Frustration for Under-21s as spoils are shared with rivals

The Premier League 2 north London derby ended goalless at Hotspur Way on Saturday, although our Under-21s were left disappointed not to have taken more than a point from the game following a bright second-half display.

After a largely uneventful first period in which Arsenal spurned a couple of chances, we looked a different side after the restart and Yago Santiago saw a great opportunity go begging before a moment of controversy with 20 minutes to go, Alfie Dorrington heading in Harvey White’s free-kick, only to be denied by the offside flag – there was a strong feeling among the home players and staff that the defender was onside, but play was allowed to go on.

We continued to create chances, Alfie Devine denied by goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk with Kallum Cesay’s effort on the rebound blocked by defender Zach Awe, while the unmarked Jamie Donley steered a header over the bar as we controlled the match heading into the last quarter-of-an-hour.

Sadly, though, we couldn’t find a breakthrough and the game came to a messy end with Donley and Cesay both shown red cards deep into stoppage time after a fracas sparked by Donley’s challenge on Charles Sagoe Jr.

That aside, it was an important and well-earned point for us as we stopped the rot after a recent run of defeats – something that will give us extra encouragement as this busy spell of fixtures continues.

Arsenal had a couple of openings in the first period with Nathan Butler-Oyedeji dragging a low shot across goal and wide, Amario Cozier-Duberry denied at the near post by Josh Keeley and skipper Matt Smith sending a free-kick fractionally off-target, but we upped our game after the interval and looked a bigger threat with the introduction of Donley in attack.

Santiago found himself bearing down on goal in a central position but was denied by a one-on-one save from Graczyk in our first real chance of the game on 56 minutes while Donley teased an effort wide before Dorrington’s header from White’s free-kick sailed back across goal and in, only to be chalked off by the assistant referee’s flag. A minute later, Devine burst into the box but low driven shots from he and Cesay were blocked by Graczyk and Awe in quick succession as we tried to force our way in front.

Another free-kick from midfielder White saw Donley head over the bar but we couldn’t quite conjure up that one golden opportunity and in stoppage time, the latter was shown a straight red card following a coming-together involving the majority of players on the pitch. Arsenal’s Taylor Foran was cautioned for his part, with Cesay following Donley off after picking up a second yellow in the melee. Still, we might have won it amid a frantic end to the game as we snatched possession with Graczyk miles outside his area, but our nine men couldn’t work a shooting chance from distance and the points were shared.

Highlights on SPURSPLAY

Match data

Yellow cards: Spurs – White 34, Dorrington 53, Cesay 63, 90+7; Arsenal – Bandeira 51, Walters 66, Cozier-Duberry 67, Edwards 90+1, Foran 90+6.

Red cards: Spurs – Donley 90+6, Cesay 90+7.

Referee: Daniel Middleton.

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Sunny, gentle breeze, 12 degrees.

Attendance: 96.