FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE
MONDAY 19TH APRIL, 2004
CHARLTON RESERVES 1 (0) SPURS RESERVES 2 (2)

Charlton scorer:-
Beckford, 47

Spurs scorers:-
Jackson, 15
+ own goal

Referee:- Mr.. F. Graham

Attendance:- Est. 1,000

Teams:-
Charlton (4-1-4-1):- Leite; Cottrell, Fish (sub Kamara, 46), Gross, Ashton; Wilson (sub Phillips, 67); Beckford, Long, McCafferty (Capt.), Deane (sub Ndombe, 67); Sam

Subs not used:- Elliott (GK)

Booked:- Sam (Dive on half-way line!), Gross

Sent off:- Sam (2nd yellow, adjudged to have dived in the area under Richards challenge)

Spurs (4-4-2):- Burch; Marney, Richards (sub O'Donoghue, 62), Mabizela, Wright (sub Ifil, 46); Ricketts, Dalmat, Hughes, Jackson (Capt.); Yeates, Postiga (sub O'Hara, 22)

Subs not used:- Jalal; Foster

Booked:- Hughes, Postiga (for coming off injured without asking permission to leave the field!)

It was an entertaining night at The Valley, not least because I managed to see a winning Spurs team! A strong Spurs outfit saw off a young Charlton side, and thereby gained revenge for defeat at Broadhall Way, Stevenage earlier this season, but one of the memorable aspects of the game was the farcical refereeing of Mr. F. Graham, who sent off Addicks' lone striker Lloyd Sam for two bookable offences, both of which were alleged dives. The first was on the half way line, where I don't think I have ever seen a player booked for seeking advantage so deep in the field. The second was for going down in the Spurs area after what I thought was a push in the back by Richards for a stonewall penalty. No wonder the home fans were incensed, especially when the hapless referee managed to intercept a Charlton pass, and divert it to Spurs late in the game, when the 10 men were battling bravely for an equaliser.

We knew what sort of night we were going to have from the officials when the referee insisted on the kick-off being re-taken for marginal encroachment in the centre-circle.

A healthy crowd of at least 1,000 assembled in the main stand, where Spurs were watched by the management team of Pleat, Hughton and Holland, with Clive Allen on the touchline, and Hans Segers on hand too. It was pleasing to see Shwan Jalal returning to some form of action on the bench, after missing virtually the entire season with his cruciate knee injury. Rob Burch was number one tonight though, in a side featuring young Mark Wright at left back in an otherwise relatively experienced side. Dean Richards returned to the scene of Spurs last notable success, with Mabizela beside him. Marney took the right back slot. In midfield, Rohan Ricketts played on the right, with Dalmat inside him, and Mark Hughes the box to box man, and skipper John Jackson on the left. Mark Yeates partnered Helder Postiga.

Mark Fish was returning from injury and was the only well known player in the Charlton line-up, which did feature several players who took part in that victory at Stevenage in November.

Mark Hughes got an early booking without so much as a first warning. Spurs dominated the first half, with Dalmat the first to test the keeper, making a run through the middle but hitting an under-strength shot. Dalmat was typical, making some quite dazzling runs, but too often being thwarted at the last minute, and being dispossessed after one or two show-boating incidents. After 13 minutes, Ricketts hit a good shot on the turn, having received the ball from the left channel, hitting his shot outside the post.

Then on the quarter hour, Dean Marney beat his marker down the right, hitting a high cross which was taken down well by Postiga, who managed to flick the ball in Jackson's direction, for the Spurs skipper to hook the ball home from 10 yards. It wasn't long before both Ricketts and Postiga were on the ground injured, and Postiga never recovered, hobbling off feeling his thigh for a possible hamstring injury. When play stopped two minutes later, the referee was confused by O'Hara's entrance with no player going off. Once he was informed by the fourth official, Mr.. Graham made Postiga's day by going to the dug-out to book him for leaving the field without permission. Pathetic!

Adrian Deane had Charlton's first effort after 24 minutes, with a good run and a low shot into the side netting with Burch beaten by the shot. Jamie O'Hara (who had scored in Saturday's under 17s play off success) immediately made an impact, making a good strong run with 3 players around him. Mark Yeates had a decent shot go just over the bar, after a good through ball.

On the half-hour, Yeates and O'Hara combined at a short corner, before Yeates crossed and John Jackson beat the keeper in the aerial challenge and glanced a header onto the post, rebounding into play. Yeates then gave Ricketts a chance, but the shot was skied. Spurs second goal came courtesy of another Marney cross, this one with power, and with Mark Hughes and Jackson in close attendance in the box, the cross was converted by a Charlton defender. In first half injury time, good work by O'Hara and Jackson down the left led to a run from O'Hara, who was brought down on the edge of the box. Yeates took the kick which landed on the net over the bar.

Mark Wright had done alright in the first half, but I think he played in that under-17s game, so he was replaced by Phil Ifil, who had to take up an unfamiliar left back role. Within 2 minutes of the re-start, Charlton got a goal back, as Richards was stranded at the half way line and Sam and Long worked the ball from left to right where Beckford was unattended and turned inside, before hitting a good low drive into the corner of the goal to the right of Burch's outstretched arms.

It wasn't long before Spurs were awarded a penalty as Yeates sent O'Hara into the area, only to be brought down. John Jackson rather telegraphed his left foot shot to the keeper's left, but it was still a good save by Leite. This keeper thwarted Jackson yet again, when Ricketts and Yeates sent Jacko into the box for a one on one. Jacko tried to slide his shot to the right of Leite, who managed to save again.

Ricketts had the first of two headed chances after Dalmat threaded the ball to Jackson for a cross. This effort was well over, but a later try was nearer the corner stanchion. It was after 56 minutes, that Richards firstly gifted the ball to Sam, who tried to elude the centre back with a run across the area. It looked like a clear push in the back to me, and I thought the referee was going to show Richards the red card and award a penalty, but it was a second yellow for Sam! There were a few more chances for Spurs, but little for Charlton, who got their men behind the ball, and defended well. Spurs best chance came in a goal-mouth scramble, when O'Donoghue's header from a corner was cleared as far as Ricketts, whose shot was blocked, then cleared off the feet of Hughes from close range.

O'Hara had another good shot saved, but Charlton nearly got an equaliser when Long beat the offside flag and raced for goal, but was prevented by Rob Burch racing out of his area to pass clear.

Spurs' final reserve game is at Coventry next Tuesday 27th April. The under 17 side have a League Play Off semi-final at home this Saturday. It is not certain yet where they will play, as a larger than normal crowd at The Lodge may interfere with first team preparations. That game may therefore be moved to Myddleton House.

This being my final report of the season on the Reserves, it has been very pleasing to see Youth given so much chance to bloom, and indeed to see it developing in action so much of the time. It is often unfair to pick out individuals, and the club has already weeded out many youngsters they feel do not have a future at Spurs, so one hopes that all those remaining can flourish in the Lilywhite and Blue of Tottenham Hotspur. Jamie O'Hara and Philip Ifil are probably the two players ahead of their group, as they both played for the under 17s on Saturday. We know what an exciting prospect we have in Mark Yeates, and of course we would all love to see Jackson and Ricketts get more of a chance at senior level.

Let us hope that all these players can aspire to Premiership football with Tottenham, including next season!

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