Under-18s back up to second with win over Villa

Goals from Callum Olusesi, Jaden Williams and substitute Damola Ajayi ensured our Under-18s made a winning start to 2023, Saturday’s 3-0 home victory over Aston Villa sending us back up to second in the league.

Under-16s midfielder Olusesi opened his account at this level with a deflected shot inside a quarter-of-an-hour at Hotspur Way before striker Williams – back from injury – doubled our lead just before half-time, Ajayi finishing things off in the latter stages.

In addition to Williams, full-back Max McKnight also returned to action for Stuart Lewis’ team after a spell on the sidelines and it didn’t take us long to get ourselves ahead. After Luca Gunter saved Omari Kellyman’s early effort for the visitors, Olusesi intercepted a clearance near the edge of Villa’s area and fired left-footed into the net via a slight deflection on 14 minutes.

Tyrese Hall and Williams both shot over the bar as we continued on the front foot and on 43 minutes, our second goal duly arrived as Yusuf Akhamrich latched onto a long ball forward from the back and set up Williams to produce a clinical finish from inside the box.

Playing against the wind in the second half, Gunter had to make a couple of important saves, brilliantly keeping out Kobei Moore’s header from Finley Munroe’s left-wing cross and then blocking Ewan Simpson’s angled shot with his leg.

Munroe almost pulled a goal back for Villa when his 25-yard free-kick struck the post, but we made sure of the win in the 73rd minute as Alfie Dorrington drove forward from defence, Ajayi’s shot was saved by Villa goalkeeper James Wright, Akhamrich picked up the loose ball and cut back for Dorrington and his low drive was blocked in the box but fell kindly for Ajayi to slot home from six yards out.

Highlights on SPURSPLAY

‘We defended our box well’

Coach Stuart said after the game: “It was great to start off the year with a win and a clean sheet – we’ve been working hard with the boys about defending our box and making blocks, so it was positive to see some of those elements on display today. In the second half I thought we defended well with the wind in our faces, we defended our box well with Archie Chaplin and Alfie Dorrington putting their bodies on the line and Luca Gunter making some good saves, George Abbott was outstanding too, so it was a positive second-half display in tough conditions and a pleasing all-round result and performance.”