Premier U-21 League 20134-15
                  St. Mary's, Southampton
              Monday 23rd February 2015, 7pm.

                SOUTHAMPTON  v  SPURS
                 (Red/White)  (All Black)
                  4-2-3-1      4-2-3-1

                    0(0)         0(0)


            Paulo Gazzaniga  1  Luke McGee
                Niall Mason  2  Kyle Walker-Peters
              Ryan Bertrand  3  Connor Ogilvie
               Dominic Gape  4  Grant Ward
             Jason McCarthy  5  Bongani Khumalo(C)
                  Will Wood  6  Cameron Carter-Vickers
              Lloyd Ingrove  7  Ruben Lameiras
                 Harry Reed  8  Harry Winks
              Sam Gallagher  9  Shaquile Coulthirst
                Ryan Seager 10  Joshua Onomah
              Jake Sinclair 11  William Miller

               Jake Hesketh 12  Alexander McQueen
                  (9)73Mins     (3)75Mins
                 Will Britt 13  Jonathan Miles
                  Josh Sims 14  Aaron McEneff
                  (7)46Mins     (11)83Mins
            Olufela Olomola 15  Filip Lesniak
                  (3)46Mins
               Bevis Mugabi 16  Daniel Akindayini
                                (9)66Mins

Booked:-
         Reed 72(Foul) 

Coaches:-
         M. Hunter              U. Ehiogu 

Attendance:- 432

Referee:– T. Wood
Assistants:- D. Goard & M. Underhay
Fourth Official:– G. Kimber-Sweatman

Spurs travelled to St. Mary's in fifth place in the First Division, two points behind third placed Southampton, knowing a win would take them above their hosts. The "Saints" lost their last game to Everton, while Spurs were held by Leicester City. It was a cold evening on the South coast which kept the crowd quiet.

Spurs lined up with McGee in goal behind Khumalo and Carter-Vickers with Walker-Peters at right back and Ogilvie on the left. Winks and Ward sat in front of the back four while Lameiras, Onomah and Miller supported Coulthirst up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the South end in a mixed first half where both sides tried to pass their way through the midfield. Spurs were the better looking passing side but there were a lot of mis-placed passes.

The first chance fell to Onomah who fired wide, while Seager won a corner from McGee's save. Southampton got a second corner from the first which saw Wood head wide.

Miller collected a pass from Winks and drew a save from Gazzaniga, who had an easy save from Winks' weak effort fifteen minutes later. Sinclair fired wide before McGee saved from Reed. Coulthirst ran onto a long ball on the right and under pressure managed to draw a save from the keeper.

Lameiras played a left sided corner back to Winks who squared it to Ward for an effort that was over. Lameiras played in Coulthirst for a chance that was wide. As the half ended Carter-Vickers headed wide from a Lameiras corner.

Southampton made two changes for the second half which saw Spurs dominate as their passing got a lot better, pinning the home side in their own half for long spells.

An early effort by Onomah was blocked by substitute Olomola before another drive went for a corner. Coulthirst had an effort blocked before Lameiras fired over. Winks had a shot saved before a free kick by Ward was over the bar. Miller fired wide while Walker-Peters got forward to win a corner from Gazzaniga's save. From the corner Carter-Vickers headed over.

Spurs made their first change, replacing Coulthirst up front with Akindayini. Reed was booked for a late challenge on Lameiras as he got past him. Lameiras hit the free kick into the wall before drawing a save from the rebound.

Spurs took off Ogilvie for McQueen, who went to right back with Walker-Peters moving to the left. After thirty minutes of the half Sinclair fired over to give McGee a goal kick which I think was his first touch in the second half.

Carter-Vickers had a header saved from a free kick on the left taken by Winks. Sinclair headed wide from a corner before Miller was sent clear into the area from a clever flick by Lameiras, only to fluff his shot. McGee saved a free kick by Gape, before Spurs made their last change, replacing Miller with McEneff who took up a holding position to allow Ward to get forward. Gazzaniga made a good save tipping over Winks' effort which was going in the top corner. In added time Southampton made a break down the right and Seager hit it over the bar with the linesman flagging for offside.

With so much domination in the second half the draw had to be regarded as two points dropped and not a point gained. Spurs' passing and movement was much better in the second half but just lacked the goals their play warranted. The point takes them level with Everton who they play next but with an inferior goal difference. The game will be at home against a strong defensive side. Spurs will need to have their scoring boots on when they meet next month.

Ray

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