Ten-man Under-18s battle back to draw with Reading

A 95th-minute equaliser from substitute Armend Muslika saw our Under-18s rescue a fully-deserved opening-day point against Reading after playing for 80 minutes with 10 men on Saturday morning.

Elijah Upson’s early dismissal for a last-man foul on Dnayo Hunte followed by goals from Lucas Daka and Larry Omoregie left us 2-0 down and with a significant mountain to climb by the opening stages of the second period at Hotspur Way.

But we rallied superbly in the latter half, captain Tye Hall scoring from the spot after debutant Oliver Boast had earlier seen a penalty saved following a bizarre retake before Muslika struck deep into stoppage time to restore parity. Boast subsequently went agonisingly close with a header from a corner as we continued to press and, in truth, the draw was the least we deserved.

Boast was a lively influence after coming on at the break while Under-16s right-back Oscar Sandiford also impressed on his competitive debut at this level in the wake of a strong pre-season campaign with the Under-18s. We were missing some of the more experienced players in our new-look group and shortly after Omoregie squandered a big chance for Reading, we lost another in only the 11th minute as centre-back Upson saw red for his challenge on Hunte as he retreated towards our own box. The Royals capitalised, taking the lead on 27 minutes via Daka’s deflected shot but we changed shape and started to cause the visitors problems, Reiss Elliott-Parris having a couple of attempts in the lead-up to half-time.

The latter made way for Boast at the interval and just five minutes after the restart, the former Leeds man won a penalty after being brought down by Harley Irish at the near post. He confidently blasted the spot-kick home but was controversially ordered to retake it having heard a whistle from the Under-16s game on the adjacent pitch instead of from referee Steven Goldup, who wasn’t yet satisfied that the kick could be taken. Boast stepped up again, but goalkeeper Tobia Borgnis this time made a fine save down to his left.

Three minutes later, Reading hit us with a sucker punch as Omoregie got onto a long ball and ran clean through to slot past Dylan Thompson for 2-0 but we remained resilient and finally got off the mark on 57 minutes when Ronny Moncur won a second penalty after a foul by Anthony Dove and Hall – who had been deputising at centre-half following Upson’s dismissal – drove low into the corner, sending Borgnis the wrong way.

Samal Bangura later miscued a header inside the box while goalkeeper Thompson produced a marvellous save at the other end to keep out Omoregie’s shot from distance – how crucial that would prove to be as we kept pushing and probing, with our reward finally arriving in the fifth of seven added minutes as Sandiford’s cross from the right was pulled down and finished well by Muslika. Boast could have won it at the end, but powered his header from Oliver Salter’s corner just wide.

‘We showed grit’

Interim Under-18s Coach Joe Staunton told SPURSPLAY: “The boys worked really hard. We showed grit with the challenge presented to us early by going down to 10 men, that provided a bit of an uphill task but the boys were able to dig in and after being 2-0 down, got to a position where we could get something out of the game.”

On the task of playing 80 minutes with 10 men, Joe explained: “It’s what we’re trying to prepare the players for, the adversity that comes within football sometimes. It’s not always easy, there are plenty of challenges that come with the game and that was just one of them that was on display today but the players dug deep and some of them had to put some extra yards in to stay level at times and to keep chasing. Obviously going 2-0 down shortly after half-time with 10 men is a task, but we managed to dig deep and really push ourselves through and I think deservedly get something out of the game at the end.”