U18 Report: Spurs 2-2 Saints

Saints went ahead on 25 minutes when Josh Pitts finished smartly, but Spurs equalised just one minute later after a deflected strike from Yusuf Akhamrich.

A half-time lead was held by Saints after Harrison Miles had put them 2-1 ahead but a late equaliser from Archie Chaplin for Spurs saw the spoils shared.

Nick Oyekunle battles with a defender. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)

The first shots on target of the game came from Spurs as Oliver Irow and Gabriel Han Willhoft-King struck shots straight at Dylan Moody in the Saints goal.

Shortly after, Miracle Adewole snapped a half volley goalwards as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box but his effort flashed wide despite a clean connection.

Saints settled into the contest nicely though and had their first effort from Harrison Miles deflected wide following a corner.

The visitors to North London soon had the lead too when Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez squared across the box and his pass was swept home confidently by Pitts from a central position.

It was not long before Spurs were back on level terms though. Saints proved unfortunate to see Akhamrich’s shot loop off of a defender and into the net, with Dylan Moody left stranded having committed to diving in the opposite direction.

Saints were still looking in good form though and an excellent move then saw them go within inches of retaking the lead. Play moved quickly through Pitts, to Aston Daley, and then onto Nick Oyekunle, but the forward clipped the top of the crossbar with his delicate lifted shot over Spurs' goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn.

The lead was regained on 37 minutes though. A corner was not cleared properly by Spurs and, as Saints kept the pressure on, Miles fired a shot through bodies and into the far corner.

Harrison Miles celebrates his goal.

After deservedly holding an advantage into the second half, Saints had a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 when Gomes Rodriguez broke through on the right a squared for Pitts in the box, but the striker could only place his effort wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Good chances for both sides came and went as the all important fourth goal was searched for and Tommy Dobson-Ventura saw a header from a corner tipped over after losing his marker at the back post.

However, it was Spurs who found the net late on to rescue themselves a point as Chaplin scored from a corner.

Saints are in action again on Saturday 16th March when they host Leicester City in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off set for 1pm.

Spurs: Bloedorn, Adewole, King, Chaplin, Hardy, Willhoft-King (Adelusi 67), Irow, Black, Ajayi, Olusesi (Lehane 46), Akhamrich.

Subs not used: Logan, Archer, Egan-Riley.

Goals: Akhamrich 26, Chaplin 88.

Yellow Cards: Adelusi.

Saints: Moody, Williams, Moore (c), Dobson-Ventura, Okonola-Matthews (Sheaf 90), Miles, Gomes Rodriguez (Sillah Dibaga 65), Oyekunle (Rohart-Brown 60), Pitts, Daley, Robinson.

Subs not used: Upstell, Myers.

Goals: Pitts 25, Miles 37.

Yellow Cards: Miles, Dobson-Ventura, Moore.