Premier League 2

Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Soonsup-Bell 44’)

Leeds United 0

Spurs: Keeley (GK), Lyons-Foster, Dorrington, Ashcroft, Robson (Cassanova 83’), Craig (C) (Linton 83’), Kyerematen, Soonsup-Bell (McKnight 79’), Donley, Santiago, Lankshear. Subs not used: Gunter, Williams. 

Leeds: van den Heuvel (GK), Mullen, Ferguson, Crew (Coleman 56’), Hjelde, Moore, Snowdon, Bate, Thomas, Gyabi, Carole (Sutcliffe 73’). Subs not used: Mahady (GK), Monteiro, Debayo. 

Referee: Callum Walchester

Booked: Soonsup-Bell, Donley, Dorrington (Spurs) Bate (Leeds) 

Venue: Lamex Stadium 

Attendance: 643

Leeds United Under-21s played their final match of 2023 away at league-leaders Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s and battled well throughout, but suffered a one-goal loss. 

Spurs came into the game with a 100 per cent winning record in the 2023/24 Premier League 2 campaign, as all eight of their matches had ended in victory, and made that nine in a row following Jude Soonsup-Bell’s first half winner. 

This clash was played at the Lamex Stadium, home of Sky Bet League One side Stevenage FC and when it began, a relatively even first half was played out, with chances at either end. 

A first one went the way of the hosts, but an excellent early block from Leo Hjelde denied them, before a couple of minutes later, Dani van den Heuvel was called into action when he saved from Rio Kyerematen’s effort. 

At the other end, Leeds would then go close. Joe Snowdon began a flurry of efforts for his side by smashing his strike against the crossbar. 

Between the posts for Spurs, Josh Keeley would then be given some problems to deal with, and he did so, making a strong save one-on-one to deny Luca Thomas. 

van den Heuvel made two further stops, coming from Jamie Donley and Yago De Santiago Alonso, in what was an entertaining match. Keeley would again stand firm between his posts, saving from Lewis Bate’s strike.

A final big chance of the opening 45 minutes came for Tottenham, and was taken. A quick corner routine caught the Whites off guard, allowing Soonsup-Bell to flick a header into the bottom corner and give his side the lead at the interval. 

HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Leeds United 

Out for the second half, it would take a while before chances came again, after seeing plenty in the first 45 minutes at the Lamex Stadium. 

When they did, van den Heuvel had to be alert once more, and made some top saves. He denied first-half scorer Soonsup-Bell with an excellent reactionary hand at close range, before then stopping from Will Lankshear when the forward was one-on-one. 

A big chance for Leeds came and went with Keenan Carole getting in on goal. He flicked an effort goalwards and appeared to be fouled from behind in doing so, but nothing was given. 

Gardner made changes in an attempt to get his side back in the match. Harvey Sutcliffe and Cian Coleman came on, replacing Carole and Charlie Crew. 

Sutcliffe was instantly into the action and crossed low into the box and finding Darko Gyabi. The midfielder flicked a clever effort at goal, seeing it come back out off the post - the second time the Whites had hit the woodwork. 

Going close himself with the next attempt, Sutcliffe drilled a low effort from the edge of the box, which was narrowly deflected wide. 

Despite their best efforts throughout the game, the Whites suffered defeat at the hands of the league leaders in a final match of the calendar year. 

FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Leeds United