EDS fall to first PL2 defeat of the season

Oscar Bobb had opened the scoring for City in the early stages, but a brace from Dilan Markanday either side of a Harvey White strike secured the points for the visitors. 

WHAT HAPPENED

Both teams tried to start the game on the front foot, but it was City who looked more dangerous in the early stages. 

After a couple of nice interchanges of play broke down for Brian Barry-Murphy‘s young blues, fortune fell our way when the ball bounced off two Spurs bodies in the area, with Bobb taking advantage to sweep the ball home and hand us the lead.

However, we struggled to build on that early impetus, and City stopper Ciaran Slicker had to be called into action on several occasions as the visitors slowly grew into the contest.

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And Spurs were level just after the half-hour mark with Markanday converting Jack Clarke’s low cross from close-range. 

Just eight minutes later they were ahead when White produced a thumping strike from 25 yards which flew past Slicker to hand the visitors the advantage going into the break. 

We started the second half fast in search of an equaliser, with Bobb latching onto a wonderful pass from Finley Burns. He beat his man and played a low cross but it fell just behind the onrushing James McAtee.

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City kept targeting the right-hand side, with Bobb finding Daniel Ogwuru soon after, but the striker’s tame shot rolled into Lo-Tutala’s hands, before McAtee’s pull back from the by-line went behind City’s number nine. 

And Spurs capitalised with a swift counter-attack once again allowing Marakanday to finish from close-range for the visitors’ third. 

We didn’t let our heads drop, however, and kept pushing forward to try to get back into the game, but a strong showing from Lo-Tutala and the Spurs defence ensured our first Premier League 2 defeat of the season. 

HOW WE LINED UP 

Brian Barry-Murphy named Slicker between the sticks, with Rico Lewis coming in at right-back alongside Burns, captain Luke Mbete and Josh Wilson-Esbrand. 

Romeo Lavia and Shea Charles made up a midfielder two, with McAtee playing in a more advanced role. 

Luca Barrington and Bobb were named on the flanks with Ogwuru up front. 

WHAT IT MEANS

Our unbeaten start to the season now comes to an end, but City do still remain top of the Premier League 2. 

We are one point ahead over London rivals West Ham and Arsenal. 

UP NEXT 

Next up for the EDS is a trip to Rotherham in the Papa John’s Trophy, kick-off is at 7pm on Tuesday 26 October. 

Our next Premier League 2 action will be an away trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, with kick-off at 7pm on Friday 29th November.