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U23 Report: Four-midable Albion earn their Spurs

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Albion’s under-23s recorded their third win of the season with an excellent 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Amex.

By James Hilsum • 27 September 2019

By Paul Hazlewood
Danny Cashman celebrates scoring against Tottenham Hotspur.
  • Albion’s under-23s beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 at the Amex
  • Rodel Richards broke the deadlock for Tottenham
  • Ryan Longman (2), Danny Cashman and Lorent Tolaj on target for Albion
  • Southend United are Albion’s next opponents in the Leasing.com Trophy

Ryan Longman’s brace and a goal each from Danny Cashman and Swiss youngster Lorent Tolaj secured the three points, to superbly overturn an opener from Rodel Richards.

Just two days after several members of Simon Rusk’s side featured in the Carabao Cup tie against Aston Villa, a side that included seven changes from the 2-1 defeat at home to Everton last time out comprehensively swept aside a Spurs team in a very impressive display.

Hugo Keto, Warren O’Hora, Jordan Davies and Longman remained from that line-up against the Toffees, and the under-23 coach would have been hugely encouraged by what he saw in tonight’s contest.

By Paul Hazlewood
Ryan Longman brings the ball under control.

Two of those first-team debutants from Wednesday’s night’s game featured again this evening, with Romaric Yapi and Jack Spong both named in Rusk’s first 11.

The opening exchanges saw little in the way of goalmouth action, with the only chance of note falling to Longman, who saw his angled attempt blocked at the far post.

Richards came within inches of scoring two minutes before his goal when his left-footed strike cannoned off the post with Keto at full stretch.

The Spurs forward then drew first blood in the contest after he cut in off the left flank, opened up his body and sent a side-footed finish beyond Keto. 

By Paul Hazlewood
Ryan Longman celebrates scoring the equaliser.

Albion looked to engineer an equaliser when Cashman was found in space by Spong, and the former weaved his way inside the Spurs defence before being crowded out.

Rusk’s side did restore parity to the scoreline eight minutes before the break thanks to Longman. The forward’s angled attempt took a big deflection and sailed past a motionless Jonathan De Bie in goal.

The momentum was with Rusk’s side, and the game was turned on its head when Cashman added a second goal with a brilliant first-time finish from Jack Leahy’s in-swinging cross from the left flank.

Albion took a stronger hold on the contest in the 62nd minute through Longman, and if anyone thought his first goal was a tad fortunate, no-one would be making the same conclusion about his second. 

By Paul Hazlewood
Romaric Yapi puts a ball into the box.

The winger sent a blistering strike into the roof of the net beyond a helpless De Bie to put Rusk’s side 3-1 in front with just under half an hour remaining.

The livewire youngster came within inches of completing his hat-trick just moments later after being picked out on the right wing, but his effort flew just past the far post.

Longman added an assist to his two goals with nine minutes left to effectively end the game as a contest, after he linked up brilliantly with Cashman to tee up substitute Tolaj, who clinically shot past De Bie.

The match ended 4-1, and Albion’s attention now goes back to the Leasing.com Trophy, with a match against Southend United at Roots Hall.

ALBION: Keto; Yapi, Tsoungui, O’Hora, Furlong (Leonard 68); Spong, J. Davies; Longman, Cashman (Wilson 88), Leahy; Radulovic (Tolaj 75).

SUBS NOT USED: McGill (GK), Freestone.