Our young Blues were looking to maintain their undefeated start to 2023 in the league as they came up against a side who sat fifth in the table before kick-off.

There were several changes made from the FA Youth Cup game on Thursday as the line-up included Noah Hay, Chinonso Chibueze and Tyrique George, among other selections.

Spurs' Rio Kyerematen drove forward and dragged his shot wide as the visitors came out of the gates flying, looking to take an early lead. Callum Olusesi had a glorious chance to open the scoring as he cut in and fired a shot which beat Ted Curd but cannoned off the post.

The away side were on top and they almost took the lead through their No9 as, after a scramble in the box, he smashed a shot which came off the crossbar. It was one-way traffic and the same striker again missed a huge opportunity as his header inside the penalty box flew wide.

Clinical finishing

Despite the pressure, we took the lead through Louis Flower’s fine finish, after he was slipped through on goal by George.

The momentum swung in our favour, as we were creating some chances for ourselves, and Chibueze went close on two occasions as his shots were blocked. Kaiden Wilson also went close to doubling our lead as he headed an effort from a corner against the post.

Kyerematen’s lobbed effort from just inside our half went over Curd but just bounced wide as the away side were sending warning signs.

Spurs take control

Spurs drew level though through Olusesi, as his curled shot from just inside the box found the bottom left corner of the goal. The away side then took the lead on the stroke of half- time as a back-heel in the box by Lankshear found Kyerematen, who slotted home.

We almost found our equaliser as a good cross from Frankie Runham came off the back of Chibueze, after initially being headed by a Spurs player, but Alfie Dorrington cleared the ball off the line.

A loose clearance allowed Flower an attempt on goal, but he could not find the finish needed to find the net.

Kyerematen had a good shot from distance which hit the post, making that the third time in the game where the away side had hit the frame of the goal.

Game levelled

In the final moments of the match we equalised, as Ato Ampah combined with Flower and, although the former’s cross was blocked, the away side failed to clear and Golding stormed into the box to fire a left-footed shot into the net.

Ampah had a final chance to win the game as good trickery gave him some space to have a shot from distance, but goalkeeper Luca Gunter made a fantastic fingertip save to send the ball over the bar.

Our young Blues preserve their undefeated start to 2023 in the Under-18 Premier League after this London derby ended with the scores level.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Ted Curd; Noah Hay (Frankie Runham 55), Kaiden Wilson, Brodi Hughes (Harrison Murray Campbell 46), Somto Boniface; Sam Rak-Sakyi (c), Michael Golding; Chinonso Chibueze, Tyrique George (Ato Ampah 64), Reiss Russell-Denny (Harrison McMahon 71); Louis Flower
Unused subs: Luke Campbell
Scorers: Flower 34, Golding 90+3
Booked: Russell-Denny 21, Chibueze 76, Rak-Sakyi 89

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Luca Gunter (c); Max McKnight (Will Andiyapan 70), Jahziah Linton, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin, George Abbot, Jaden Williams, Rio Kyerematen (Ademola Ajayi 86), Will Lankshear (Oliver Irow 69), Callum Olusesi (Tyrese Hall 69), Mikey Moore
Unused subs: Elliot Krasniqi
Scorers: Olusesi 42, Rio Kyerematen 44