Alex Inglethorpe described our Under-18s' win at Coventry City on Saturday as one of the best of the season - not least due to the circumstances surrounding it.
Alex Inglethorpe described our Under-18s' win at Coventry City on Saturday as one of the best of the season - not least due to the circumstances surrounding it.
The lads were held up in traffic and arrived slightly late, a situation compounded when goalkeeper Richard Stroud (pictured right) suffered a shoulder injury that forced him off after only five minutes.
Normally, that would mean the Under-18 deputy keeper stepping off the bench but with number one David Button (ankle) already out and Under-16 keeper James Dalton (wrist) joining him on the sidelines, the spotlight fell on Under-15 keeper Jamie Butler to take over between the sticks.
Just 14, Butler performed admirably and walked off with his goal intact as goals from Jonathan Obika and in-form David Hutton made it two wins in four days for the lads in the FA Premier Academy League.
"We only arrived 45 minutes before kick-off and to then lose our goalkeeper after five minutes made it a difficult situation," reported coach Alex.
"It was an incredible ask of Jamie but he stepped up and when he was required to do something, he did it well. He showed a clean pair of hands a few times and his distribution was fine and you can look back afterwards and think what a great experience it was for him.
"There was also a lot of responsibility on our central defensive pair of Joe Martin and Troy Archibald-Henville, we asked them to look after Jamie and they acted like big brothers, protecting him where needed.
"Overall, what pleased me most was that we were able to play the football we wanted to play against a physical team and didn't get dragged into the fight, because we would have struggled in that type of game. We stayed out of that side of it and played very well.
"We created lots of chances and opened the scoring after 35 minutes when David Hutton put their defence on the back foot with his first touch, drove at the defender and crossed into the box where Jon Obika tapped home.
"David Hutton then drove home the second goal in the second half to secure the win.
"In passages and with the circumstances in mind, it has to be one of the best performances of the season."
Spurs U18s: Stroud (Butler, 5), Adam Smith, Hughton, Kasim, Martin, Archibald-Henville, Hutton, Livermore, Medley, Hutchins (Mason, 80), Obika (Fraser-Allen, 70). Unused sub: Alex Smith.
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