U18s: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa returned to action with a 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the Under-18 Premier League South on Saturday.

The Young Lions, playing their first competitive fixture since early December, found themselves two goals down at half-time.

Spurs added a third after the break to inflict defeat on a Villa side who will now be looking to bounce back when they host West Ham United on Friday.

Omari Kellyman saw his strike parried to safety before Callum Olusesi found the top corner from just inside the penalty area to fire Tottenham ahead in the 14^th minute.

Both sides went close as the encounter flowed from end to end, but it was the home side who doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time.

A long clearance from Spurs goalkeeper Luca Gunter found Yusuf Akhamrich and he crossed low for Jaden Williams to slot home right-footed.

Jack McDowell saw his point-blank header kept out by a superb reflex save from Gunter to preserve Spurs’ 2-0 advantage after the break.

Finley Munroe then sent a brilliant 30-yard free-kick against the inside of a post as Villa threatened to find a route back into the clash.

But Spurs ended the game as a contest in the 76^th minute courtesy of substitute Damola Ajayi’s close-range finish, which owed much to the incredible work of Alfie Dorrington.

The centre-back won the ball on the edge of his own area and ran the length of the pitch, skipping numerous challenges along the way.

He found Ajayi, whose initial shot was saved by Villa keeper James Wright, but the ball was recycled to Dorrington and he found Ajayi again for the sub to slot home from close range.