Premier U-18 League, 2019-20
 Hotspur Way, Whitewebbs Lane, Enfield
    Saturday 9th November 2019, 11am

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

        3(0)              5(5)

    T. Lo-Tutala  1  Jake Askew
    Dermi Lusala  2  Dynel Simeu(C)
 Dennis Cirkin(C) 3  Sam McClelland
      Max Robson  4  Levi Colwill
    Marques Muir  5  Henry Lawrence
   Aaron Skinner  6  Lewis Bate
Tarrelle Whittaker7  Valentino Livramento
 Rafferty Pedder  8  Xavier Simons
   Dane Scarlett  9  Armando Broja
     Yago Alonso 10  Marcel Lewis
     Chay Cooper 11  Joe Haigh

                 12  Charlie Wiggett
Kacper Kurylowicz13  Prince Adegoke
                 14  George Nunn
                     (9)60Mins
    Harvey White 15  Harvey Vale
      (10)53Mins     (11)67Mins
                 16  Sam Alina
                     (7)83Mins
  Romaine Mundle 17
       (9)14Mins
Roshaun Mathurin 18
       (4)80Mins

Scorers:-
Whittaker 60, 80     Bate 2 (pen)
White 90+4(pen)Haigh 15
                     Lusala (o.g.) 20
                     Simons 24
                     Broja 40

Booked:-
Skinner 1(Foul)      Bate 86(Abuse)
Pedder 13(Late)
Robson 68(Late)
Muir 78(Trip)

Coach:-
  Matthew Taylor     Edward Brand

Referee:– Stuart Smith

It was a chilly morning, with the sun burning off the mist, for the visit of unbeaten Chelsea to Hotspur Way. Chelsea continued their unbeaten run with a 3-2 win over Norwich in their last game while Spurs drew 2-2 with Arsenal. Last season Spurs did the double over today's visitors, winning both games 2-0.

Due to the midweek Champions Youth League trip and next week's U-21 game at Gillingham the Spurs team included two players (Skinner & Mathurin) who are new to the squad. Lo-Tutala was in goal behind Muir and new boy Skinner, who played as a trialist against Southampton, with Lusala at right back and Cirkin on the left. Robson anchored the midfield with Alonso and Pedder ahead of him. They were flanked by Whittaker on the right and Cooper on the left in support of Scarlett up front. I am not sure why, but Mundle was listed as 12 and Mathurin 14 but they wore 17 and 18 respectively.

After observing a minute's silence to respect the period of Remembrance' Spurs kicked off attacking the North end. Spurs quickly lost the ball and Chelsea countered at pace with Haigh getting into the area before Skinner pulled him down for a penalty inside the first minute. The young defender was booked and Bate scored from the spot.

The pace of the visitors came into play as they continually broke through the Spurs defence with Haigh firing wide and Lawrence drawing a save from Lo-Tutata before Broja fired wide from a cross by Livramento. Spurs lost Scarlett to injury and he was replaced by Mundle who went to the right flank allowing Whittaker to go up front.

Pedder went into the ref's book for a foul on Simons as the Spurs midfield was left chasing shadows. Chelsea got a second from a free kick on the right of the area. The free header by Haigh in the middle of the six yard box was too powerful for Lo-Tutala. The third goal came from a cross which was whipped in from the right by Livramento with the ball going into the net off Lusala's knee. That goal was quickly followed by a fourth which came from a free kick on the left. Broja headed it back at the far post for Simons to tap in.

Lo-Tutala saved from Lewis who had another effort fly wide either side of a Pedder effort from Mundle that was well over. Broja had an effort blocked before drawing a save from a Livramento cross, finally getting on the scoresheet when played through by Haigh. Cooper had two efforts that were wide either side of Lo-Tutala saving from Lewis with Simons winning a corner at the end of the half.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Chelsea continue pushing for more. Skinner cleared a header off the line while McClelland saw his header go wide. Spurs made their second change with White coming on for Alonso to anchor the midfield with Robson moving ahead of him. The change was a turning point in the game as Spurs' midfield began to stop the runs against them and push forward themselves.

Mundle got down the right and his cross was drilled home by Whittaker. Chelsea were still a danger with McClelland heading wide from a corner and Robson was booked for a late tackle on Lewis. Muir was also booked when he prevented a breakaway. When White won the ball in the centre circle he played in Whittaker to advance and crash in his second off the underside of the bar.

Robson was replaced by Mathurin in midfield as Spurs looked to push on with Bate being booked for abuse after he was penalised for a foul. In added time Cooper was fouled in the area for a penalty. White scored from the spot, beating Askew to his left. Whittaker was denied his hat-trick by Askew after Cooper's cross in the last minute of the game.

Chelsea were out of sight after a great first half with Spurs not in it and we expected them to go on and get more but one change by Spurs turned the game around with the visitors looking to hold onto their lead. Spurs ran out of time for a complete comeback. Chelsea have produced another winning team after a poor last season and look to continue their current domination of youth football while Spurs still struggle to produce a settled side for a run of games. Spurs' next game is a Premier U-18 Cup game at Newcastle United where a win could see them through to the knockout stage.

Ray

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