National League Cup action concludes... - LIVE on SPURSPLAY

Our Under-21s begin 2025 by travelling to Braintree Town on Saturday at 3pm (UK), in our final National League Cup group game - live on SPURSPLAY.

After a long pause due to the festivities, Wayne Burnett's young side will be looking to bounce back from a winless run in December, which saw the side go four games without a win in all competitions.

We come into this one in third place in Group D, with four points thanks to two draws and two penalty shootout successes so far this campaign.

Braintree are currently top, but we're just outside of the top two on goal difference, although progression into the knockouts is unlikely.

Tickets

All tickets for this fixture are being sold via the hosts, with pricing as follows:

Adults (Seated & terrace): £20

Concession (Seated & terrace, OAPs & those in full-time education): £15

Under-18s (Terrace only): £10

Under-12s (Terrace only): £5

Please note - with the current weather conditions in mind, tickets for this match will not be sold in advance and will only be available on the day, payable at admission via turnstiles 1-4. This fixture going ahead will be subject to a pitch inspection at around midday at the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium.

Coverage

If you're unable to make the trip to Essex, you can follow the action live on SPURSPLAY and we'll keep you up to date via the Spurs App & socials, with a full match report to follow after the final whistle.

The Opposition

Braintree Town are back in the National League for the first time since 2017, having won promotion via the National League South play-offs last season.

The Iron failed to win any of their first three games back in the fifth tier losing out to York, Barnet and our next FA Cup opponents, Tamworth.

However, Steve Pitt's side picked up their first win and ended a run of 11 winless games at this level by beating Halifax Town before the end of September.

A defeat to Rochdale followed before making it back-to-back home league wins with a commanding 2-0 win over Altrincham kicked off October.

Progression into the first round of the FA Cup with a win over Bishop's Stortford was the only other positive from the month though, as the Iron suffered defeat in their three other league games, and were knocked out of the first round proper by sixth-tier Brackley Town.

A first away win of the season at Eastleigh saw the side bounce back, followed by a tight 1-0 victory over 10-man AFC Fylde lifted the side out of the bottom four for the first time this season.

A six-game winless run, including costly defeats to fellow relegation battlers Boston United and Maidenhead United then followed, before the Essex-based side picked up their sixth league win of the season on Boxing Day.

An impressive 4-2 win away at Dagenham & Redbridge saw Kyrell Lisbie and Chay Cooper both bag braces as both players struck either side of half-time.

However the side come into this one looking to bounce back from defeat in the Essex derby on New Year's Day, as Southend United ran out 1-0 winners at the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium, leaving them outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.

In stark contrast to their league form, the Iron come into the game with a 100% record in this competition, following up a tight 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a dominant 4-2 victory over West Ham, before coming from behind to beat West Brom 3-2.

That run leaves them top of Group D with a spot in the knockout rounds all but mathematically secure, however a point will ensure their progression in the competition.

One to watch

With seven goal involvements from his 24 league appearances so far this season, averaging one very 161 minutes, journeyman John Akinde is our pick for this one.

The 35-year-old rose through the ranks at fellow National League side Ebbsfleet United (then called Gravesend & Northfleet) and after scoring eight times in 23 league appearances, earned a move to Bristol City.

However after just five league goals in six years for the Robins, then Crawley Town and Portsmouth, in a period interrupted by relentless loan spells, Akinde sought refuge back in non-league.

The then-24-year-old found form again at non-league Alfreton Town, recording 17 goals and 12 assists, earning a move back up to the pyramid to Barnet where he recored 108 goal involvements in 175 games across a five-year spell.

More form followed with a move back into the EFL at Lincoln City, recording 35 goal involvements as the Imps won promotion back into the third tier for the first time since 1999, before 21 goals and 16 assists across spells at Gillingham and Colchester United.

Akinde arrived at Cressing Road in the summer, and has recorded the club's most goal involvements since signing, along with being the Iron's joint-second top goalscorer.

Permutations

With Braintree five points clear at the summit, we can only hope to progress as runners up in Group D.

Due to an inferior goal difference, we must win with a significant goal swing in order to give ourselves a chance of heading through to the knockouts.

West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Sutton and Ebbsfleet are all just one point behind us and all have a game in hand. Due to these teams being able to pick up bonus points if the games head to penalties, we must reach seven points to have a chance of going through.

A draw and a bonus point would see us effectively eliminated due to our inferior goal difference, however if we avoid defeat, we won't find out our fate for certain until the final group games on 21st January.