Under-18s suffer late defeat to Royals
Spurs 2-3 Reading (Under-18 Premier League)
Sat 07 December 2019, 14:45|Tottenham Hotspur
An 89th-minute winner saw our Under-18s fall to a 3-2 defeat to Reading at Hotspur Way on Saturday morning.
We had started brightly, having stormed into a 2-0 lead with just 18 minutes on the clock, Dennis Cirkin opening the scoring on 15 minutes before an own goal from the Royals’ Jeriel Dorsett doubled our advantage. That lead would not last, however, as the visitors responded in the second period, quickly getting themselves back on level terms with just 19 minutes played after the restart – Josh Hewitt and Nelson Abby with the goals. The match remained competitive until the end but unfortunately for us, it was not to be our day as Nahum Melvin-Lambert went on to find a late winner for the visitors.
Starting the game off on the front foot, we had enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening exchanges and fully deserved to take the lead. That came through Cirkin who had initially started the attack, driving forward from left-back before ultimately finishing it as he got his head on the end of Romaine Mundle’s cross and nodded the ball over the line with a quarter of an hour gone. Just three minutes later, it was 2-0, Dorsett deflecting the ball into his own goal after we had manged to work a pacey and powerful cross in from the right.
It had been a strong start, but we did not relent as we moved closer to half-time. We were creating plenty of chances as we continued to look a threat, but we were unable to find a third goal. Chay Cooper had the best opportunity but he was unable to steer his effort the right side of the upright.
After the break, another good opening to make it 3-0 came our way but, once more, we were unable to capitalise as Tarelle Whittaker sent his close-range header just off target.
We were then made to pay for those missed opportunities. On 57 minutes, our opponents were awarded a penalty following a challenge from Dermi Lusala – a spot-kick which was clinically dispatched by Hewitt, halving our lead. Seven minutes later, the scores were level, Abby equalising as he tapped in from a cross sent in from the right.
It was disappointing to have found ourselves level having performed so well in the first period but we remained spirited and immediately looked to get back in front. We were still creating chances and nearly found our lead once more via Cooper, but the midfielder sent his close-range effort over the bar. Substitute J’Neil Bennett was also creating havoc among the Reading defence as he kept fizzing crosses into the box, but we were unable to apply the necessary finishes.
We continued pushing to the last but, through our determination to find the winner, it was ultimately that desire that cost us. As we pushed forward for a free-kick in the closing stages, the set-piece was cleared by the Royals and they swiftly broke away towards our goal. An effort was fired in from the right but Kacper Kurylowicz produced a good stop to palm away the shot. However, the keeper could do nothing about the rebound as Melvin-Lambert reacted quickest to claim all three points for the visitors.
Spurs 2-3 Reading (Under-18 Premier League)
Spurs: Kurylowicz, Lusala (White 60), Cirkin (c), Cesay, Muir, Skinner, Cooper, Robson, Whittaker, Pedder (Santiago 77), Mundle (Bennett 60). Substitute (not used): Lo-Tutala.