Leicester City U18 3-4 Tottenham Hotspur U18

[davieG]

From OS

An 86^th minute strike from Adam Smith denied Leicester City's academy side a point despite a spirited fight back as they went down 4-3 at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur at Belvoir Drive on Saturday.

The Foxes had trailed 3-0 with only 25 minutes remaining before goals from Robbie Burns (pictured), Adam Vasey and a penalty from Ricky Sappleton looked to have secured a point.

But Smith's effort in the dying moments of the game broke Leicester hearts as they saw their three-match winning streak end.

City were under pressure from the start as Dean Parrett and John Bostock came close to opening the scoring for the visitors.

And a mistimed challenge from Joe Cobb in the 10^th minute presented Spurs with an opportunity from the penalty spot - but Robert Ambrusics turned Bostock's kick around the post.

But Tottenham didn't have to wait long and were ahead three minutes later - a daisy-cutter from the corner of the penalty area by Yaser Kasim catching everyone off guard.

City then began to find their feet as Sappleton was denied from close range in the 22^nd minute before Lee Cox saw his strike rebound off the outside of the post moments later.

But it was Tottenham who looked more likely to score as John Obika's shot on 44 minutes also hit the upright and was unlucky not to send his side into a two-goal half time lead.

Leicester continued to soak up the pressure after the restart but a double-strike either side of the hour mark from Obika looked to have secured the points for Spurs.

But two goals in three minutes gave the Foxes a lifeline as Burns (67) then Vasey (69) finished well from inside the penalty area.

And City completed the comeback in the 78^th minute when Sappleton converted from the penalty spot after being brought down by goalkeeper Jamie Butler.

The Foxes pushed forward in search of a winner but Smith's 35 yard shot left Ambrusics with little chance and meant Tottenham returned home with the spoils.

Leicester City's U18 side return to action next Saturday when they host Reading at Belvoir Drive.

City: Ambusics, Cobb, Bolger, Garner (Parks 51), O'Neill (John 45), Hicks, Cox, Vasey, Burns, C King (Yusef 82), Sappleton

[Thracian]

Fans view.

Leicester City U18 3 Spurs U18 4

An exhilarating three goal comeback by Leicester City's Academy team was finally thwarted when league leaders Tottenham won the game with a speculative 30-yarder thunderbolt at Belvoir Drive today.

Not for the first time this season, Leicester's cumbersome back line was found wanting by the Londoners who carved out a three goal lead and might well have had several more but for the woodwork, some last ditch defending and several decent saves from goalkeeper Ambusics..

But just when any sort of comeback looked unlikely, Leicester produced 15 minutes of sometimes eyecatching football to level again at 3-3 only to disappear again in abject anti-climax.

Recovery started when Jorrin John, reacting to so nearly giving a goal away seconds earlier with an underhit back pass, produced a wonderful dribble and defence splitting pass which laid on a good goal for Robbie Burns. Both players had been introduced to booster City's attack and Burns was involved again with City's second goal.

A neat one-two on the left produced a through ball to Sappleton whose clever step over completly deceived the Spurs defence and left Adam Vasey to smash the ball home in typically emphatic style.

These two goals in a three or four minute spell were quickly followed by the equaliser. Sappleton looked resigned to an offside decision when he challenged for possession down the centre but there was no flag and eventually he was fouled by goalkeeper Butler for a penalty which the big number nine duly despatched himself.

City were left with about 16 minutes to grab the winner and improve their starting position of fourth in the Academy table but they never looked fully committed to the task and slack marking outside the box, not for the first time, left Adam Smith totally unchallenged as he blasted home a speculative winner from 30 yards.

Spurs fully deserved their early advantage - taking complete control in midfield and causing all sorts of trouble particularly down the left where talented City right-back Luke O'Neill discovered exactly how hard it could be to maintain a first team challenge.

It was deep in his defensive territory that Spurs scored their opener, a long range grubber into the far right hand corner which Yaser Kasim despatched courtesy of the space left him by three or four defenders.

