push up and pin Spurs into their own half. Markanday robbed Lewis and played in Parrot to draw a save at the near post. Cabango drew a save from a free kick before Swansea made an early change replacing their striker. The player who came on drew a save from De Bie and put pressure on the Spurs back line.

De Bie saved Price's free kick at the near post before Spurs swept up the pitch but Clarke's effort was blocked. Price was booked for a foul on Richards before Reid fired wide. Patterson was replaced by Pochettino having had a stint yesterday. A quick throw saw Reid fire wide of the near post. Pochettino got down the right and crossed for Parrot to draw a save from Lang. De Boer was booked for trying to hold up a free kick to allow his team-mates to get back. Both sides made late changes to protect the point with Spurs replacing Richards with Lock and going to four at the back but the visitors held Spurs to the draw.

This was a busy performance by a Spurs side with plenty of skill and pace in the middle. The number of times Patterson, Markanday and Shashoua came away with the ball against bigger opposition was great to see, but they should have created more chances. If the wind had not risen in the second half I am sure they would have been able to carry on and create more. Parrot took a while to settle and get into the game showing promise in the second half. He needs to watch Harry Kane and learn about his movement off the ball. Next game will be the Premier League U-18 Cup final on Sunday when Spurs will need a full strength side to play Chelsea. The next league game will be on the 24th and will be away to Aston Villa who beat Fulham last week 2-1.

Ray

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