Spurs 1-2 Everton (PL2)

Our Under-23s were unable to hold onto their second half lead against Everton on Monday afternoon, conceding twice in the final 20 minutes to slip to defeat at Hotspur Way.

Having seen the visitors enjoy the better of a uneventful first half played in teaming rain, we took a deserved lead following a much more positive start to the second period when Jack Roles fired us ahead on 68 minutes.

It looked like we might be on for our first win in the division since beating Arsenal at home in October six games ago, but Everton levelled things up just three minutes later through Antony Evans, the same player then curling home what proved to be the winner 10 minutes from time.

Roles’ strike was his first goal at this level while Anton Walkes was making his first appearance for us since returning from his successful loan spell with MLS outfit Atlanta United for their 2017 season. The result sees us stay rooted to the bottom of Division One of the Premier League 2.

Key action

Saves: Whiteman twice denies Hornby - 20-27mins
Neither side produced much of a cutting edge in the early stages, the game played out mostly in the midfield areas. Shayon Harrison did have a sight of goal on eight minutes, his shot deflecting wide after a good pass from Christian Maghoma, before Roles found Jaden Brown whose cross was headed wide by Kazaiah Sterling. It was Everton who had the first effort on target on 20 minutes, Fraser Hornby heading Matthew Foulds’ cross straight at Alfie Whiteman, before the Toffees striker latched onto a neat backheel from Bassala Sambou and drilled a 25-yard shot which Whiteman saved.

Chance: Broadhead goes close - 36mins
Everton were starting to get on top at this stage and finished the half strongly as the rain continued to pour down. They had the ball in the net on 32 minutes when Nathan Broadhead produced a neat piece of footwork on the edge of the area before sending a low drive which Whiteman got down low to push out, but only as far as Sambou, who poked home. Fortunately though, the assistant’s flag was up for offside. Four minutes later, Evans played a pass down the right flank for Hornby who in turn found Nathangelo Markelo. The right-back delivered a cross which Broadhead chested down but then fired over the bar as the sides went in goalless at the interval.

Below: Goalscorer Jack Roles battles for possession

Goal: Spurs 1-0 Everton - Jack Roles - 68mins
It was a bright start to the second period on two fronts as the sun came out and there was more sparkle to our football in the opening minutes of the half. Roles shot just past the post on 55 minutes while a corner from the right a few minutes later bobbled around before falling to Harrison, his drive flicking off Markelo for a corner. We broke the deadlock two minutes later, Walkes finding substitute Joe Pritchard who laid a ball in to Roles, his fine right-foot finish beating Mateusz Hewelt in the Everton goal.

Goal: Spurs 1-1 Everton - Antony Evans - 71mins
Perhaps the outcome might have been different had we managed to maintain the advantage for a while, but instead it was all square again three minutes later. Hornby picked up the ball in midfield and threaded an incisive pass to Evans who beat Whiteman to the ball and slotted home from 15 yards.

Goal: Spurs 1-2 Everton - Antony Evans - 80mins
It got worse nine minutes later when we fell behind, that man Evans again doing the damage. He received the ball 20 yards from goal and delivered a left-foot drive which curled past Whiteman and found the bottom corner. We did have an opportunity to level the game up in the 83rd minute when Roles played in substitute Anthony Georgiou down the left, his cross deflected up for Roles to flick a header towards the far corner but Everton skipper Morgan Feeney was on hand to clear his lines and with it, our hopes of salvaging a draw.

Coach Wayne Burnett said

"It was a competitive game, very even in the first half and I felt we came out in the second half and got on the front foot and dominated for the first 15, 20 minutes. We managed to score a well-worked goal but then we didn't defend properly and before we knew it, Everton had equalised and we then conceded again quickly after that.

"We had to gather some composure after they equalised and get back to what we were doing, get some structure in our play and be calm, and we weren't at times. It was disappointing to lose after going in front but we'll look back at it, learn from it and learn very quickly because we need to start winning matches."

Match data

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Whiteman, Walkes, C Maghoma, Dinzeyi (Pritchard 63), Brown, Amos (c), Roles, Tracey, Harrison, Bennetts, Sterling (Georgiou 46). Substitutes (not used): Austin (GK), Lock.

Everton (4-4-2): Hewelt, Markelo, Feeney (c), Gibson, Foulds, Evans, Adeniran, Grant, Broadhead (Dyson 69), Hornby (Bowler 79), Sambou (Baxter 62). Substitutes (not used): Hilton (GK), Denny.

Goals: Spurs - Roles 68; Everton - Evans 71, 80.

Yellow cards: Spurs - Maghoma; Everton - Evans.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Next up

We take on Benfica in the Premier League International Cup at Stevenage on Wednesday 24 January (7pm) before a trip to Manchester United in Premier League 2 on Monday 31 January (7pm).