Premier U-18 League South 2019/20
        Motspur Park, Worcester Park,
       Saturday 10th August 2019, 11am

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

            4(2)             0(0)

  Luca Ashby-Hammond  1  Joshua Oluwayemi
Luciano D'Auria-Henry 2  Dermi Lusala
       Stefan Parkes  3  Dennis Cirkin
                Page  4  Harvey White(C)
       Idris Odutayo  5  Marques Muir
         Luca Murphy  6  Luis Binks
       Ollie O'Neill  7  Michael Craig
     Adrion Pajaziti  8  Nile John
      Jay Stansfield  9  Kion Etete
      Fabio Carvalho 10  Tarrelle Whittaker
    Sylvester Jasper 11  Dane Scarlett

   Jean-Pierre Tiehi 12  Chay Cooper
                         (7)68Mins
            Chisholm 13  Kacper Kurylowicz
        Terry Ablade 14  Rafferty Pedder
                         (10)82Mins
             Biereth 15  Enock Asante
                         (11)68Mins
               Bowat 16

Scorers:-
   Jasper 31 (pen), 71
   O'Neill 39
   Stansfield 47

Booked:-
   Page 19(Late)         White 67(Foul)

Coaches:-
        Steve Wigley     Matt Taylor

Spurs travelled to south London for the opening game of the new season with high hopes after the last one when they finished second. Last season Fulham took two points off Spurs here to allow the gooners to close the gap and eventually overtake them in the race for the South group title. Last season it finished 1-1 when Spurs had to comeback after Fulham took the lead against the run of play. The game was affected by a strong crossfield wind blowing towards the East end.

Spurs lined up with Oluwayemi in goal behind Binks and Muir with Lusala at right back and Cirkin on the left. White (who had played a full part in Spurs' senior side's pre-season tour, and has been allocated a squad number) anchored the midfield with Craig and John ahead of him. They were flanked by Scarlett on the right and Whittaker on the left in support of Etete (signed from Notts County) up front. With the U-23 side playing Liverpool on the same day it was a short bench as resources were shared. There were some teamsheets around but not for the spectators so I have had to improvise regarding the home team which is likely to have a mistake or two in it.

Spurs defended the East end in the first half with the hosts playing long balls with the wind to turn the visitors' defence with their pacy attackers. Spurs found it hard to settle under the conditions and their passing game was broken up too often by the physical press of the "Whites".

Stansfield won the ball off Oluwayemi setting up Carvalho for a chance that was cleared off the line by Binks in only the fourth minute. O'Neill won a corner with a shot before Oluwayemi saved from Jasper. Stansfield got in on the right hitting the post with his effort before Whittaker fired wide for Spurs. Oluwayemi made a double save from Stansfield first and then Carvalho before Stansfield put the ball in the net only for the "goal" to be ruled out for offside.

Spurs could not find space in the middle third due to the pressure from the hosts which saw them tick up a booking for a late tackle on Whittaker as he looked to get free. Etete was not finding room and fired over before Scarlett played him in to draw a save. Jasper got the better of Muir who caught him in the area to concede a penalty which was dispatched by the player to open the scoring.

Oluwayemi saved from Carvalho before Etete drove wide. Fulham increased their lead when they won a free kick out on the left. Parkes played in O'Neill at the far post to score. Binks had to come to the rescue again before the break to block an effort by Stansfield.

There were no changes for the start of the second half with Spurs needing to get into the game. Unfortunately they conceded at the start of the half to see the game go beyond them. A mistake allowed Carvalho to get down the right and whip the ball across the goalmouth for Stansfield to meet at the far post for number three.

Spurs responded with a header by Scarlett which was saved and a White free kick was heading for the top corner until Ashby-Hammond tipped it round the post. White then picked up a booking for preventing a Fulham break. Spurs made a double change with Cooper replacing Craig on the right side of midfield and Asante taking over from Scarlett.

With Spurs pushing for a goal Fulham broke forward with Carvalho down the left. Oluwayemi saved his effort but the ball was picked up by Jasper on the right and despite getting across, the Spurs keeper could not stop the ball going in at the near post. Fulham were content to see out the game as Cirkin saw his effort from outside the area saved. White sent Etete through but his effort was also saved before Pedder came on for Whittaker as the last Spurs change.

This was a poor result from Spurs who never settled thanks to the heavy press by Fulham which prevented the Spurs passing game. Players wanted time on the ball which was denied them, while the defence were undone by the pace of the Fulham attack. Next week Brighton will be at Hotspur Way and they - based on last season - will be very much like Fulham in the way they play. We lost Markanday and Richards for long spells at an important period of the campaign at Brighton so it will not be easy next week. Brighton won their opening game 3-2 against Reading. One good result was the gooners also lost.

I was not able to go to the U-23 game at the Liverpool Academy but Spurs came away with a 4-0 win. Sterling with two , one from the penalty spot, Oakley-Boothe and Tracey with the others. Having just escaped relegation last season this was a good start. I hope to see them when they take on Manchester City at WHL on Friday.

Ray

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