Under-18s claim victory in final pre-season outing

Dante Cassanova scored twice, including a superb strike from outside the box, as our Under-18s defeated Coventry City 4-0 at Hotspur Way on Saturday lunchtime.

In our final pre-season friendly at this level before the new Under-18 Premier League season begins next weekend, two goals either side of half-time secured the win for Stuart Lewis’ side, Cassanova adding to Renaldo Torraj’s opener and then completing the scoring after Khalon Haysman had netted our third.

Just four minutes were on the clock when Torraj fired us ahead, converting from close range after Jahziah Linton’s cross from the left following good work from Riley Owen. The lively Owen almost scored himself with a shot from distance but was denied by a good save from the Coventry keeper.

Cassanova, wearing the captain’s armband, scored a spectacular second on 24 minutes, leaving the keeper no chance with a fine curling strike from a central position, some 20 yards out.

Forward Jaden Williams saw his 62nd-minute penalty saved having been brought down in the box, but with just over a quarter-of-an-hour left we did finally manage to extend our lead as Haysman fired high into the net after some neat combination play around the edge of the area.

Williams’ pressing led to our fourth goal seven minutes from time. He won possession in an advanced area, Torraj’s shot was blocked but Cassanova was on hand to slot home the rebound.

Coventry made us work hard for our clean sheet, with new Under-18s Coach Stuart left feeling upbeat ahead of our season opener at Fulham next Saturday: “The work we’ve been doing on the training pitch over the last few weeks has been really important and now to get the win from this game with some really good individual and collective performances is a positive for us,” he said. “Coventry gave us a good game so it’s pleasing to come out with a clean sheet, which is something we’ve been working on, and it puts us in a positive place ahead of another important week’s work leading into the Fulham game next Saturday.”