Under-21s: Spurs v United

Numerous factors combined to see a crop of this season's Under-18s' title-winning talent afforded a chance in the higher age bracket for this PL2 contest.

They adjusted to the jump well, holding firm for the first 15 minutes before Spurs striker Will Lankshear broke the deadlock from yards out, knocking a driven Jude Soonsup-Bell cross into an open goal.

Travis Binnion's side wasted no time getting back into the game when, two minutes later, Ruben Curley regained possession in the middle of the park, before driving towards the opposition box. He let off an unexpected long-range effort, which seemed to take home goalkeeper Luca Gunter by surprise before nestling into the bottom-right corner.

Buoyed by that quickfire leveller, the young Reds made a period of pressure pay just before the half-hour mark.

Jaydan Kamason picked up the ball on the right flank and laid it off to Ethan Williams in the inside channel. Twisting and turning, the latter managed to find a path to Gabriele Biancheri at the back post, who had broken free from his marker and was able to prod home to take United ahead.

The hosts regained some control following our second though, and Spurs midfielder Jamie Donley capitalised on that to draw the game level once more. Benefitting from an out-of-position Dermot Mee as a result of our keeper's efforts to deny an earlier chance, Donley was able to loft the ball into the back of the net, meaning nothing separated the two sides as they entered the break.

The second half painted a much calmer picture. Despite the hosts controlling the possession for large parts of the half, the young Reds pressed well to ensure the ball remained in safer areas of the pitch.

It was Williams who came closest to re-establishing United's lead in the 70th minute, when he pounced on his own rebounded effort and ventured further into the penalty area before striking against the inside of the post.

The shot had Gunter beat, but it hit the woodwork at an angle that saw the ball trickle agonisingly along the goal line before being cleared by the Spurs defence.

Both sides cancelled each other out throughout the half, a pattern that held until the referee's final whistle, and the spoils were shared in this Premier League 2 clash.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Mee; Kamason, Kingdon, Aljofree, Murray; Curley, McAllister (Devaney 62); Scanlon, Oyedele (Sharpe 89), Williams; Biancheri (Nolan 75).

Substitutes not used: Plumley, Baumann.

Goals: Lankshear 16, Donley 36 | Curley 18, Biancheri 25.