BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER, 2003
SPURS RESERVES 3 (1) WATFORD RESERVES 3 (2)

Spurs scorers:-
Jackson , 38, 87 (pen)
O'Hara, 63

Watford scorers:-
Smith, 36
Norville, 37
Godfrey, 47

Referee:- Mr. G. Lewis

Attendance:- Est 400

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Burch; Marney, Doherty, O'Donoghue, Ziege; Hughes, Dalmat (sub O'Hara, 58), Toda, Jackson (Capt); Barnard, Postiga (sub Yeates, 14)

Subs not used:- Hirschfeld; Henry; Bowditch

Booked:- Hughes, Barnard

Watford (4-4-2):- Pidgeley; Herd, Blizzard, Ifil, Smith; Fisken, Swonnell (Capt), Collins, Martin; Godfrey, Norville (sub Diafutua, 80)

Subs not used:- Graham; Coyne, Ainon, Mawer

Booked:- Herd, Ifil, Norville

Many people in attendance at Broadhall Way, Stevenage tonight might have expected the stars in the Spurs line-up, such as Stephane Dalmat, Christian Ziege, Kazuyuki Toda and Helder Postiga to have led the home side to an emphatic win over a young and seemingly inexperienced Watford side. The last few years of watching reserve matches however, has taught me never to expect great things even when the chasm in class appears to be great. This Watford side, as with many other reserve line-ups, was fast and very competitive, and in the end it was the Spurs youngsters who led the two come-backs from being two goals down in both halves to come away with an excellent 3-3 draw. The heroes for Spurs were skipper John Jackson with two goals - one from a late penalty won by Mark Yeates, who had replaced the injured Postiga with less than a quarter of an hour gone. The other hero was reserve debutant Jamie O'Hara, who starred for the under 17s last Saturday, and tonight replaced Dalmat with over half an hour to go, and soon scored a cracking driven goal.

David Pleat was seen before the kick-off on the touchline with Clive Allen, who took a back seat on the bench tonight. Allen's major contribution to proceedings was to constantly harangue the officials from the dug-out, and if he is to play a more prominent role, he will have to bite his tongue a little more methinks. It was Chris Hughton who took charge of the reserves tonight, joining them on the pitch in the warm-up for some individual advice, then shouting instructions and encouragement throughout the game.

Both teams lined up in 4-4-2 formations. Christian Ziege does not look most comfortable as an orthodox left back, and was generally seen to better effect when he did get forward, whipping in some powerful crosses at various stages. However, next to him young O'Donoghue was left a bit exposed at times by Ziege's forays, and whilst he gained in confidence and stature as the game progressed, he needed more support early on, I felt. Doherty played beside him, with Marney playing at right back. Mark Hughes played on the right wing, with Dalmat inside him. Perhaps they would have been better deployed the other way round, as Hughes is a terrier-like player who will fight for the ball, whereas Dalmat provided a few pretty tricks, but seldom showed a taste for tackling and chasing after the ball when it was going the wrong way. Toda played the full 90 minutes in front of the defence, doing nothing spectacular, but also nothing disastrous, and Jackson played most of the game in front of Ziege, but switched with Hughes towards the end of the game. Lee Barnard partnered Postiga, who hobbled off the pitch after only 13 minutes, clutching his buttock, and perhaps suffering a hamstring problem. Mark Yeates therefore had a lengthy outing, but did not find his best form tonight.

Watford featured Jerel Ifil, who I believe is the elder brother of our own Phil Ifil. Skipper Sam Swonnel has been seen to good effect at this level before, and both the Watford strikers - Godfrey and Norville gave the Spurs defence plenty to think about.

Spurs displayed early skill through Hughes on the right wing, and Postiga and Dalmat in the middle, without threatening goal, other than an ambitious 35 yarder from Postiga. Watford had the most dangerous early attack after 9 minutes as Norville sprung the defence with three Spurs men getting in a tangle just inside their half. Toda did well to force Norville out to a wide angle, which meant that his cross/shot drifted harmlessly over the Spurs goal area. Spurs were tending to over-commit, which gave the Watford players plenty of chances to make a few swift counter-attacks which caused a little panic for the home side.

Spurs first real chance came after 16 minutes, and it was the youngsters who did the business. First Dean Marney slipped the ball through down the right for Mark Hughes, who got to the bye-line and sent a neat cross into the area, which Barnard headed just over the bar. After 31 minutes, Ziege lost out to Norville, who got into the Spurs area, but had the ball snatched off his feet at the second attempt by Rob Burch.

Then came a wild burst of three goals in two minutes. The referee adjudged Toda to have committed a foul just outside his box, and Jack Smith stepped up to take a quick free kick which was deflected to wrong-foot Burch, as the ball hit the net. Straight after the re-start, The Hornets were two up as Herd was allowed to race away down the right, sending a low cross past Doherty, which was easily turned in by Norville. John Jackson completed the mad action from the Spurs kick, as he was sent away and hit a powerful low shot, which Pidgeley touched but could not prevent from hitting his net.

The visitors restored their two goal lead after the break, when Dalmat lost the ball in the middle (and did not attempt to redeem himself). The ball was sent quickly to Godfrey, via a deflected pass leaving him with a low shot to Burch's left for a 3-1 lead. Dalmat did then provide some good skill down the inside left channel, ending with a neat back-heel to Jackson, whose pass inside was hit by Hughes but deflected for a corner. This was taken by Jackson and O'Donoghue headed powerfully into the arms of the keeper.

O'Hara replaced Dalmat, and within 5 minutes had capped his debut at this level with a stunner. Some good build up play on the right from Toda, Hughes and Marney culminated in the ball coming inside to Jamie O'Hara, who made a riving run, before hitting a cracking low drive into the net left of Pidgeley. It was a great goal.

A chipped cross from Jackson was back-headed by Barnard just over the bar, and Spurs now had the bit between their teeth, as they put the visitors under more and more pressure. With five minutes to go, a good quick ball from the left released Yeates who got into the box and was in front of Ifil who tackled from behind and was punished suitably. John Jackson stepped up and confidently converted the spot-kick, and whilst it was Spurs who made all the running in the closing stages they were happy to settle for an entertaining and hard-fought draw.

Next Monday night Spurs entertain Wimbledon at Broadhall Way, when the kick-off will again be at 7 p.m.

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