U18s: Aston Villa 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa lost out to Tottenham Hotspur in the Under-18 Premier League Cup final at Villa Park on Thursday night.

The Young Lions got off to the perfect start when Rory Wilson stabbed home the opener after 17 minutes.

Spurs hit back moments before the half-time whistle and levelled the scores through Rio Kyerematen’s close-range finish.

An incisive counter-attack, finished by Jamie Donley, produced the away side’s second on the hour mark before Kyerematen notched his brace.

Kerr Smith saw a header tipped onto the bar and Wilson shot narrowly wide as valiant Villa’s attempts to get back into the game fell short.

Villa’s run to the final saw them top their group before seeing off Southampton and Charlton Athletic in the knockout rounds, but they faced another stern test against a Spurs side that had beaten them twice in the league this season.

The visitors showed their attacking credentials three times in the opening 15 minutes, with captain Alfie Dorrington flashing a header wide before James Wright saved from Donley and Tyrese Hall.

However, Gerard Nash’s team made the most of their first sight of goal to take the lead with 17 minutes on the clock.

Omari Kellyman dribbled from the halfway line to the byline before standing a cross up for Luka Lynch, whose cushioned header was turned in by Wilson.

The dangerous Kellyman took aim soon after and was only denied a goal by the fingertips of Luca Gunter.

Just as Tottenham’s threat had seemingly been nullified, they struck back on the stroke of half-time. A well-timed slide tackle from Finley Munroe diverted the ball into the path of Kyerematen, who set himself before sliding the ball past James Wright at his near post.

Wright was called into action early in the second half, kicking away an effort from Damola Ajayi as the away side came out firing after the restart.

Villa’s No1 could do nothing about Spurs’ second of the night when it arrived just after the hour mark.

The hosts found themselves caught short at the back when an attack broke down, with Dorrington leading a four-on-three break before feeding Donley, who drilled a low effort past Wright.

Two quickly became three when Kyerematen doubled his tally for the evening, sending a shot in off the post from inside the box.

Villa mounted a spirited response and almost grabbed a lifeline when Smith’s header was tipped onto the crossbar by Gunter.

Wilson shot wide as the home side continued to push in the closing stages, but they came up empty in their attempts to mount a comeback.