New Tottenham stadium test event: J'Neil Bennett makes history as Spurs U18s beat Southampton

If Daniel Levy was given the chance to go back and change anything from Sunday, when he watched on as Tottenham's impressive new stadium was opened to fans for the first time, he probably would not.

After all, on a mild spring day with the sun shining strongly down on London, Spurs' Under-18s side secured a comfortable 3-1 win over their Southampton equivalent in what was the first game at the club's new £1billion ground.

Even though it was only a test event, the first of two to be held before the stadium officially opens in April, Tottenham fans were given the chance to sample what the atmosphere will be like when the ground is fully occupied by 62,062 supporters.

And, it's safe to assume, the atmosphere will be electric.

The noise made by a near half-filled stadium when J'Neil Bennett scored the first goal suggested as much, even more so when Harvey White converted a 20th-minute penalty.

Even Kornelius Hansen's second-half consolation goal for the visitors could not dampen spirits, with Dilan Markanday's cool finish from close range sealing a victory that will no doubt have pleased Levy and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, both of whom were in attendance.

Indeed, the result and performance will have also pleased Ryan Mason, who had the honour of being in the dugout for the first game at the new stadium.

The former Spurs midfielder, who was forced to retire last year aged 26, now coaches the U18s, and it would certainly have been a proud moment to be standing where Pochettino will soon be standing when the ground hosts its first-ever Premier League match, against London rivals Crystal Palace on April 3.

Pochettino was in attendance for the game on Sunday as his son, Maurizio, was named on the bench by Mason. Olivier Skipp, who has six Premier League appearances for the senior team, started in front of the 28,987 fans in attendance.

While fans would have been coming to grips with just how grand the stadium is on the inside, the Spurs U18 players did not appear to be in awe of their new surroundings.

In fact, it took just 11 minutes for the hosts to score the opener - with Bennett having the pleasure of getting the first goal at the new stadium.

It was a fitting goal too - the Londoner picking up Skipp's pass from midfield before cutting in and firing off a fierce shot that flew past Jack Bycroft.

The Saints goalkeeper was called into action shortly afterwards when Spurs captain Armando Shashoua went for goal but, despite keeping the effort out, Bycroft could not do the same to deny White and his 20th-minute penalty, which had been awarded for a foul on Markanday by James Morris.

Spurs dominated the game throughout, but they did concede in the 62nd minute when Hansen's powerful effort managed to get past Josh Oluwayemi's outstretched hands.

But it was only to be a consolation goal as Bycroft failed to adequately deal with White's long-range effort, allowing Markanday to latch onto the ball and slide it past the Saints goalkeeper in ultra-cool fashion.

Though the scoreline could have been more impressive - Bennett having seen a side-footed effort fly wide - the Spurs hierarchy will be pleased with how smooth their first test event went - from everything from the weather to the end result.

Follow live reaction from the first test event at Tottenham's new stadium with Standard Sport...

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