Town’s U18s completed their league fixtures with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Playford Road on Saturday morning. Northern Ireland U21 international striker Caolan Lavery netted for the Blues in the second half.
In the first action of the game on four minutes, Spurs midfielder Massimo Luongo hit a shot from just outside the Town area to give the visitors an early lead. Although it appeared to take a slight deflection, the Australian should never have been able to get his shot away in the first place.
Town responded well and Cormac Burke dragged his shot wide, before a strong run from Callum Bennett set up Caolan Lavery, whose shot from 20 yards was superbly tipped over the bar by Spurs keeper Jordan Archer.
Archer again denied Town a few minutes later when Aaron Jones’s left-foot effort was heading for the top corner, only for the visiting keeper to fist it away for a corner.
And Town were made to pay for their failure to beat Archer when Shaq Coulthirst rounded Cody Cropper and rolled the ball into the empty net with ten minutes of the first half remaining.
A number of substitutions disrupted the flow of the second period, but Town did pull a goal back on 73. Sub Tommy Winter was fouled 25 yards out and Lavery stepped up to curl the ball round the wall and in off the post.
Bennett had a good chance to equalise with a free header five minutes later but he sent the ball well wide and as the final whistle approached, Lavery’s superb dipping 20-yard volley was touched over by the impressive Archer.
With Town pushing forward for the equaliser, the visitors could have increased their advantage in stoppage time when Coulthirst somehow blazed over from inside the six-yard box.
However, despite some good play from Town’s youngsters, Spurs certainly gave them a lesson in how to finish their chances.
Lavery proved a handful all game, despite still not appearing to be 100% match-sharp after his knee injury. Aaron Jones impressed in central midfield, while it was the final game of Josh Meekings and Rory McKeown’s time with Town.
The U18s are currently seventh in Premier Academy League - Group A but with other teams still having matches to play.
Town’s U16s almost produced a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down against Spurs but ended up losing 4-3.
U18s: Cropper (O’Donnell 46), Bennett, October, Jones, Meekings, Scotcher, Burke, Acott, Lavery, McKeown (Marriott 65) and Tiofack (Winter 65). Unused: Simmons and Lawrence.
Report: James Ager.