FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 10TH MARCH, 2004
(at The National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes)
WIMBLEDON RESERVES 1 (1) SPURS RESERVES 2 (1)

Wimbledon scorer:-
Smith

Spurs scorers:-
Postiga, 34
Redknapp (pen), 60

Referee:- Mr. S. Rubery (replaced due to injury after 50 minutes by Assistant - Mr. J. Murfitt)

Attendance:- Est. 2,500

Teams:-
Wimbledon (4-4-2):- Martin; Deacons, Oyedele (Capt..), Ntimban-Zeh, Puncheon; Goma, Wolleaston, Smith, Dove (sub Jarrett, 43); Morgan (sub Gordon, 75), Cornwall

Subs not used:- McKoy; Mouter, Slater

Booked:- Smith

Spurs (4-4-2):- Burch (sub Eyre, 89); Kelly, Mabizela, Bunjevcevic, McKie; Marney, Redknapp (Capt.), Hughes (sub O'Hara, 46), Ricketts; Postiga, Yeates (sub Barnard, 85)

Subs not used:- Ifil, Lee

Booked:- Marney

The football-starved public of Milton Keynes tend to flock to their National Hockey Stadium, even for Reserves games. With the Wimbledon first team rooted to the foot of Division One, the punters know that the only chance they have of seeing Premiership class players is to watch the reserves. Big teams attract big crowds, and so it was tonight, despite the bitterly cold weather and the attraction of Champions League footie on the television.

There is also a strong groundswell in the area of Spurs support, and the 2,500 (estimate) hardy souls who paid their admission were rewarded by the inclusion by Spurs of players such as Mabizela, Bunjevcevic, Redknapp, Postiga and Ricketts in the Spurs starting line-up. By the end of the game though, they may have been most impressed by Mark Yeates, and substitute Jamie O'Hara, the ex-Arsenal lad who made a great impression in the second half.

The sporting crowd though was to be fed some good football by the Dons, who had been well beaten by Spurs in the home game earlier in the season, but who probably surprised the visitors with the level of their application and attainment. Spurs played in their white shirts, but with sky blue shorts due to the clash of colours with Wimbledon's navy blue strip.

Whilst Spurs had tested the offside line a couple of times with intelligent balls from deep and short passes, the home side had the first real chance when Deacons' cross from the right was met by Morgan's header at the back post, which was placed wide of the target. Morgan then found space on the left, picking up a good long ball, and sending in a good low cross which was cleared at the foot of the post by Mabizela. Spurs managed a shot, when Ricketts was fed by Postiga, and his (Rohan's) shot went wide of the side netting.

David Pleat was in the Director's box, as he usually is for the reserves' games, and Clive Allen was once again operating on the touchline. If Mr. Pleat was looking for someone to slot into the first team this Sunday, I have my doubts that he saw enough tonight to impress him sufficiently, although the efforts of the youngsters mentioned above augurs well for the longer term future.

Ricketts and Postiga provided an opportunity for Yeates, whose shot was blocked, but not even a corner was awarded when it seemed justified. Wimbledon took a 20th minute lead when Smith picked up a ball from the right and was allowed the freedom of the midfield to run from right to centre and then shoot low to the left of Burch for the lead.

Spurs had had the kick up the backside required, and realised they needed to go up a couple of gears. Two minutes after going behind, a corner was glanced by Bunjevcevic, but cleared as far as Ricketts, whose good shot was deflected for another corner. There was a bit of needle between Marney and the Dons' left back, Puncheon, leading to a free kick, taken by Yeates, and cleared as far as Hughes, whose long range attempt went a yard or two wide.

The game opened up nicely and Kelly made a great attacking run, threading the ball for Postiga, who had the ball taken off his feet by the advancing Martin, who subsequently had to make enough saves to make him a Man of the Match candidate. Jamie Redknapp took a quick free kick on the half way line and Postiga and Ricketts did well down the left, before passing back to McKie whose deep cross found Marney at the far post, only to screw his shot badly.

The equaliser came on 34 minutes when Yeates put a great ball through to Postiga, who finished well with a neat shot over the keeper. Morgan responded again for Wimbledon though, and his low cross shot evaded everyone advancing on the ball in the area. Dove was replaced before the break by Albert Jarrett, who is a bit of a favourite and was to have an impact after the break. First though, Redknapp had a free-kick chance after some shirt pulling on Postiga. Jamie's shot went round the wall, but low to the keeper.

Mark Hughes was replaced by O'Hara after the break, and Spurs went immediately onto the front foot. A rebound fell nicely for Mark Yeates, but Martin made a great save with a dive to the right to reach Yeates' strong left footed shot. Ricketts then had a great opportunity at the back post, but made an embarrassing attempt at the header. Referee Mr. Rubery (who did not impress this reporter in January, when we hosted Portsmouth) succumbed to an injury and was replaced by one of his assistants, Mr. Murfitt, who allowed the game to flow very nicely, thank you.

Goalkeeper Martin (third choice for the Dons) made another great save from that man Yeates, as he latched onto Redknapp's ball. After 59 minutes, the referee awarded a penalty for more shirt pulling on Postiga, as he tried to deal with Ricketts low cross from the left. Up stepped Redknapp, to fire home to the left of the keeper for his third goal (two pens) in his recent run of 5 games in the Reserves.

The impact from Jarrett came after 69 minutes when he provided the cross from which Cornwall headed hard and high towards the roof of the net, only to see the best save of the night from Rob Burch, who managed to tip the ball over the bar. Burch was later injured when dropping the ball in a fall, but was only replaced in the closing stages by Nicky Eyre.

Spurs finished the stronger side, and first Ricketts tested the keeper with a weak shot after a run from left to centre, then Rohan was "the wall" for a return pass to O'Hara who had made a powerful diagonal run through the middle, then hit a strong shot saved by that man Martin.

The Reserves' next game is on Monday night at Stevenage, when the visitors will be.........Arsenal. Be there a little earlier than usual for this one, as the crowd will be much bigger than the norm!

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