BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, 2003
(at Upton Park)
WEST HAM RESERVES 1 (0) SPURS RESERVES 2 (1)

West Ham scorer:-
Blewitt, 71

Spurs scorers:-
Acimovic, 8
Zamora, 66

Referee:- Mr. J.F. Singh

Attendance:- Est. 150

Teams:-
West Ham (4-4-2):- Bywater; McClenahan, Lumsden, Blewitt, Tattam; Sofiane, D. Noble (sub M. Noble, 59), Byrne (Capt.), McMahon; Garcia, Pearson

Subs not used:- Forde; Bunce, Laws, Wright

Booked:- McMahon, Blewitt

Spurs (4-4-2):- Burch; Marney, Doherty (Capt.), Bunjevcevic, McKie; Hughes, Mabizela, Toda (sub Barnard, 63), Blondel; Zamora, Acimovic (sub Galbraith, 67)

Subs not used:- Hirschfeld; O'Donoghue, Foster

Booked:- McKie, Mabizela, Hughes, Barnard

According to the table published with the team sheet, both these teams were languishing in the lower reaches of the Reserve League, but the three points gained by a strongish Spurs side could have lifted them into the top half for what it is worth. A sparse gathering of maybe 150 souls attended Upton Park for what turned out to be a high-tempo entertaining game, which, whilst it was strongly contested, was not a rough game, as maybe suggested by the 6 yellow cards meted out by referee Mr. Singh, who may have made a rod for his own back by flashing the card early on.

The presence of half a dozen players with varying degrees of Premiership experience did affect the quality of the football from the visitors, but West Ham's young side were more than a match for the Lilywhites. The pace of Garcia, Pearson and Sofiane was a big test for the experience of Doherty and Bunjevcevic in the middle at the back, and the inexperience of Marcel McKie at left back. Kazuyuki Toda returned to the fray, but was only allowed just over an hour on the pitch, once again performing to a moderate standard in front of the back four. Mabizela partnered Toda in the middle of midfield, whilst Mark Hughes took up the right wing in front of Marney, and Blondel played left flank. Acimovic was up front with Bobby Zamora, who played the full 90 minutes, which tends to rule him out of a start this coming Saturday, in my view.

West Ham had the ball in the net twice within the first five minutes, but both were disallowed for a foul and then offside. Acimovic had a great chance to open the scoring in that first phase of play, as he found himself alone with the ball, but took a lifetime to decide what to do, when a quick pot at goal was required. The Slovenian (who has not been seen in action for Spurs at any level for several weeks) redeemed himself with the opening goal in the 8th minute. It was a ,lovely goal started by Mabizela's neat through ball, which Zamora chased to the bye line, crossing deep for Acimovic to head home.

Rob Burch was to have a busy and successful night, making his first save soon after the goal - Pat Jennings style - with his legs, from Garcia's shot. After 14 minutes, a neat ball from Hughes let Zamora through again, but Bywater did well to save Bobby's angled shot from the right of the area. The Hammers thought they had a valid goal, when McMahon found space on the left, passed inside to Garcia who had made room for a quick ball to Pearson, who slotted the ball home, not having seen the linesman's flag already in the air. Pearson soon tried again, with a good shot on the turn, which was cleanly saved by Burch.

Acimovic then found himself in a one on one situation, but seemed to dawdle again, rather than take responsibility to score. He took so long in trying to set up Zamora, that the chance was easily smothered by the defence. 21 minutes had gone and there had been so much action already, but Pearson wanted another go, as he chipped over the defence, but fired over the bar with his effort.

Towards the end of the half, West Ham were being allowed too much space in the middle. McMahon passed inside to David Noble (formerly of Arsenal), whose long shot was saved by the legs of Burch again. Just before the break, the ball ran for Hughes, who fed Marney (looking suspiciously offside) on the right. Marney's hard-hit rising cross was glanced over by Zamora.

After the break, the Hammers tried their luck with one or two long shots. Firstly, Burch held Byrne's effort, then Garcia had a useful shot from deep just outside the post on the right. Spurs took a while to get a decent attack together, but could have scored when Acimovic lifted a ball over the defence, and Zamora fired just outside the target. The second goal came in the 66th minute, and was almost comical in execution. Again, Acimovic had lifted the ball from right to left, and Blondel cut inside before hitting an intended shot about 7 or 8 yards away from goal. Zamora was on the edge of the 6 yard box, and seemed to stick out his left foot on the off-chance he might make contact, and he did! The ball was turned into the net, and the celebration was low-key.

Galbraith replaced Acimovic, and during this latter phase of play, Chris Hughton appeared in the technical zone to assist Clive Allen. Hughton swiftly got a rollicking off the fourth official, but not before he had been able to dish out some advice - maybe to the front men to battle more for the ball, to ease the building pressure on the Spurs defence. The home side reduced the deficit with 20 minutes to go, when Sofiane hot a high cross that was over Burch, and was headed home by Blewitt. Sofiane was the threat again, as he pierced the defence to be challenged only by Burch, who parried the shot forcefully and cleared well.

Spurs enjoyed a period of pressure, with more play down the left and combination from Blondel, Galbraith and Barnard, but with 4 minutes to go, Sofiane got through yet again. Burch timed his advance perfectly and was down in time to beat away Sofiane's shot. Pearson had a good chance to equalise in injury time as he left Doherty in his wake, before scooping a shot far too wide to worry the keeper.The reserves' next game (and their last scheduled game for the year) is on Monday 8th December at home to Ipswich - to be played as usual at Broadhall Way, Stevenage.

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