Premier U-18 League, Southern Group, 2018-19
         Cobham, Stoke D'Abernon, Surrey
       Wednesday 10th April 2019, 12 noon

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

              0(0)             2(1)

           Jake Askew   1  Jonathan De Bie
       Sam McClelland   2  Dermi Lusala
          Dynel Simeu   3  Maxwell Statham
         Pierre Ekwah   4  Armando Shashoua(C)
          James Clark   5  Jubril Okedina
       Clinton Mola(C)  6  Brooklyn Lyons-Foster
      Marcel Lavinier   7  Maurizio Pochettino
          Jon Russell   8  Jamie Bowden
        Armando Broja   9  Troy Parrott
        Thierno Ballo  10  Dilan Markanday
         Marcel Lewis  11  Phoenix Patterson

          George Nunn  12  Elliott Thorpe
            (9)63Mins      (11)90Mins
      Lucas Bergstrom  13  Kacper Kurylowicz
          Jordan Aina  14  Rafferty Pedder
            (4)76Mins
       Henry Lawrence  15  Chay Cooper
            (5)62Mins      (7)77Mins
                       16  Rayan Clarke
                           (8)70Mins

Scorers:-
                           Parrott 15, 62

Booked:-
       Broja 59(Late)

Sent Off:-
                           Lusala 80(Last Man)

Coaches:-
          Andy Myers       John McDermott

Referee:– Jonathan Bolland 

Spurs travelled to third placed Chelsea's training ground for their penultimate match of the season. The "Blues" drew their last game 1-1 against West Ham while Spurs had a good win away to Villa. Last season Spurs won 3-0 at Cobham and we had a 2-0 win at Hotspur Way earlier this season.

Spurs lined up with De Bie in goal behind Okedina and Lyons-Foster with U-16 Lusala coming in at right back for his first game and Statham on the left. Shashoua anchored the midfield with Markanday and Bowden back from injury. They were flanked by Pochettino on the right and Patterson on the left in support of Parrott up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the North end in what was an open game with both sides looking to get forward. Broja had the first chance for the hosts with a fierce effort that was tipped over by De Bie. Parrott played in Patterson to draw a save from Askew soon after before Spurs took the lead when Parrott ran onto Markanday's through ball to take a touch before beating the keeper.

McClelland headed wide from a corner before Shashoua played a one-two with Parrott before his effort was saved. Markanday guided Bowden's cross wide with his head. A foul on Markanday saw Patterson's free kick go over the bar. Action switched to the other end where Lewis had a header saved following a corner to allow Spurs to go in at half time in the lead.

There were no changes for the start of the second half but Bowden dropped to a more defensive position.

Pochettino put over an early cross for Parrott to fire wide before the winger drove wide himself. Mola fired wide for the "Blues" before Markanday had a shot saved. Markanday played in Parrott for an effort that hit the right post. Another ball from Markanday to Parrott saw the striker forced wide but he curled the ball off the crossbar from a tight angle.

Broja was booked for a later tackle on Patterson before Markanday was fouled just outside the area. Parrott stepped up to beat Askew with the free kick to score his and Spurs' second goal.

De Bie saved a free kick by Lewis and Ekwah fired wide from a corner before Spurs made their first change. Clarke replaced Bowden on the left with Patterson moving infield. Clarke moved to the right flank shortly after when Pochettino was replaced by Cooper who went to the left flank.

With Spurs looking to see out the game Chelsea pushed for a goal but when Lewis picked up De Bie's ball out he fired over. When Ballo was played through Lusala came across to tackle him which the referee called a foul and as he was the last man showed him a red card. The young defender could not believe it and the ref had to tell him twice to leave the field. Mola hit the free kick over as Spurs re-organised with Clarke dropping to right back. Another free kick ended with De Bie saving a header from Simeu. Spurs made their last change in the last minute replacing Patterson with Thorpe to waste more time. Chelsea had the last chance in added time when Nunn drew a save for a corner which was cleared easily.

This was a well deserved win with Parrott continuing his scoring form since his return. Having given him two goals at Villa the first turned out to be an own goal. Spurs needed the win more than Chelsea as they stayed in touch with Arsenal. The final round of matches are in a fortnight when Arsenal need to beat Fulham away to take the title. Spurs need to beat Leicester City in case Arsenal fail to finish top. The "Gunners"' current form suggests that they will finish top having lost only twice which will be hard on Spurs who have only lost once.

Ray

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