Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.

     FA Premier Academy U-17 League, Group D
 	  Spurs Lodge, Chigwell, Essex
	Saturday 9th November 2002, 11am 

            SPURS     v    CHARLTON
 	 (White/Blue)     Red/White)
	    3-5-2           4-4-2

	     1(1)            1(0)

	   Nicky Eyre 1 Rob Elliott
        Joe Watson(C) 2 Adam Cottrell
         Liam Francis 3 Nathan Ashton
       Kieran McKenna 4 Bob Thandor
            Phil Ifil 5 Manny Shodemole
         Ricky Dobson 6 Wayne Wilson
           Iyad Ahmed 7 Tommy Ward
          David Hicks 8 David Evans
        Andrew Hodges 9 Jimmy Brown
          Owen Price 10 Danny Phillips
      Gareth Jenkins 11 Myles Weston

        Andy Barcham 12 Tom Hannigan
           (9)70Mins    (4)46Min.
      Tommy Forecast 13
         Charlie Lee 14 Danny Glazier
           (4)78Mins 
         Tommy Welch 15 James Walker
                        (9)60Mins.
      Richard Heller 16
           (11)85Min 

Scorers:- Price 37, Wilson 77

Booked - McKenna(gamesmanship)26, Price(trip)67, Watson(late)89

This match was played on a warm morning with little wind on a pitch that had soaked up the rain from the week. A good crowd had gathered to watch with Holland and Calderwood dropping in to see how they were doing. I was joined by Andy Porter for a good game played in the right spirit which should have seen the first win for the juniors over the "Addicks" in a long time.

Spurs lined up with a back three of Watson, Ifil and Dobson behind a midfield of McKenna, Hicks and Jenkins. Ahmed gave width on the right and Francis as a wingback on the left. Hodges partnered Price up front. Andy Hodges (normally a centre-back) started the game having done a good job last week when he had to play there late in the game.

Spurs kicked off attacking the left goal and soon had the visitors pegged back in their half. Most of the play was in the middle third in the visitors' half of the pitch without troubling their keeper with a direct shot. Hodges, Hicks, McKenna and Ahmed had chances before McKenna hit the bar in the 26th minute. Eyre in the Spurs goal had even less work to do as only Weston troubled him in the first half hour.

Spurs' persistence paid off when Price found the net in the 37th minute. After collecting the ball from Ahmed on the right, he slipped past two defenders before lifting the ball over the keeper high into the far corner. This was a good goal from a good player.

Spurs kept up the pressure but the final ball was missing with Charlton beginning to make ground themselves winning a few free kicks around the box. This was the only time Eyre was troubled, as with a number of tall lads in their side, balls were played in which he collected under pressure. The referee controlled the game well playing advantage where possible but was a stickler for small things which often go punished, such as tossing the ball forward at a free-kic;, quickly taken kicks from the wrong place; or taking throw-in's from the wrong place. He booked McKenna for not moving away quickly at a free-kick.

Having made one change at half-time Charlton came out in a more attacking mood and put the home side under pressure straight away shifting the balance of the game from one-sided to even. Both keepers had more work to do without being too troubled as the game became more cut and thrust with opening created at both ends. Then it happened, from nothing, they scored! Ahmed lost the ball on the right. It was played square to Wilson who hit an unstoppable volley from over 20 yards, beating the diving Eyre just inside his left-hand post.

Spurs tried to respond but the visitors were on a high from that goal and defended a lot better. Price showed his frustration by picking up a caution for his second trip in as many minutes. Try as they might, Spurs were not able to get the ball in the net and the constant threat of a breakaway brought Watson a booking in the dying minutes.

Spurs last chance came at the end of stoppage time when Ahmed made a run into the box and was caught from behind by Ashton. Andy felt that there was not much contact, but the referee pointed to the spot and Price stepped up to take the kick which would give Spurs the three points. He hit it low to the keeper's left, and Elliott guessed correctly to blocked the shot.

This bottom of the table clash ended all square with Spurs the loser as overall I thought that they had the better of the game, although not by much. Both goals were a bit special and the visitors deserved to take something from a sporting contest.

Next week the Academy teams play Arsenal with the U-19's at Spurs Lodge and the U-17's at Colney each kicking off at 11am. I will be at the Lodge. On Monday the reserves will be playing at the Lane which should produce a good crowd, especially as season ticket holders do not have to pay.

Ray

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