FA PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
MONDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, 2001
(played at Broadhall Way, Stevenage)
SPURS RESERVES 0 (0) WIMBLEDON RESERVES 0 (0)
Referee:- Mr I. Williamson
Attendance:- 549
Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Beasant; Consorti, Thelwell, Gardner, Thatcher; Toner, Clemence (sub Bowditch, 69), Sherwood (sub Sutton, 78), Piercy (Capt); Iversen (sub Snee, 46), Kamanan
Subs not used:- Jalal; O'Donoghue
Booked:- Toner (Foul)
Wimbledon (4-4-2):- Gore; Jupp, Gier (sub Okikiolu, 74), Williams, Byrne; Ardley, Selley (Capt), Francis, Karlsson; Nielsen, Agyemang (sub Gray, 85)
Subs not used:- Worgan; Thomas (Michael - the ex-Gooner that scored a certain goal at Anfield)
Booked:- Williams (Foul on Kamanan)
On a bitterly cold and misty night, the steam rose from the players at Broadhall Way, but there were very few flames of passion to warm the fans spirits. On form, Spurs should have won this game, and gone top of the reserve league, but we had a weakened side, and at least two players who were there for the run-out, and therefore not overly committed to the cause. Iversen had to be replaced at half time after a clash of heads just before the break, and Clemence (returning after a ten week enforced break) flagged before the second half was too old. Tim Sherwood played well for about fifteen minutes in the second half, during which time, Spurs did play some penetrating football, but when he too was replaced, it was a very inexperienced side on the park in the white and blue.
As for Wimbledon, they did field a few players with Premiership experience, and also a 6 foot 21 year old, Patrick Agyemang, who my son tells me is a real good buy in Championship Manager, and who gave Anthony Gardner a test or two. Overall, it was Gardner and Thelwell who did play to form, with the rest of the team (apart from Beasant and Kamanan) disappointing with poor touches in the middle, and poor control. Maybe the frosty surface had something to do with it.
Yannick Kamanan gave Gore an early fright with an on target header from a left field cross, and then on 13 minutes picked up an accurate Sherwood pass, but lifted it too high over the keeper. Kamanan won plenty of ball in the air tonight, and was always willing to have a pop at goal. He must have been watching the Uruguayans last night, judging by the way he rolled several times after being fouled early in the second half by Williams!
After 23 minutes Anthony Gardner rose magnificently to head a Piercy corner onto the bottom of the post. Toner was following up, but couldn't get a decent contact on the ball. Beasant was not idle and had to get down well to Ardley's 25 yard shot. Iversen then had a header from another Sherwood ball tipped over by Gore.
Karlsson and Byrne found a lot of space on the left, and Karlsson's cross in front of the defence was tempting for Agyemang, who was adjudged offside. Just before half time, Agyemang turned Gardner, and hit a super shot against the top of the crossbar. Almost an hour had gone before Spurs put a decent second-half attack together, and then they had two shots cleared off the line in one go! Sherwood found Clemence on the left, and received the cross, only to have his shot cleared. Toner followed up more powerfully than in the first half, but his effort was also cleared for a corner.
Spurs occasionally gave the Dons too much room, and nearly suffered when Ardley found Karlsson on the left with time to shoot, but luckily to the left of goal. Sherwood and Toner worked the ball from right to left across the Wimbledon area, but John Piercy only half hit his shot at the goalie. The most passion displayed all night came at the death, as Toner's foul on Gier brought a reactionary melee from the visitors, tempting Kamanan into physical action. Toner got booked for his foul, but the referee avoided passing judgement on any of the other events.
Spurs now play Ipswich and Wimbledon away, before their next home game on January 7th.
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