Lamb brace proves in vain as EDS lose out at Spurs

The teenage striker continued his fine start to the season by marking his maiden PL2 outing in impressive fashion, finding the target in both halves with only a goal line block denying him a hat-trick.

But in what proved a high-quality affair at Stevenage’s Sporta Arena, a brace from Callum Olusesi alongside efforts from Miracle Adewola and Luca Williams-Barnett ultimately proved decisive for the hosts.

What happened

With Tottenham seeking to go top of PL2 and City looking to return to winning ways it promised to be an action-packed affair and so it proved.

 City keeper Max-Edgar Chabot did well to deny Miracle Adewole on 16 minutes after the Spurs man latched onto a dangerous cross on the right edge of the six-yard box.

It was City though who forced the breakthrough just shy of the half hour when Lamb marked his PL2 debut in style.

The striker latched onto a poor back pass before first rounding Spurs keeper Samual Archer and then coolly firing home.

Within 60 seconds however the hosts had drawn level.

Femi Fapetu was dispossessed on the periphery of the City box and the ball fell to the dangerous Luca Williams-Barnett who evaded Chabot and then found the empty net.

The hosts then upped the ante by scoring twice in two minutes just before the break.

First, they took the lead through Miracle Adewole. Tyrese Hall created the initial danger with a neat flick from the left side of the box. Ellis Lehane then made a vital touch, guiding the ball into the path of Adewole lurking on the edge of the box.

Though Chabot did get his hand to the shot, the Blues keeper couldn’t prevent the force of the effort edging the ball over the line.

Within 120 seconds Spurs had struck again, this time through Callum Olusesi.

The midfielder evaded a number of challenges as he slalomed through the City box before then beating Chabot at the near post with a fierce drive.

The City keeper performed wonders to deny Williams-Barnett from extending the lead with an instinctive 58th minute save before Lamb was then a whisker away at the opposite end.

City kept pressing and it required a fingertip save from Archer to prevent Dunbar-McDonald from narrowing the deficit just past the hour.

However, it was Spurs who did strike again on 67 minutes through Olusesi, the Spurs man drilling home in impressive fashion after a Leke Drake clearance fell invitingly for him.

City weren’t done though and danger man Lamb struck again on 73 minutes for his second of the afternoon, the striker making no mistake from close range after brilliant initial work from substitute Dante Headley on the left flank.

And only a goal line clearance from Spurs sub George Feeney prevented Lamb from sealing his hat-trick on 86 minutes in a breathless finish to the contest.

How we lined up

Max-Edgar Chabot started in goal and was shielded by a back four of Brooklyn Nfonkeu, Harrison Parker, Leke Drake and Matty Henderson-Hall. Kian Noble was the holding midfielder with Harrison Miles and Femi Fapetu also in the engine room.

Teddie Lamb was the attacking focal point with Christian Dunbar-McDonald and Xavier Parker providing support on either flank.

EDS XI: Chabot, Nfonkeu (Gorman 67), H Parker (Wain 45), Drake, Henderson-Hall, Noble, Miles, Fapetu (Headley 67), Dunbar-McDonald (Midwood 77), Lamb, X Parker

Subs: Courtman, Hudson, Tevenan

TOTTENHAM XI: Archer, Rowsell (c), King (Feeney 86), Hardy, Dorrington, Hall, Adewole, Oluessi (McFadden 77), Hall (Elliott-Parris 65), Williams-Barnett (Byrne 65), Lehane (Sowunmi 77)

What it means

The result leaves Oliver Reiss’s side in 21st position in the Premier League 2 table with three points from three games.

Spurs meanwhile have moved into top spot with 10 points from four games.

What’s next

With the international break now taking centre stage, the City youngsters will not be in action again until mid-October.

Our return to action is in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday, October 14 when we play host to Paris Saint-Germain’s Under-19s. Kick-off at the Joie Stadium is set for 15.00 (UK)