Lee Cox might have stolen an equaliser with a side-foot shot from 12 yards which was presented to him by Craig King and turned onto a post and wide by the visiting keeper. Sappleton then controlled a cross, turned and despatched an unstoppable shot home in some style only to be rightly ruled offside and Vasey too shot wide.

But Ambusics, who had earlier made several vital stops including a brilliant penalty save (after a Joe Cobb foul), was beaten for the second time when the Spurs left winger John Obika was allowed time and space on the left only to see his thunderous drive cannon across goal to safety off the left-hand post with the last kick of the first half.

City's luck didn't last. They went 2-0 behind to a quality strike from the speedy Obika who, again, somehow avoided both City's centre-backs and finally, after a goalline save by Leicester left-back Joe Cobb, a ridiculous mix-up by the foxes' giant number six Bolger and Ambusics saw Obika nip between them to score into an open goal. The ball should have been despatched into the proverbial row Z by Bolger but the incident only served to emphasise the mess that was City's defence, especially in terms of mobility and the lack of speed in closing people down even when it was apparent they were prepared to shoot from any range in the gusting wind..

Attacking changes prompted the subsequently foiled three goal comeback but this always entertaining game rarely showed City at their best. Apart from their slipshod defending, the team rarely moved back and forward as one, there was too little movement up front and precious few of the flowing passing moves which have long been the hallmark of the side. Player ratings to follow.

[davieG]

Spurs View.

Leicester scorers:-

Burns, 69

Vasey, 70

Sappleton (pen), 81

Spurs scorers:-

Kasim, 16

Obika, 55, 65

Smith, 82

Teams:-

Leicester (4-4-2):- Ambusics; O’Neil, Bolger, Garner (sub Parks, 51), Cobb; Vasey, Hicks, Cox (Capt.), Burns; Sappleton, King (sub Yusef, 82)

No Bookings

NB: - Note there were no team sheets, so the team has been sourced from a spectator and the Leicester Official site.

Spurs (4-4-2):- Butler; Smith, Butcher, Caulker (Capt.), Byrne; Bostock (sub Cox, 82), Parrett, Kasim, Townsend (sub Ekim, 90+); Mason, Obika

Subs not used: - Believed to include Clare & Jack

Booked:- Parrett, Kasim

On the same week-end last year, Leicester and Spurs under 18s served up a humdinger of a game, which Spurs won 5-3. This time the match was played in glorious October sunshine, and the quality of football from both sides was excellent befitting Spurs top place and Leicester’s fourth place in the section. In as entertaining a game as you could wish to see, Spurs went 3-0 up, only to see the home side drag it back to 3-3, before right back Adam Smith unleashed a Stephen Carr type 35 yard shot that proved to be a fitting winning goal.

One of the reasons for Spurs success so far this season has been the fact they have a settled side, with a few subtle adjustments to positional play. Nathan Byrne has come into the side and settled really well at left back, teaming well with England International Andros Townsend down the left flank. Dean Parrett was given the role he loves so much this time, as a midfield battler, and he revelled in it right from the start, winning an early ball and earning an early free kick and a corner with an advance down the left channel. This time John Bostock was given a role on the right flank, but as Spurs played predominantly down the left in the first half, we didn’t see too much of the summer signing from Crystal Palace,

Ryan Mason supported Jon Obika up front, and mason looks stronger and stronger making some telling runs down the middle himself. The Spurs side played with confidence, at high tempo and with good skill from the outset.

The Leicester side included two big strikers (Sappleton and King) who gave the central defenders plenty to think about. The Spurs defence coped well on the whole, although Calum Butcher made a couple of passing errors at the back that might have proved more costly.

After Parrett’s early exploits, Ryan Mason made a good run down the right side. His cross was laid up by Obika for Bostock, whose shot was well over the bar. After one of those Butcher mistakes, the ball was well cleared by his partner Stephen Caulker, and in fact this was a good ball to Obika who held the ball off well, before feeding Townsend on the left. Townsend passed inside to Mason, whose first shot was parried by the Leicester keeper, who then saw Mason’s follow up go high over the goal.

