FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE (South)
(at Broadhall Way, Stevenage)
MONDAY 18TH APRIL, 2005
SPURS RESERVES 4 (2) ARSENAL RESERVES 3 (1)

Spurs scorers:-
Barnard, 15(pen), 36, 72
Malcolm, 63

Arsenal scorers:-
Lupoli, 8, 90
Smith (pen), 77

Referee: - Mr. S. Rubery

Attendance: - 2,692

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Burch; Dilevski, Mills, Lee, Hallfredsson; Limbersky, Jackson (Capt.), O’Hara (sub McKenna, 83), Yeates; Barnard, Malcolm

Subs not used: - Eyre; Barcham, Daniels, Seanla

Booked: - Burch, Lee, McKenna

Arsenal (4-4-2):- Taylor; Hoyte, Djourou, Skulasson (Capt.), Gilbert; Larsson, Cregg, O’Donnell (sub Birchall, 53), Smith; Owusu-Abeyie (sub Bendtner, 72), Lupoli

Subs not used: - Howard; Muamba

Booked: - Cregg, Djourou, Larsson

Spurs youngsters gained a morale boosting victory over Arsenal in what turned out to be a 7 goal thriller, in which Lee Barnard scored his second hat-trick in two successive games. This was also the second consecutive 7 goal game for Spurs, and the 2,692 paying customers went home happy tonight, even if some of them were on the losing side, as Spurs had to hang on for a tense 5 minutes of injury time.

Spurs had secured a 4-1 lead, with little over 15 minutes to go, but thereafter it was mostly a backs to the wall job, as Arsenal relentlessly tried to break us down.

The Youth team centre half pairing of Leigh Mills and Charlie Lee had been given the greatest pat on the back and vote of confidence after their Youth Cup semi-final defeat, and after an early error by Mills, neither player let down Development Coach, Clive Allen. With both first team managers present and the Buildbase Stand almost full to accommodate the extra interest, the stage was set for excitement, and no-one was let down.

Spurs win was built on the back of strong midfield performances from John Jackson and Jamie O’Hara (himself a former Arsenal boy), coupled with total commitment all round, head-on tackling, and challenges for the ball in all areas. There were some fine passing movements too, and Arsenal, to be honest, were most un-Arsenal like for the first three-quarters of the game. Mr Wenger had left the ground before the best part of his side’s fight back attempt

Dilevski and Hallfredsson are beginning to look the part at full back, and Dilevski got great support from Limbersky, who also showed great pace and skill down the right wing. Limbersky’s assistance was needed, as Arsenal’s left winger, Ryan Smith was one of their most impressive attackers. The Arsenal keeper, Stuart Taylor looked most uncomfortable, and his handling was uncertain even against some half-hit shots on target.

Spurs had an early chance from a clearance by Rob Burch, making a welcome return, headed by Malcolm to Limbersky on the right. The cross from deep on the right reached O’Hara on the run, but he fired over. Spurs had been dominating the early play, but went one behind due to a mistake by Mills, who kicked the ground instead of the ball, gifting it to Owusu-Abeyie, who gave Lupoli an easy task to put the visitors one up. Spurs failed to take advantage of a Taylor error and Malcolm’s pass back into the area was cleared. Malcolm showed a good deal of strength and pace today. His hold up play was better than I have seen for a while, but he has a long way to go to match Lee Barnard’s physical application, coupled with the ability to put the ball in the net with great regularity!

Spurs got back into the game through a penalty awarded for a foul on Yeates as he entered the area. Cregg was the first of three Arsenal players to get into the book, not for the foul but for the dissent following the decision of Mr. Rubery, who was not letting any nonsense go unpunished. Barnard sent Taylor the wrong way, scoring with a fine shot in front of the visiting fans. Spurs won another free kick after a great ball from Dilevski found Malcolm who was fouled on the edge of the box. This time Djourou saw yellow for arguing, although the ref did not put the ball 10 yards closer to goal. Yeates took the kick which went through the wall, and was held low by Taylor.

In the 36th minute John Jackson took advantage of hesitancy in front of their area by the Arsenal defence, carried the ball across the edge, before hitting a powerful drive that Taylor could not hold. Barnard was first on the scene to mop up for Spurs. Arsenal had half a chance to equalise when Lupoli got goalside of Lee on the break, hit an attempted shot across Burch, who easily plucked the ball out of the air with both hands. Burch got booked in the first minute of the second half, when he rushed out, but handled just outside his area. Visiting fans’ claims for a red card were not satisfied by Mr Rubery, and the free kick passed safely across the Spurs goal.

Larsson was the final Arsenal name to go into the book for arguing over a decision against him for a foul on Yeates. Larsson seemed to do his best for the rest of the game to argue his way to red, but the referee was lenient in his case. John Jackson took a good free kick, which Malcolm reached despite the tugs of the defence, prodding the ball wide. A good Spurs move after 52 minutes followed a great piece of skill from O’Hara, who cleverly back-heeled to deceive his opponent, then passed into the centre, where Barnard and Malcolm had a 1-2, before Barnard tried a curler that went wide. O’Hara threaded a ball to Yeates who turned just inside the box, getting a shot on target that Taylor did hold.

Mills should have scored from Yeates 56th minute corner, but headed over from close range, and then John Jackson picked up the ball in the middle setting off on a strong run. Jackson seemed to be impeded but went for a shot, not quite fully hit. It bothered Taylor enough, as he couldn’t hold the ball which hit the post, then rebounded into his arms. Spurs’ third goal came as no surprise, bearing in mind their domination at this stage. Yeates sent a free kick over the defence and rising Spurs players, for Malcolm to finish off at close range. Arsenal were stung and started to show signs of life, as Owusu-Abeyie sent a cross to the back post where Gilbert fired low into the side netting. Burch did well with his trailing foot to save from substitute Birchall in a one on one situation.

Spurs went a welcome 4-1 up in the 72nd minute, when Larsson fouled Yeates on the left. Jackson took a quick free kick and Barnard had ghosted into the area to get his hat-trick goal with a left foot shot across the keeper. Within three minutes, the lead was back to two, as Smith’s cross was handled by Hallfredsson. Smith finished the job easily, sending Burch the wrong way.

Spurs best remaining effort came from a Jackson pile-driver that was deflected out of play by one of his own men. Lee got booked for a crunching tackle on Smith, and McKenna (on for O’Hara) also saw yellow for a foul. Two minutes of injury time had gone, when Lupoli ran down the right touchline to make a long clearance his ball, finishing with a fine arrowed shot across Burch that nearly burst the net. Clive Allen was not best pleased, as the ball had been cleared from a Yeates attack that seemed to have been unfairly stopped by that man Larsson. Spurs held on though for an exciting 4-3 scoreline.

The Reserves are secure in fifth place in the Reserve League. Their final game is a week next Thursday (28th April), at home to Coventry.

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