FA Premier Reserve League – South
 Gravesend and Northfleet FC, Stonebridge Rd
      Monday 12th March 2007, 7.00pm
 
 
          CHARLTON   v    SPURS    
       (Red/White)     (White/Blue)   
           4-4-2          4-4-2
 
            1(0)           1(0)

     Darren Randolph 1 Robert Burch
        Nicky Baxter 2 Cian Hughton
     Nathan Aston(C) 3 Joe Martin
       Mark Staunton 4 Jake Livermore 
        Aswad Thomas 5 Leigh Mills
         Grant Basey 6 Troy Archibald-Henville
      Scott Wagstaff 7 David Hutton
         Josh Wright 8 Phil Ifil(C)
        James Walker 9 Jamie O’Hara
     Rurik Gislason 10 Daniel Hutchins
       Myles Weston 11 Emil Hallfredsson
 
       Rhys Coleman 12 Adam Smith
          (6)63Mins    (3)46 Mins.
      Rob Elliot 13 Richard Stroud
     Harry Arter 14 Yasser Kasim
      (4)37Mins.    (10)69 Mins.
Donovan Simmonds 15 Jonathan Obika
  Rashid Yussuff 16 Andros Townsend
     (7)83Mins
 
Scorers:-
       Walker 56    Hallfredsson 76
                   
Booked:-
   Arter 71(Late)   Livermore  70 (Late)
               
Coach:-
   Mark Kinsella    Clive Allen                    
 
Referee:- K. Yeo
Assistants:- S. Butler, S. Child
 
Attendance:- 696

It was a cool evening with a hint of river mist for this mid-table clash. Spurs lined up with most of Saturday's Youth Team in the 16 player squad. Clive Allen had to dig deep to put together his side, as it appears some have been called into the first team squad for Wednesday's UEFA Cup game. Rob Burch was in goal (having returned from a spell at Barnet) behind Mills and Archibald-Henville with Hughton at right back and Martin on the left. Ifil was pushed into central midfield to join Livermore with Hutton wide on the right and Hallfredsson on the left. Without any strikers available O’Hara played alongside Hutchins up front.

Spurs kicked off, and had the first attempt on goal inside two minutes when Hutton headed wide. In the opening spell, Spurs pushed the "Addicks" back into their own half, winning a few corners early on, and had the ball in the net after ten minutes when Hutton’s cross was headed in by Hutchins but the linesman had raised his flag. Four minutes later, Weston found space on the right and forced a fine save from Burch with his long range effort.

The game was settling into an end to end game with most of the action in the Charlton half, but Weston was causing Martin problems on the right having switched sides. Just past the half-hour mark and O’Hara's goal-bound shot was pushed around the post by Randolph. Hallfredsson was back in form on the left and Hutton did well on the right helping to set up opportunities for O’Hara, Hutchins and Livermore.

Later Walker came closest to scoring when his effort hit the post and Wagstaff missed the rebound. Just before the break there was a melee in the Charlton goalmouth from Hallfredsson’s corner.

For the second half, Allen moved Hughton over to left back in place of the tormented Martin and replaced him with Smith on the right. The Addicks started in more determined mood and soon forced another fine save from Burch before Arter sent Walker away to lift the ball over the keeper.

The game settled into more of a scrap in the middle of the park, which led to the ref showing a couple of cards to try and calm things down. Allen sent on Kasim for Hutchins moving Hutton up front and Ifil wider. Charlton went close to increasing their lead a couple of times from corners but were thwarted by Burch. From a long clearance Hallfredsson robbed Coleman and raced clear and slotted passed Randolph for the equaliser.

It was now the visitors that were pressurising the home side with efforts from Hutton, Hallfredsson, O’Hara, Livermore and Ifil. Mills had a chance at the back post from a corner but caught a boot in the face. The defence always had to be alert with Walker and Weston, but both Hughton and Smith were making runs down the wings.

It was a fair result, with both sides playing open attacking football, with the Spurs side having the majority of the play. With Charlton having nine academy players to our eleven which included four U-16 players on the bench it resulted in an entertaining evening. The next reserve game is scheduled for next Monday evening away to Chelsea which will mean that I will miss it as the first teams will be doing battle at WHL. Ed:- I shouldn't be surprised if the Reserve game is re-scheduled!

Ray

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