Villa 0-5 Spurs (U18s) - report from Bodymoor Heath

Our Under-18s rebounded from last weekend’s League Cup Final disappointment by thrashing Aston Villa 5-0 on Saturday afternoon.

We’ve historically found it tough at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, but a rampant display ensured we took maximum points in the Under-18 Premier League this time around and, in truth, we could have won by more.

Dilan Markanday’s early opener was added to by a pair of close-range goals from striker Reo Griffiths – both arising from Paris Maghoma shots, the second of which hit him on the way in – as we surged into a three-goal lead inside half-an-hour.

There were chances for Markanday and Griffiths to put us out of sight and although the hosts rallied after half-time, we maintained control and added two more goals in the closing stages through substitute Rodel Richards.

Action summary

It didn’t take long for us to hit top gear and on five minutes we took the lead when Jamie Reynolds got forward down the left and cut back for Maghoma, whose shot was parried by goalkeeper Kieran Boucher to the far post where Markanday was left with a tap-in.

Our goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi saved at his near post from Villa’s Colin Odutayo moments later, but that turned out to be his biggest test on his first competitive start at this level.

It was 2-0 on 11 minutes when Maghoma picked up the ball in the box on the left and stepped around Boucher before his shot glanced off a defender and rolled across the face of goal for Griffiths to blast in from a yard out.

 Above: Goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi on his first Under-18s start.

Markanday shot wide, Boucher somehow saved Griffiths’ sweeping low attempt from Jamie Bowden’s ball over the top after failing to hold Reynolds’ free-kick and Griffiths planted a header wide before our third goal arrived on the half-hour mark.

Reynolds crossed from the left, Griffiths hurled himself at it, the ball spilled loose off of Boucher and Maghoma blasted towards the gaping net – the ball hitting the grounded Griffiths on its way in, meaning the striker was credited with the goal. Boucher stood firm on his line to deny Markanday a few minutes later as we continued to cause nightmares for the Villa defence.

The hosts tried to press a bit more after the interval and, as such, we didn’t have as many chances, although centre-backs Jon Dinzeyi and Tariq Hinds ensured we remained in control of the ball.

Bowden curled just wide and Markanday was denied by a good Boucher save before we made it 4-0 with 20 minutes left. Maxi Tainio crossed from the right on the overlap, Armando Shashoua nodded back across goal and Richards was there to head home from close range.

The scoring was completed on 80 minutes when substitute Maurizio Pochettino broke free down the right, his shot was parried by Boucher, Richards was first to the rebound and although the advancing stopper got a hand to his effort, it looped up and dropped over the line with Rayan Clarke following in.

Coach Scott Parker said

“It was really good after last week with a couple of bad results and in particular Sunday in the League Cup Final, where we were disappointed with the way the boys performed. It was pleasing to get a good result today and really Villa have felt the force of our performance and it all clicking together. In the first half we dominated and played some lovely stuff. Dilan Markanday, Reo Griffiths and Phoenix Patterson – the whole front three – were really strong and caused them some real problems and we always looked solid at the back, limiting them to not a lot of chances. On the scale of things, I think it was a fair result."

Team line-up

Spurs U18s: Oluwayemi, Tainio, Reynolds, Bowden, Hinds, Dinzeyi (c), Markanday (Pochettino 72), P Maghoma, Griffiths (Richards 61), A Shashoua, Patterson (Clarke 78). Substitutes (not used): Freeman, Statham.

Up next

Our Under-18s are back on the road in midweek with a trip to West Ham United coming up on Wednesday, kick-off 12pm at the Hammers’ Little Heath academy training base.