Under-18s see off West Ham

Jamie Donley, Jaden Williams and Rio Kyerematen were all on target as our Under-18s stormed to a 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.

Taking the initiative in a feisty clash at Hotspur Way, Donley clipped us in front on 13 minutes and we never looked back, Williams capitalising on a defensive mistake with a clinical finish 11 minutes later before Kyerematen headed in from Dante Cassanova’s corner at the start of the second half.

The Hammers were subsequently reduced to 10 men, with Asher Falase sent off for a second bookable offence with a quarter of the game still to play.

Goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala was needed for a couple of important saves to preserve a first clean sheet of the season for Stuart Lewis’ side, but overall we were worthy winners.

West Ham posed their own threats, Divin Mubama going close with an early header, but we soon took the lead as Donley watched Max McKnight’s long ball out from right-back over his shoulder before chipping advancing goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge from just outside the area.

It was 2-0 on 24 minutes as Donley’s through ball caused problems for centre-back Kaelan Casey, with Williams needing no second invitation to run on and slot home. Knightbridge did well to block Williams’ shot-on-the-turn from six yards out as half-time approached, while Renaldo Torraj left the frame of the goal shuddering with a right-footed shot from the left-hand corner of the box that smacked off the underside of the crossbar and away from danger in stoppage time at the end of the first period.

There was a flurry of bookings at the start of the second half as the intensity of the game went up a notch but it was the cool-headed Lo-Tutala who made a vital save from substitute Gideon Kodua at close range to prevent the Hammers from getting back into the contest five minutes after the restart. That proved crucial as four minutes later, we bagged a third to put clear daylight between the sides, Kyerematen heading in Cassanova’s corner. Knightbridge managed to get his left hand to it but couldn’t keep it out.

West Ham still pressed forward and it needed a great last-ditch tackle from behind by Will Andiyapan to prevent Kodua from going through on goal, but the visitors’ task was made harder on 68 minutes when Falase was sent off after collecting his second yellow card. Kodua was a real threat, forcing Lo-Tutala into an excellent save on 78 minutes before dragging a shot across the face of goal and wide in the closing stages, but the final chance went to us as Alfie Dorrington headed Cassanova’s free-kick over the bar in added time.

‘The work ethic and desire was evident throughout’

Under-18s Coach Stuart Lewis was delighted with the outcome, confirming: “I’m really pleased for the players, I think it was thoroughly deserved. The work ethic and desire was evident throughout the game and in both boxes we were very good, which we’ve been speaking a lot about with the lads, so it’s been a good day. Obviously whenever Tottenham play West Ham, it’s always going to be a lively encounter and I thought the boys stood up well to that, they stuck together and they also showed moments of real composure and quality when it was needed – that was the key for us today, matching that intensity, showing even more than that and then also that bravery and courage which we’ve spoken about regularly. There’s been some tough moments at the beginning of the season but I feel that now the players’ training ethic and how we’re working during the week is going into the matchdays a bit more. We are a young group but we still have high standards and high expectations, the players are all working hard and to be finishing the game with nine first-years or younger is a testament to everyone’s work and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone push on in the next few weeks.”

On his side’s first clean sheet of the season, Stuart added: “We’ve worked hard on the importance of defensive principles so for the boys to then apply that in a London derby today and to come out with a clean sheet is a massive boost for the group as a collective – not just the defenders but the whole team with their work ethic to defend from the front, make blocks and work hard on our concentration without the ball. I thought as a collective it was probably our best performance for 90-plus minutes today.”