Under-18s' first-half display blows Fulham away
Our Under-18s netted four goals in a scintillating first-half display to see off Fulham and maintain our perfect start in the Under-18 Premier League Cup.
Jamie Carr's side had been free-scoring prior to the recent three-week international break and picked up where they left off when Armend Muslika opened the scoring two minutes in at Hotspur Way.
The young attacking midfielder - who registered a goal and assist on national team duty for Albania Under-19s - was at the heart of our next two as he was fouled inside the area for Oliver Boast to regain the lead from the spot on 28 minutes before converting a superb free-kick three minutes later.
Fulham's Archie Taylor had equalised against the run of play when we failed to clear a deep free-kick in the 13th minute but our response was superb and Courtney Coffi Smith made it three goals in six minutes with a stunning finish to open his account at this level.
Despite controlling proceedings for the most part, set pieces were causing problems in defence and the away side halved the deficit from a corner through Lewis Konadu-Wall on 77 minutes and had one ruled out for offside from a corner deep into stoppage-time as we deservedly made it two wins from two in Group G.
Starting the season having scored 36 goals in seven games across all competitions, there was no sign of the longer Autumn international break stopping the flow of goals as Muslika finished off a superb team move to make it 1-0 in the second minute. Captain Tyler Tingey started the move with an excellent pass to find Conall Glancy who combined nicely with Coffi Smith to fashion a crossing opportunity down the right channel and his low delivery was converted by Muslika from close range.
On a sunny but blustery morning at Hotspur Way, the conditions certainly made dead-ball scenarios harder to judge and the Cottagers capitalised on some indecision when we failed to deal with a long ball from a deep free-kick from the right and Taylor bundled in the equaliser to peg us back. However, we didn't let that leveller affect us and responded excellently with our energetic high press seeing us turnover possession multiple times in their half which led to a penalty being awarded when Muslika was bundled over inside the box.
Boast made no mistake from 12 yards to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and continue his rich vein of form in front of goal before the striker, who led the line admirably, won a free-kick in a dangerous position 20 yards out and Muslika returned the favour with a superb swirling attempt over the wall and into the near corner on 31 minutes. Our attack was purring with Joel Vidal-Philbert, who offered a real threat at left wing throughout, and Coffi Smith causing all sorts of problems on each flank and it was the latter who bagged the best of the bunch when he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled into the far top corner for his first goal at Under-18 level.
Holding that commanding lead at the break, we had our tails up after the restart and Boast had a great chance to extend our advantage on the counter-attack but saw his reverse low shot saved by Zack Brief in the Fulham goal. The visitors improved in the second period and Leo Hamilton whistled a direct free-kick just over the bar on 51 minutes before Tingey produced a well-timed last-ditch sliding challenge to deny substitute Kayden Sessegnon 10 minutes later.
It became a more even contest with chances falling to both sides, Glancy going closest for us with a first-time shot just wide on 70 minutes, until Konadu-Wall got one back for his side after goalkeeper Mikel Jack had produced a fine double save to initially deny the goalscorer and William Sutton-Bangura's overhead kick in quick succession but looked on helplessly as the loose ball fell to the opponent who poked in from a yard out.
As we looked to control possession to help see out the contest, Fulham always offered a threat on the counter and at set pieces and, after Muslika came close to a hat-trick by a smart stop from Brief with four minutes of normal time remaining, centre-back Taylor was denied his second late on by the offside flag after heading in at back post in what was the last meaningful action of the contest.
The victory means we remain top of Group G on six points with it still all to play for in our final fixture at Newcastle United on 7 November to progress as group winners.
Line-up
Spurs: Jack, Sandiford, Tingey (c) (Thomas 89), Hanson, Jobling (Olajide 64), Wellspring (Salter 75), Glancy, Muslika, Coffi Smith (Senyah 63), Boast, Vidal-Philbert (Offiah 88). Substitutes (not used): Doran, Philogene-Bidace.