Bold effort in North London

FA Youth Cup

Simon Davies, his players and his coaching staff were the proud visitors at White Hart Lane tonight as they took on Tottenham Hotspur's under 18 side in the fourth round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

City had already dispatched three teams prior to this evenings game and were out to repeat their noteworthy performance last season when they beat Spurs 1-0 at The Deva Stadium in the third round of the same competition.

On that night a Paul McManus goal was what separated the sides and it was McManus who had an involvement in putting the young Blues in the lead on this prestigious night in north London. Just before the half hour, McManus crossed a ball from the left and which Lloyd Ellams got on the end of to knock it in from 6 yards.

Moments earlier City could have taken an earlier lead after Kieran Morrin had a shot denied at close range after a Ellams got a ball into him.

City came under a degree of pressure from the home side as the game moved towards the break and Spurs had a number of chances in which they could have evened the scoreline.

In the 31st minute, Jake Livermore shot across the top of Paul Dorman's goal after some build up involving Andros Townsend and 4 minutes later Townsend had a shot for himself but the ball found an unlikely clearance when Alex Olsen came between Townsend and goal.

The equaliser did arrive for the hosts with 8 minutes of the half remaining when Rose placed it into the net at the back post.

HT Tottenham Hotspur U18 1 Chester City U18 1

3 minutes after the interval, Spurs were aggreived not have been awarded a spot kick. Yuri Berchiche had a spirited run down the left wing and crossed the ball to David Hutton who headed the ball goal ward but for Gio Feliciello to block the ball. Claims of a use of the hand by Feliciello were made but the referee dismissed them.

Chances for both sides followed with Spurs nearly taking a lead in the 57 minute after bold attempt by Danny Hutchings. He attempted to get on the end of Paul Dorman's clearance and blasted back at the Blues goal only to go wide.

Gio Feliciello had an equally bold attempt in the 63rd minute when he took a free kick some 18 yards out, sadly Jamie Butler got a hand to it and tipped it over, 6 minutes later and Spurs Midfielder Ryan Mason's long range effort was dealt with by Paul Dorman with no great worry.

Andy Thorpe will be disappointed that he couldn't make more of a cross from Ellams in the 71st minute as it was diverted away from danger by Danny Hutchings. It was role reversal with 7 minutes to go when Thrope turned provider for Ellams whose resulting shot caused no worry to the Tottenham goalie.

With five minutes to go, City put Spurs on the defensive again when McManus attempted to feed a ball to Lloyd Ellams running down the centre, sadly Ellams didn't connect and a gilt edged opportunity was lost.

Sadly, the status quo was broken with just 3 minutes remaining. Danny Rose went over after Paul Dorman went out to meet him after he crossed the City box and the referee pointed to the spot.

David Hutton stepped up to take the spot kick for the hosts and that was the end of City's run in the FA Youth Cup and it is Spurs who progress to the fifth round.

City gave a good account of themselves this evening and yet again a good advert for youth development at Chester City was obvious for all to see.

Tottenham Hotspur U18's: Butler, Smith (Mason, 46), Hutchins, Kasim, Berchiche, Butcher, Hutton, Livermore, Olsen (Obika, 74), Rose, Townsend.

Unused substitutes: Jansson, Parrett, Mtandari.

Chester City U18's: Dorman, Robson (Smith, 54), Feliciello, Rule, Rowlands (Ryan Williams, 90), Owen, Morrin (Thorpe, 58), Gregory, Ellams, McManus, Mitchell.

Unused substitutes: Newman, Simon Williams.