Tottenham Defeat Co. Londonderry in Final NI Milk Cup 2012 Match

Tottenham Under-17s completed their week at the Northern Ireland Milk Cup competition by defeating Co. Londonderry 2 – 1 at Broughshane today to finish 11th in the tournament. It was a tightly contested game with Spurs taking a first half lead only for the County team to draw level before the interval. The second half was evenly contested with both sides having periods of dominance but a strong finish by Spurs saw them claim the win with a late goal by Nathan Oduwa.

Tottenham Hotspur 2 Co. Londonderry 1

Tottenham scorers: Harrison, Oduwa

Team: Priestly; Magbadelo (Ogilvie), Lyons-Foster, Campbell-Young, Walkes; Harrison (Oduwa), Winks, Pritchard, Amos (Miller), Georgiou (Goddard); Sonupe

Tottenham had Jon Magbadelo and Anton Walkes at fullback with Kodi Lyons-Foster and Channing Campbell-Young in central defence. Shayon Harrison and Anthony Georgiou were wide in midfield with Emmanuel Sonupe as striker. Harry Winks, Joe Pritchard and Luke Amos controlled central midfield.

Spurs started the better getting their game together as they played down the slope at the picturesque Broughshane ground. The early Spurs danger came with a run by Georgiou on the left and a cross towards Harrison at the back post. Co. Londonderry had a shot which went over. Then Winks and Georgiou combined well on the left as the winger went on a run but it was cleared. Londonderry had a dangerous break on the right with a cross/shot that went over but Liam Priestly had it well covered.

After ten minutes, Spurs went ahead when a shot by Emmanuel Sonupe was saved by the goalkeeper but it fell to Harrison to score. Spurs deserved the lead but Londonderry came back and closed Spurs down quickly and an attempted Spurs’ clearance was blocked but went behind for a goal kick. A dangerous cross by the local side was well cleared by Campbell-Young. Winks set Walkes free on the left with a good pass and he beat his man but the cross was saved by the goalkeeper.  Walkes and Georgiou then combined well to create more danger with a run and cross but the shot went past.

After twenty minutes Oduwa replaced the goalscorer, Harrison, and played wide on the right.  Londonderry threatened with a shot from distance but Priestly parried and collected the ball safely. Oduwa then caused problems with a run on the right wing, he cut in to beat his defender and the goalkeeper then had to block his shot/cross which fell to Winks who shot over.

On twenty six minutes Co. Londonderry were level when a cross from the left was pulled back in to the middle and knocked past Priestly. Spurs responded through Oduwa as he cut in from the right towards goal and his cross was saved by the goalkeeper. County Londonderry started to take more control and built up some pressure with shots coming in on goal from distance. Just on the interval, Amos released Georgiou on the left but his cross was deflected into the goalkeeper’s hands.  A Londonderry free-kick was straight at Priestly and held easily.

Both teams had brief half-time instructions in the sunshine but then had to wait for the officials. Cy Goddard came on for Georgiou and Wiliam Miller replaced Amos at the start of the half. The second period became a tightly contested midfield battle with both teams having periods in the ascendancy without creating any clear chances. The first chance came on 44 minutes when Sonupe put Magbadelo clear in the penalty area on the right but the goalkeeper reacted quickly to block his powerful shot. Then as Londonderry advanced quickly on the break, Campbell-Young had to step in to clear the danger. A quick passing movement allowed Goddard to release Winks but his cross went over. Spurs possession was increasing but then Londonderry came back for their time of dominance and Lyons-Foster took responsibility to clear as the County side threatened.

With ten minutes remaining Connor Ogilvie replaced Magbadelo in central defence with Lyons-Foster moving to right back. At this point Londonderry had the greater possession but Spurs worked hard to deny them and then broke on the right through Oduwa who had spent the second period on that wing. He was pulled down by the defender and from the free-kick Oduwa received the ball from Sonupe and netted but was clearly offside. Oduwa then set off on a run from halfway but was blocked and then Miller had a shot against the post. Another shot from Winks was parried by the goalkeeper up onto the bar and away to safety. Increasing Tottenham pressure as Sonupe tried a shot from twenty five yards which went past and Oduwa played in Miller but he couldn’t get in a shot. Winks had another shot over the bar but from a long clearance Priestly had to be alert to head the ball away from danger.

Londonderry threatened from a free-kick on the right with two shots blocked by defenders. Oduwa set off on another run and drew the defenders to him and was fouled. From the free-kick it was very intricate in the penalty area but the ball came out to Ogilvie on the right, he put in a good cross and the ball fell to Oduwa. He appeared to have missed his chance but with delicate footwork he worked an opportunity to score with three minutes remaining.

Londonderry came back strongly but Spurs defended strongly and blocked a shot with Priestly saving the rebound.

The final whistle meant that Spurs had finished 11th after a hectic week of five games – two wins, a draw and two defeats. The two defeats against South Coast Strikers and CSKA Moscow – they both were very strong, well-organised sides who were much older and physically developed than the Spurs team. Of the other games they competed well and the only result that would have disappointed them was the draw against Co. Armagh as they had control of the match but didn’t take the opportunity to win it. It has been a learning experience for the young players, many of whom are only fifteen years of age. The players brought credit to Tottenham Hotspur and deserve praise for their effort and the sporting manner in which they played every game.