Under-18s begin season with high-scoring victory over Royals

Leading inside six minutes through Oliver Boast’s first of two goals on the day, we assumed further control when Joel Vidal-Philbert opened his account for the club, only to let the visitors back into the game with Dnayo Hunte scoring from close range on the stroke of half-time as we failed to deal with a corner.

However, a fine curler from Ollie Salter shortly after the break restored our two-goal cushion and provided the springboard for us to pull away and win comfortably, Boast adding his second before a quick-fire double from substitute Phoenix Offiah completed a good day’s work for Jamie Carr’s side.

A number of players had played and trained with the Under-21s and first team during pre-season, but Jamie was able to assemble a strong starting line-up with plenty of Under-18 Premier League experience as we got the competitive campaign underway and we only needed six minutes to hit the front, Conall Glancy feeding Salter on the right wing with his good delivery planted home in the middle of the box by Boast.

It was 2-0 on 21 minutes after a great move, captain Tyler Tingey, Glancy and Boast all involved in the build-up before Vidal-Philbert fired home his first Spurs goal from the left angle but while we continued to create openings – Salter and Boast having attempts at goal – we allowed the visitors to work their way into the contest and it was only a last-ditch block from covering full-back Oscar Sandiford that prevented Hunte from getting them off the mark on 40 minutes.

Armend Muslika swept a first-time effort just wide for us, but seconds before the half-time whistle we conceded in cheap fashion as Matthias Ojo’s corner caused problems for goalkeeper Farren Doran and Hunte prodded home the loose ball. You sensed Reading had enjoyed a better spell, but four minutes after the break we stamped our authority on the game once more as Boast teed up Salter to whip a sumptuous left-footed curler across goal and inside the far post to put us 3-1 up.

Boast capitalised on a loose defensive header from Reading right-back Da’Jarne Martin-Grant to run on and convert his second goal on 55 minutes and went close to a hat-trick shortly afterwards when his angled header from Salter’s cross hit the outside of the post.

Courtney Coffi Smith injected some fresh attacking impetus upon his introduction off the bench, but it was fellow sub Offiah who added to the scoreline as we entered the latter stages, collecting Toju Wellspring’s pass and converting with a neat shot-on-the-turn 20 minutes from time before running in behind and looping home another shot 90 seconds later. Incredibly, he could have had a hat-trick just after that as he closed down goalkeeper Josh Yensu’s attempted clearance, but the ball sailed fractionally wide of the empty net. Reading’s sub keeper Franky Rose later denied Glancy and Offiah with a double save on 86 minutes before the latter sent a low shot trickling agonisingly wide as he chased an elusive third. We showed some frailties a couple of times, but on the whole it was an encouraging curtain-raiser for our youngsters on a gloriously sunny day at Hotspur Way.

‘The boys are making significant progress’

Coach Jamie was impressed with a lot of aspects of the performance, telling SPURSPLAY after the game: “Particularly in the first half, especially in the first 30 minutes or so, there were lots of pleasing bits in possession and I think the boys are making significant progress on some of the aspects that we’ve been pushing them on across the six weeks of pre-season, so it was pleasing to see them apply that today. The third goal was a big goal for us – Ollie Salter did really well to come inside and score on his left foot, Joel scored a good individual goal, Ollie Boast scored two and Phoenix came on and made a good impact with his finishes as well, so overall there was a lot from an individual point of view in and around the box that was pleasing to see.”

Jamie also reserved praise for the team behind the team, adding: “Huge credit goes to the physical performance staff, who go above and beyond to prepare the boys in every aspect and if we’d wanted to push every player today to play 90 minutes, I think we would have been able to because of the condition they’re in, but it was a great opportunity to utilise the squad at the back end of the game and everyone that came on made a huge impact. I thought the subs were excellent and they made us better, so overall it’s a big credit to everyone.”

Line-up

Spurs: Doran, Sandiford, Jobling (Agyekum 65), Hanson, Tingey (c) (Thomas 65), Wellspring (Beckles 75), Salter, Glancy, Boast (Offiah 65), Muslika (Coffi Smith 58), Vidal-Philbert (Philogene-Bidace 75). Substitute (not used): Evans.