Premier League U-18 South, 2019-20
     Belvoir Drive, Alyestone, Leicester
    Saturday 21st December 2019, 11.30am

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

           3(3)                4(1)

     Oliver Bosworth(C) 1  Thimothee Lo-Tatula
       Dennis Gyamfi    2  Kallum Cesay
    Bailey Aisthorpe    3  Dennis Cirkin
Harvey Godsmark-Ford    4  Harvey White
         Thomas Sams    5  Dermi Lusala
      Sidnei Tavares    6  Luis Binks
  Tawanda Maswanhise    7  Tarrelle Whittaker
       Liam Loughlin    8  Max Robson
        Kian Pennant    9  Kion Etete
       Kasey McAteer   10  Rafferty Pedder
      Terell Pennant   11  J'Neil Bennett

      Connor Barrett   12  Enock Asante
           (5)60Mins       (7)56Mins
      Chituru Odunze   13  Kacper Kurylowicz
   Wanya 
   Marcal-Mardivadua   14  Eddie Carrington
        Oliver Ewing   15  Aaron Skinner
           (7)81Mins       (8)85Mins
  Dempsey Arlot-John   16  Romaine Mundle
           (8)81Mins       (12)90+1Mins

Scorers:-
         Loughlin 33       Etete 36
       K. Pennant 39       Robson 68
 Tavares (pen) 45+1        Cirkin 72
                           Bennett 76

Booked:-
                           Cesay 59(Pull)
                           Robson 63(Foul)
                           Pedder 82(Foul)

Coaches:-
       Trevor Peake        Matthew Taylor

Referee:– Robert Hathaway

Spurs travelled to Leicester for the re-arranged league game moved for the FA Youth Cup tie against Liverpool that Spurs won 4-2. Leicester beat Aston Villa in their last game 2-1. Last season Spurs won 4-0 here on their way to a second place finish in the league. The"Foxes" were four points ahead of Spurs in the table before this game.

Spurs lined up for their last league game of the year with Lo-Tutala in goal behind Lusala and Binks with Cesay at right back and Cirkin on the left. White anchored the midfield with Robson and Pedder ahead of him. They were flanked by Whittaker on the right and Bennett on the left in support of Etete up front. There was not much experience on the bench.

Spurs kicked off the first half with the sun at their back attacking the East end. Leicester, playing with a strong physical press and quick counter-attack, had an early chance that was pushed onto the post by Lo-Tutala from Terell Pennant. Pedder curled an effort just wide of the left post and Binks had a header saved from a corner as both sides got forward to threaten the others' goal.

Maswanhise won a corner before Cesay got forward to play in Etete to win a corner at the other end. Leicester took the led when Maswanhise got down the right and crossed for Loughlin to score in the centre of the goal. The lead did not last long as good work by Robson set up Etete to turn and score in the bottom left corner.

The home side were in front again when Kian Pennett ran onto a long ball from Bosworth to fire in. Pedder drew a save as the half neared its end but there was still time for Leicester to win a penalty when Cesay caught Terell Pennant going away from goal. Tavares sent Lo-Tutala the wrong way to give the hosts a two goal lead at the break.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw the Spurs midfield get more into the game as White was pushed forward. Gyamfi headed over from an early corner before Asante replaced Whittaker on the right. Kian Pennant hit the bar from distance before White struck a free kick over the bar at the other end.

Cesay picked up a booking for a pull just before Loughlin drew a save from Lo-Tatula. Kian Pennant fired wide before Robson was booked for catching Barrett after he got past him. Cirkin got forward and played in Robson to pull a goal back scoring across the keeper.

Spurs' confidence grew and when White put over a corner from the right it reached Cirkin attacking the far post to score the equaliser. The momentum was now with Spurs and when Asante got down the right his cross was collected by Bennett at the far post to coolly slot home for the visitors to take the lead. Three goals in under ten minutes had completely changed the game.

Bennett drew a save from a long ball by Binks. Pedder was booked for a foul on Tavares before Leicester made a double change to try and get back into the game. Pedder fired wide before Robson was replaced by Skinner who sat in front of the back four. Gyamfi headed over from a corner before Asante had to go off and be replaced by Mundle for the final minutes which Spurs were able to see out, keeping the ball in the corner.

This was a good win by Spurs against a strong counter-attacking side. Coming from 3-1 down at half-time to win with three goals in the second half. Leicester were very strong in the first half but Spurs adapted in the second to gain control of the midfield. Spurs close the gap on Leicester to a point and return after the Christmas break with a home game against Fulham.

Ray

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