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Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
Academy Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 25th July 2009, 11am
Spurs Lodge, Chigwell, Essex
Spurs U-18 v West Ham U-18
3(1) 2 (1)
(White/Blue) (All Light Blue)
4-4-2 4-4-2
Spurs Team - Mirko Ranieri(Jamie Butler 46), Jesse Waller-Lassen, Jake Nicholson, Coskun Ekim(Alex Pritchard 52), Olumide Durojaiye, Zaine Francis-Angol(Cameron Lancaster 46), Ryan Fredericks(Chace O'Neill 46), Tom Carroll(Nathan Byrne 62), Kudo Oyenuga(Fredericks 83), Harry Kane, Paul McBride(Paul-Jose M'Poku 46)
Scorers - Kane 23, 60 (pen), M'Poku 49
Alex Inglethorpe gave a run out to most of his squad in the first game of his pre-season programme. He started with Ranieri in goal, Durojaiye and Francis-Angol at the back with Waller-Lassen at right back and Nicholson on the left. Carroll and Ekim started in the centre of midfield with Fredericks on the right and McBride on the left and a front pairing of Oyenuga and Kane. It was agreed that the teams would use a rolling substitute system which allowed players to return. The Hammers used this for a number of players while only Fredericks came back for Spurs.
Spurs kicked off attacking the South goal and it soon became clear that both sides had not played together much under their respected coaches. The Hammers had a couple of useful players and as with most Irons' sides did not hold back and like most Spurs sides the lads would complain to the ref every time they were dumped on the ground.
The visitors looked to have settled the quickest especially as they took an early lead. The right sided player carried the ball from the wing to the edge of the area before playing the ball in for the scorer to beat Ranieri low to his right.
Spurs responded well and Waller-Lassen drew a save from the keeper. Francis-Angol liked to come out of the back and on one sortie took a pot from just outside the area on the right. The Hammers saw another effort hit the crossbar on the counter. Fredericks drove wide before the visitors had the ball in the net again but Purdy was ruled off-side. West Ham made the first of their changes bringing on three players, followed by a further two before half time.
Both of Spurs' wide players were getting down the wings and had good support from the full backs with the two central midfielders having the hardest time. A short through ball found Kane free just inside the area with enough time to turn on the ball and hit it low into the right corner to draw Spurs level. The Hammers had another effort fly over and a wicked cross from the left only needed a touch.
Inglethorpe made four changes at half-time with Butler going in goal and Francis-Angol replaced by Lancaster at the back. The two wide players also made way for M'Poku on the left and O'Neil on the right. Within five minutes of the restart Spurs took the lead with a great strike from M'Poku wide on the left that beat the keeper as it flew into the far side of the goal.
Pritchard came on for Ekim and went to left back with Nicholson moving to the right of midfield so that O'Neil could move inside. The visitors hit the bar again on the counter as Spurs began to gain control of the midfield. Kane had an effort go over the bar before his next was saved after good work by M'Poku. Spurs were awarded a penalty when Waller-Lassen got down the right and drove into the area before being stopped. Kane dispatched his kick to the keeper's left to open a two goal gap. This only lasted a minutes as Durojaiye conceded a penalty when he challenged the big centre forward from behind. The spot kick was put wide of Butler's right hand.
Carroll was replaced by Byrne who went to the right side with Nicholson moving inside to link up with O'Neil. O'Neil set up Kane but his shot was saved and Nicholson drove wide. Butler had to make a save before the visitors' keeper had to save from Kane and O'Neil with M'Poku firing wide. Butler dropped a free kick under pressure which was then driven wide. Fredericks returned in place of Oyenuga as Spurs put five across the middle to close out the game. West Ham had another chance that was put wide and Lancaster picked up a loose ball which he drove wide. Waller-Lassen got into the area again but was tackled fairly according to the referee. In the last minute of added time Nicholson saw his effort saved.
This was probably the first proper game the team played and it showed that there is still some work to be done. Some of the players that played in the U-18 side last season did well and the new wingers and full backs look to have pace. They now go off to Belgium for the Eurofoot tournament before returning to play the gooners in another friendly before completing in a competition at Einhoven.
Ray
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