**Tottenham Hotspur U18s 1-1 West Ham United U18s**
**U18 Premier League South, Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground, Saturday 29 March 2025, 11am GMT**
**West Ham United U18s** earned a share of the spoils away to Tottenham Hotspur U18s thanks to U16s wing-back Riley Ebho’s first goal at U18s level and a superb goalkeeping performance from Lanre Awesu.
Tottenham started brightly and nearly took the lead just two minutes in when Aaron Kamara’s under hit pass back to Awesu allowed the hosts a two-on-one opportunity. Jethro Medine’s pressure forced Tottenham’s Dexter Oliver to square the ball to Ellis Lehane, but Awesu reacted superbly, diving low to make a crucial save and keep the scores level.
Just a minute later, the Spurs forward missed another big chance to open the scoring, steering a cross wide of the target.
Awesu’s distribution almost turned provider on seven minutes, as an excellent long ball set Andre Dike through on goal, but the Spurs defence reacted well to prevent him from getting a shot away.
West Ham began to grow into the contest, and could have taken the lead on 18 minutes. On the edge of the area, Elisha Sowunmi saw the run of Joe Scanlon, who arrived late into the box from the left. The U16s full-back delayed his shot but was denied his first U18s goal by Tottenham goalkeeper Sam Archer, who smothered the effort.
Tottenham eventually broke the deadlock on 37 minutes. Malachi Hardy, who had been a constant threat throughout the first half with his long balls, played a perfectly weighted pass in behind for Ronny Moncur. The forward squared it across the box for Ellis Lehane to tap home at the back post, handing Spurs the lead.
In the opening exchanges of the second half, the home side could have quickly doubled their advantage when Miracle Adewole delivered a dangerous low ball across the face of goal, but Kamara’s timely intervention prevented Lehane from grabbing his second. Despite Tottenham’s quick start, the young Hammers found a way back into the game.
After winning possession high up the pitch, Josh Landers worked the ball through Sowunmi and Riley Hargan. Hargan’s initial shot was blocked in a crowded area, but he slid it across to Riley Ebho, who feigned a shot to create space before finishing smartly to level the scoring, his first goal for the U18s.
With momentum firmly in their favour, West Ham continued to press Spurs back, dictating the tempo and keeping them pinned in their own half.
However, Tottenham almost regained the lead against the run of play in the 72nd minute. Substitute Reiss Elliot-Parris held the ball up, drawing the attention of two defenders, before threading a perfect pass to Oliver. One-on-one with Awesu, Oliver looked destined to score, but the West Ham goalkeeper produced an outstanding save with his legs to deny him. Moments later, Awesu was called into action again, thwarting Elliot-Parris in another one-on-one situation to keep his side on level terms.
Spurs were then handed a golden opportunity to seal the three points when George Feeney won a penalty after drawing a foul from Hargan. Substitute Tye Hall stepped up but could only watch as his effort crashed against the crossbar.
The closing stages were end-to-end, with both sides pushing for a winner, but defences stood firm, and the final whistle confirmed a point apiece.
**West Ham United U18s:** Awesu, Ebho (Chigwada 82), Scanlon (Beckford 63), Medine, Oyebade ©, Kamara, Unwin (Onyeka-Fejokwu 87), Hargan, Landers, Sowunmi, Dike (Balogun 82)
Sub not used: Hooper (GK)
Goal: Ebho 49
Booked: Unwin, Oyebade
**Tottenham Hotspur U18s:** Archer ©, Hardy, Byrne, Byfield, Upson, Moncur (Batty 79), Adewole, Bangura (Feeney 54), Lehane (Elliot-Parris 71), Oliver, Thompson (Hall 79)
Sub not used: Irow (GK)
Goal: Lehane 37
Booked: Feeney