U18 Report: Saints narrowly beaten by Spurs

By SFC Media time Sat 18 Feb Saints vs Tottenham
Photo by Isabelle Field | Alex Stepien-Iwumene
Sat 18 Feb 11.30AM
U18 Premier League
Southampton
0
Spurs
1
goal
Ajayi [49']
Referee: John Pike | Venue: Staplewood Campus | Attendance: 0

Southampton Under-18s fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Under-18s Premier League on Saturday.

Saints played their part and fought hard in a fast-paced game but Damola Ajayi’s second-half strike meant that Spurs took three points away from Staplewood.

A young side was fielded at Staplewood Campus with 14-year-old Harrison Miles making his first appearance at Under-18s level in midfield whilst 15-year-old Korban McMullan was introduced as a second half substitute.

In addition, four Under-16s stars were amongst the squad with Tommy Dobson-Ventura continuing to start in defence as Barnaby Williams was handed a starting place in attack.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18:  during the U18s Premier League match between Southampton U18s and Tottenham Hotspuron at Staplewood Training Ground on February 18, 2023 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Isabelle Field/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Harrison Miles was Saints' youngest player on the field

It was Spurs who worked the first opportunity for an early shot when Callum Olusesi cut in from a narrow angle in the area and fired the ball across goal and out of play.

Saints started to knock the ball around nicely in response, but the visitors then went closer still to finding the opener.

A low ball into an excellent area from winger Maxwell McKnight bounced on the six-yard line and clipped the post before being cleared by the Saints defence.

Further chances for Spurs came and went courtesy of Yusuf Akhamrich and Tyrese Hall, but then Saints went close themselves for the first time in the match.

A lofted pass over the Spurs defence set Will Merry free on the left and his cross towards the right side of the penalty area found his strike-partner Tommy-Lee Higgs; Higgs controlled and waited for an angle to open before seeing his low striker flash narrowly wide.

This moment seemed to help the hosts grow in confidence and their next attack forced Spurs goalkeeper Luca Gunter into a superb action.

Saints midfielder Ryan Chavez-Munoz found space outside the box to fire a low effort towards the bottom corner, but Gunter flew to his left and palmed wide.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18:  during the U18s Premier League match between Southampton U18s and Tottenham Hotspuron at Staplewood Training Ground on February 18, 2023 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Isabelle Field/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Both sides had a handful of chances in the first half

The game was now very open and Josh Jeffries was also called upon before half-time.

A Spurs free kick forced Saints' shot-stopper to push the ball back out into the path of McKnight, but Jeffries held on to the firm rebound well.

Both sides continued to push for a goal before the break but it seemed fair that things were level based on the efforts of both groups of players in the first period.

Unfortunately for Saints, it was Spurs who gained the lead early in the second-half after a superb piece of improvisation from Ajayi.

The striker received a bouncing ball with his back to goal around 12 yards out and managed to hook his left-footed shot into the roof of the net, leaving Jeffries stranded in goal.

Although a tight and well-contested fixture was to be decided by Ajayi, Saints continued to fight until the end with the willing running of Chavez-Munoz and Will Merry causing most concern for the visitors.

Saints are back in action on Saturday 25th February when they travel to take on West Bromwich Albion in the Under-18s Premier League, with kick-off at 11am.

Related

Saints B fixture vs Leeds relocated
chevron right

Southampton

1
Josh Jeffries (GK)
2
Reggie Evans
replace Jem Hewlett (17′) replace Ben Sheaf (73′)
3
Joshua Lett
4
Tommy Dobson-Ventura yellow card
5
Tyler Edmondson
6
Harrison Miles
7
Will Merry
8
Alex Stepien-Iwumene (C)
9
Tommy-Lee Higgs yellow card
replace Joshua Pitts (66′)
10
Ryan Chavez-Munoz
11
Barnaby Williams
replace Korban McMullan (73′)
12
Ben Sheaf
13
Adli Mohamed
14
Jem Hewlett
15
Korban McMullan
16
Joshua Pitts

Spurs

1
Luca Gunter (GK) (C)
2
William Andiyapan
3
Maeson King
4
Alfie Dorrington
5
Archie Chaplin yellow card
6
Tyrese Hall
replace Gabriel Han Willhoft-King (73′)
7
Maxwell McKnight
8
Rio Kyerematen
9
Damola Ajayi goal
10
Callum Olusesi
replace Leo Black (73′)
11
Yusuf Akhamrich
replace Billy Heaps (77′)
12
Kieran Morgan
14
Gabriel Han Willhoft-King
15
Billy Heaps
16
Leo Black
17
Ellis Lehane
U18 Highlights: Saints 0-1 Spurs video02:41
video
Saints vs Tottenham

U18 Highlights: Saints 0-1 Spurs

Full highlights from Saints' Under-18 Premier League defeat

U18 Preview: Saints vs Spurs
Gallery: West Ham work SFC_Camera
West Ham vs Saints

Gallery: West Ham work

Saints prepare for the trip to West Ham.

time15 hours ago
B Team Preview: Derby County vs Saints Win a tour of Staplewood training ground