Premier U-18 League Cup, Group E
        Little Heath, Romford, Essex
      Saturday 28th September 2019, 11am

           WEST HAM     v     SPURS
         (Claret/Blue)     (White/Blue)
            4-2-3-1          4-1-4-1

              2(1)             1(0)

         Daniel Jinadu  1  Joshua Oluwayemi
        Will Greenidge  2  Kallum Cesay
            Sam Caiger  3  Jordan Hackett
      Iliola Adebayo(C) 4  Max Robson
            Sam Nsumbu  5  Marges Muir
          Josh Okotcha  6  Malachi Walcott(C)
          Dan Chesters  7  Enock Asante
         Jake Giddings  8  Chay Cooper
           Gael Kileba  9  Dane Scarlett
         Stan Flaherty 10  Rafferty Pedder
         Amadou Diallo 11  Tarrelle Whittaker

        Brandon Thomas 12  Romaine Mundle
                           (6)70Mins
            Josh Roach 13  Timothee Lo-Tutala
                           (1)74Mins
            Seb Nebyla 14  Yago Alonso
            (11)64Mins
          Lennon Peake 15  Dermi Lusala
             (6)64Mins     (3)63Mins
      Christian Veliky 16
             (9)85Mins

Scorers:-
           Caiger 34       Asante 49
           Adebayo 53 

Booked:-
     Giddings 89(Foul)     Robson 78(Foul) 

Coaches:-
            Kevin Keen     Matthew Taylor 

Spurs travelled to Little Heath for the first group match of the U-18 Premier League Cup on an overcast and windy morning where the rain thankfully held off. In the group stage each team play each other once either at home or away. Spurs will play Stoke City at home and Newcastle away after this away game at East London rivals West Ham. Spurs played West Ham at Hotspur Way two weeks ago when they lost 3-2. Most of the"Hammers" side played today while Spurs have had to make changes due to other matches.

Spurs lined up with Oluwayemi in goal, having been on the bench at Brighton the previous evening. He was behind Muir and Walcott with Cesay at right back and youngster Hackett, making his first start, on the left. Robson anchored the midfield with Cooper and Pedder ahead of him. They were flanked by Asante on the right and Whittaker on the left with Scarlett up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the West end. Both sides like to pass the ball and press the opposition. Spurs had an early chance when Jinadu saved from Asante. Pedder won a corner when Jinadu pushed his effort round the post. Chesters fired over before Diallo drew a save. The hosts took the lead when Caiger found himself clear through on the left and advanced before hitting a fierce effort into the far corner. That took the "Hammers" into the break with a 1-0 lead and looking good.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Spurs draw level quickly. Asante got on the end of a good cross by Cooper to net at the far post.

Unfortunately West Ham came back and scored at a corner when Adebayo arrived late to score with a low drive.

Cesay blocked a chance from Flaherty when played in by Greenidge and the same player drew a save from Oluwayemi when set up by Diallo. Spurs replaced Hackett with the more experienced Lusala and later sent on wideman Mundle for Walcott as they tried to get back on level terms.

Scarlett had two chances. The first was over the bar, while the second was an overhead kick that was saved by Jinadu. Between those two opportunities Spurs took off Oluwayemi for Lo-Tutala in goal. Robson picked up the first booking of the game when he was late in a tackle. He was followed by Flaherty for a foul on Pedder. Lo-Tutala had one save to make which was in the last minute when he dived full length to turn away an effort by Veliky.

The defeat leaves Spurs bottom of the group as Stoke beat Newcastle 3-2 in the other group match. Spurs play Stoke next at Hotspur Way on the 26th October before having to make the long trek to Newcastle. At least the U-16's beat West Ham 1-0 in their Cup match as the U-16 competition shadows the U-18's in the group stage.

Ray

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