King managed to hold off Caulker, and his pass to Sappleton resulted in a decent effort going just wide of the target. With Oscar Jansson away on International duty, Jamie Butler was given a chance in goal, and although not a tall lad, his positioning and handling were good, and he was a very vocal keeper too, constantly harrying and encouraging his team-mates. Spurs were awarded a penalty after 13 minutes, when Parrett passed ahead to mason, who gave the ball to Townsend. Andros was brought down just inside the box, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mason stepped up, but put the ball at a good height to the left of the keeper who made the save. Spurs took a deserved lead three minutes later, thanks to a terrific solo run down the left channel by Yasser Kasim, who hit a lovely shot across the defender and the keeper into the far corner of the net.

Leicester tried to come back straight away, and Sappleton was just about held at bay thanks to good blocking and defending by Jamie Butler and Calum Butcher. The Leicester skipper Cox saw a good shot rebound off the Spurs post. This attack came about after Caulker stopped in his tracks because he thought he heard the referee’s whistle. However, the whistle was blown in the under-16 game being played on the adjacent pitch. The moral would seem to be do not play to the whistle at Leicester!

Both Spurs centre backs went close with chances from corners taken by Ryan Mason. Butcher Headed over; Caulker hit a shot high into the side netting. Dean Parrett got a booking after half an hour for a late tackle, which put him at risk for the remainder of the game, but to his credit his performance was not diminished. Byrne cut inside and fed Townsend, whose shot went wide, before Butler held a decent effort form King at the other end. On the stroke of half time, Andros Townsend hit the post with a powerful effort.

It appeared that Spurs switched their tack for the second half, trying to get Bostock more into the game. They won a corner after good work by Bostock and Obika, before Obika met Townsend’s corner and hit the side netting from the near post. Adam Smith made two great saving tackles on King inside the Spurs box, before Hicks hit a powerful shot from 30 yards that whistled just over the bar.

Spurs increased their lead with a great goal from Obika. Mason had split the defence with a good ball and Obika carried the ball a little down the right into the box, before unleashing a super rising right footed shot that beat the keeper and hit the net with power. This was surely as good a goal as Obika has scored, and it seemed to have secured the points. After butler held another King effort, Obika did everything but score as he rose to head a Mason chip. Somehow (and I assume the keeper got a touch) the ball rolled across the goal mouth before rebounding off the post. Obika turned provider for Mason with a cross from the left. Mason’s shot was parried. In the 65th minute, Obika got a second goal after battling with the central defenders and the keeper to win a long ball, and earn for himself the chance to roll the ball into the net, which was not turned down.

The Leicester youngster were sorely stung, and were not about to give up. They scored two goals in quick succession. Firstly Butler got a touch to Burns’ shot, but could not prevent the goal; then Vasey made it 3-2 with a right footed shot after a ball from the left. Obika thought he had got a hat-trick, but was adjudged offside, much to the chagrin of the Spurs players, who perhaps got a bit too rattled and lost some composure. Sappleton tested Butler with a great shot, and then earnt a penalty after Butler was adjudged to have pulled him down in the area. Butler might have been labelled the last man, but the referee obviously decided a penalty was enough punishment, although Kasim got booked for his vehement dissent. Sappleton put the ball away for a 3-3 scoreline and a rip-roaring finish.

Thankfully, Adam Smith restored the lead in the most sensational fashion as he advanced into the Leicester half, and hit a marvellous dipping 35 yarder which fell into the net beautifully behind Ambusics. Leicester tried and tried as hard as they could, but Spurs held out for a memorable victory that keeps them at the top of Group B in the Academy League. Next week, they travel to Cardiff, and on November 1st are at home to MK Dons. If you get the chance, go and watch this Spurs under-18 side. They are as good as I can remember for a long time.

[Father Ted]

Adam Vasey on the scoresheet again. Could he be with the first-team soon?

[allard7]

Adam Vasey on the scoresheet again. Could he be with the first-team soon?

Looking good for him ... if he puts in a few more good performances i think pearson might give him a go in the cup, i think if offered a contract at the end of this year he could be in and around the first team.

[Thracian]

Vasey's a decent prospect but looked well short of first team material just yet. In act no-one looked like first team material on Saturday.

[The People's Hero]

Ambusics has got a cool name.

Get him in the first team.