Spurs 2-0 Wolves (FAYC) - report from Dagenham

Goals from Ismail Azzaoui and Kyle Walker-Peters either side of the break gave our Academy side a well-earned 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening.

In a tight, physical game at Dagenham & Redbridge, we made sure we took our chances while remaining resolute at the back in the face of some lively opposition.

Azzaoui fired us into the lead 10 minutes in after latching onto Anthony Georgiou's through ball, before a similarly incisive pass from Cy Goddard allowed Walker-Peters to get in behind the full-back and blast home from a tight angle shortly after the hour mark.

The result sets up a Fifth Round home tie with Manchester United on a date to be confirmed.

Our starting line-up included 15-year-old Japhet Tanganga at centre-half, the youngster showing impressive strength and composure alongside the more experienced Anton Walkes throughout the contest, while recent first team debutant Josh Onomah skippered the side and was an authoritative influence in central midfield.

Wolves signalled their intentions by forcing a couple of early corners but neither came to anything, while Walker-Peters’ low driven ball across the box from the right found its way to Azzaoui at the back post – but Tendai Matinyadze was there to block his shot.

We went ahead on 10 minutes when Georgiou, who had drifted into a central position from out wide on the right, collected the ball and played a clever through ball for Azzaoui to run onto – the Belgian youth international sweeping confidently across goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne and into the far corner.

The latter’s opposite number Harry Voss easily caught Connor Ronan’s free-kick five minutes later, while a Georgiou set piece from the left flank was similarly comfortable for Burgoyne.

A further free-kick was conceded mid-way through the half when Luke Amos was penalised for his challenge on Ryan Rainey – but again the in-swinger from Ronan was gathered by Voss.

Walkes blocked a shot from Ronan after a lively run from Mekhi Leacock-McLeod as Wolves sought a way back into the contest, while Georgiou couldn’t capitalise after latching onto Amos’ pass and turning away from full-back Connor Johnson as his attempted cross was blocked by Aaron Hayden.

Wolves had a let-off four minutes before the break as Tanganga’s shot from Georgiou’s right-sided cross was blocked, with Azzaoui also being denied by a defender before his follow-up was pushed onto the post by Burgoyne.

Wolves’ fast-moving left winger Leacock-McLeod briefly switched flanks at the start of the second period, but soon returned to the left and was kept at bay by Walker-Peters – who had also kept him occupied before the interval.

Goddard tried to pick out Shayon Harrison in the box on 55 minutes but his attempted through ball was cut out, while Walker-Peters once again kept up with Leacock-McLeod as the Wolves man broke forward and the right-back blocked his cross at the expense of a corner. The subsequent flag kick was half-cleared, with Tanganga repelling a second ball in with a firm header.

The latter player was dispossessed by Bright Enobakhare on 61 minutes but Walkes got across to get his body between the attacker and the ball and was able to shepherd it away from danger.

Azzaoui tested Burgoyne at his near post a minute later with Goddard seeing his shot from the rebound blocked, before we increased our lead. Goddard threaded the ball through the visitors’ line of defence and Walker-Peters surged in from the right to blast high inside the near post with 63 minutes gone.

Wolves substitute Nicolae Carnat arrowed a shot over the top from 25 yards out shortly afterwards, but in truth the visitors never managed to match their previous intensity levels after the second goal.

Substitute Ryan Loft was played in behind the defence on 75 minutes but a good stop from Burgoyne kept his name off the scoresheet. The front man had another chance shortly afterwards after meeting Georgiou’s cross, but his effort looped up and was punched out by the keeper with Charlie Owens scooping over the bar from the rebound.

Tanganga dived to head away a dangerous ball in from Joseph Delacoe as the game entered the last 10 minutes, before Rainey rose highest in the box to head Carnat’s free-kick onto the top of the net.

That was the closest Wolves got to breaching our defence in the second half, though, and we saw out the closing moments efficiently to advance to the next round.

Spurs: Voss, Walker-Peters, Muscatt, Amos, Tanganga, Walkes, Georgiou, Onomah (c), Harrison (Edwards 80), Goddard (Owens 66), Azzaoui (Loft 73). Substitutes (not used): Stylianides, Glover (GK).

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Burgoyne, Matinyadze, Johnson, Finnie (Devers 73), Hayden, Upton, Leacock-McLeod (Carnat 64), Rainey, Enobakhare, Ronan, Hunte (Delacoe 78). Substitutes (not used): Bills, Breslin (GK).