Town’s U15s were beaten 4-2 by Tottenham in the annual Academy Showcase at Portman Road. Ben Morris and Andre Dozzell, from the spot, were on target for the young Blues.
After an early Morris freekick from just outside the area was blocked by the Tottenham wall, the visitors went close to going in front in the sixth minute when Kazaiah Sterling hit a shot on the half-turn from the edge of the area which Blues keeper Nicholas Hayes did well to save to his left.
But a Spurs goal wasn’t too long in coming with the Londoners going ahead in the 10th minute when right winger David Ajiboye beat keeper Hayes to a ball into the box and stabbed past him from close range.
Hayes did well to divert Keanan Bennetts’s powerful strike over in the 14th minute with the visitors well on top having claimed the lead.
But Town gradually got themselves back into the game and in the 21st minute levelled. After good work from Dozzell on the left, Morris latched on to a low ball across the box and found himself space before beating the keeper.
However, parity was to last less than a minute with Ajiboye cutting the ball back from the Tottenham right and Sterling slamming home from close range off a defender.
After referee Niall Beer had waved away Morris’s appeals for a penalty after he — and the vociferous crowd in the Co-op Stand — felt he had been fouled in the area, Ross Meldrum volleyed wide for the Blues.
Following the first of the many changes of personnel, Hayes again did well to save from the dangerous Sterling, diverting the striker’s shot over from the edge of the box over following a corner.
Just before the break, Graham Bryan whipped over a superb cross from the left but Meldrum was unable to direct his header goalwards.
Soon after the referee’s whistle went with the visitors deservedly in front at the break with Hayes the busier of the two keepers.
Spurs went close to increasing their lead eight minutes after the restart when Sterling crashed a shot against the bar from a tight angle on the right.
Three minutes later, Dozzell nodded into the net for the Blues from Morris’s cross but the linesman adjudged that the ball had gone out of play before the striker reached it.
Impressive Blues centre-half Luke Woolfenden blocked Bennetts’s attempt at goal from a tight angle on the left on 54, the left winger having taken the ball beyond keeper Hayes. The defender was injured in the incident and was replaced.
Just before the hour, Dozzell, patrolling the central midfielder in a manner very reminiscent of his father Jason, whipped over a freekick from the left. Spurs keeper Alfie Whiteman first saved Connor McKendry’s flick, then reacted quickly to block Meldrum’s follow-up.
Tottenham added to their lead in the 66th minute when a cross from the left reached sub Jack Roles at the far post and he smashed home.
Spurs sub Nya Kirby shot over in the 33rd minute with the visitors continuing to look the more likely scorers.
Just prior to seven additional minutes for a series of injury stoppages, Blues sub Joe Re hit a low shot to Whiteman from a tight angle on the right.
Soon after, the Blues pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Bradley Rudd had fouled McKendry. Dozzell took the kick and confidently beat the keeper.
Tottenham made it 4-2 when Aramie Oteh finished from close range after Rudd’s cross from the right had been knocked back into the box.
Just before the end Spurs keeper Whiteman did well to advance off his line to block from Flynn Downes.
The visitors were worthy winners having looked the more dangerous side in front of goal with Hayes making a number of good saves.
Town, however, passed the ball around fluently at times and might have scored more but for Spurs keeper Whiteman also being in inspired form.
Town U15s: Nicholas Hayes, Jacob Partridge, Graham Bryan, Flynn Downes (Charlie Brown 52), Luke Woolfenden (Connor McKendry 57), Tristan Nydam ((Daniel Muamba 63), Ross Meldrum, Daniel Muamba (Jake Mulryne 45), Ben Morris (Flynn Downes 71), Andre Dozzell, Connor McKendry (Leighton Thomas 30 (Joe Re 58)). Subs: Tyler Hursey.
Spurs U15s: Alfie Whiteman, Bradley Rudd, Nicholas Tsaroulla, George Marsh, Joy Richard Mukena, Jaden Brown, David Ajiboye, Dylan Duncan, Aramie Oteh, Kazaiah Sterling, Keanan Bennetts. Subs: Jack Roles, Theodore Campbell, Nya Kirby, TJ Eyoma.