Everton U18s 0-3 Spurs U18s

Goals from Samuel Shashoua, Keanan Bennetts and Nick Tsaroulla gave our Under-18s a 3-0 victory at Everton in our penultimate game of the Under-18 Premier League season on Tuesday (May 9).

Playing the second of three away games in a week to round off the campaign, this one a rearranged fixture, we produced an efficient team display against a young Toffees side, whose Under-23s lifted the Premier League 2 trophy on Monday night.

Key action

Goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman made a routine stop from Everton's Manasse Mampala eight minutes in before Shashoua gave us the lead on 25 minutes, sending a free-kick in off the post after Nick Tsaroulla - usually a full-back but impressing in the number 10 role - was upended outside the area.

Tsaroulla also played a part in the second goal two minutes before the break, his shot rebounding off the post allowing Bennetts to fire past goalkeeper Ben Pierce on the rebound.

We were controlling the game and found goal number three on 57 minutes with a move that started with Whiteman at the back. Tsaroulla drove through the midfield and played it to Shashoua, who in turn cut back for Tsaroulla to finish on his right foot from 15 yards.

Substitute Jamie Reynolds and Tsaroulla later saw shots saved as we continued to dominate and could have increased our lead.

Below: Nick Tsaroulla - goal capped fine display

John McDermott, Head of Player Development, said

"It's an intense three games in six days and we're working off quite a small squad with a few players on international duty. I thought we were unfortunate at Villa (lost 3-2) on Saturday and today I thought we had an even higher level of performance and were more productive in front of goal.

"It was an excellent display. Our style, our penetration and work ethic was really good, we dominated possession and should have scored more goals but saying that, it was a very good day at the office.

"There were some stand-out performances. Nick Tsaroulla and Tariq Hinds both played in midfield because of the situation, Moroyin Omolabi played at centre-half.

"Most pleasing is the fact that some of the Under-17s are coming to the end of their year and the level of improvement that Moroyin, Tariq and Matthew Lock all showed has been really pleasing. The First Years really drove the team today and they have set a marker down for next year."

Team line-up

Spurs U18s: Whiteman, Lock, Brown, Marsh (c), Omolabi, Tanganga, Shashoua, Hinds, Sterling (Reynolds 60), Tsaroulla, Bennetts. Substitutes (not used): Roles, Austin (GK).

Up next

We round off the merit group stage of the Under-18 Premier League season on Saturday with a trip to Derby County, kick-off 12noon.