FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE (SOUTH)
MONDAY 15TH NOVEMBER, 2004
SPURS RESERVES 2 (2) IPSWICH RESERVES 0 (0)

Scorers:-
Silva, 4
Slabber, 23

Referee:- Mr. D. McDermid

Attendance:- Est. 300

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Eyre; Taricco (Capt.), O'Donoghue (sub McKenna, 68), Defendi (sub O'Hara, 90), McKie; Barcham, Hughes, Jackson, Yeates; Silva (sub Price, 77), Slabber

Subs not used:- Forecast; Malcolm

No bookings

Ipswich (4-4-2):- Supple; Mitchell (Capt.), Collins, Hogg, Craig; Atay, Murray (sub Clarke, 70), Manning, Richards; Counago, Knights

Subs not used:- Flack, Patten, Synnot, Garvan

Booked:- Collins (Dissent)

In the parallel universe of the Premiership Reserve league, Spurs won their fifth game on the trot to consolidate their place in the top three, thus achieving the exact opposite of the Premiership team. Clive Allen deserves a lot of credit for this fine run, during which the Reserves have scored 14 goals, and conceded just 1. Whilst tonight's young opponents played with plenty of zest, and at times put the Spurs defence under pressure, they were allowed few clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities, with Rodrigo Defendi and Paul O'Donoghue both making some fine blocks, tackles and interventions in the middle.

In the first half, Spurs at times had played some quite scintillating football, with plenty of quick passing and movement, and real zing about their game in general. This was aided by the pace of Mark Yeates, again playing on the left, and Barcham on the right. Jamie Slabber made a welcome start, and Eddie Silva Sousa also displayed speed of thought and movement in the opening spell, getting on the scoresheet for the fifth time as early as the fourth minute.

After the interval, though, Spurs seemed happy to get men behind the ball and let their opponents come at them, confidently resisting most efforts upon Nicky Eyre's goal.

Eight players from both squads had met in the under-18s game at Spurs Lodge in September. Perhaps the best known of the Ipswich contingent was striker Pablo Counago, who certainly had plenty to offer in the way of threats upon the Spurs area. Counago was ably supported by the likes of Knights, Murray and Richards, all of whom matched Spurs' energy.

Taricco skippered the Spurs side, and played at right back, with Marcel McKie on the other side of the central defenders. Mark Hughes (back from his loan spell with Northampton) played beside John Jackson in the central midfield. Hughes' job was to cover the defence, whilst Jackson started a number of good moves with decent passing.

That early goal came from a run down the left channel by Yeates, who fed Slabber on his left. Slabber's cross was headed back and Silva placed a good left footed shot into the top corner. Ipswich tried to get back on level terms but without too much threat for Spurs, who sometimes did not help themselves with sloppy passes in the middle. Taricco tried to do a little too much with the ball in the middle and was deprived by Knights and Richards who got the ball to Counago, who got a shot in, but it went over the target, as O'Donoghue did just enough to put the striker off his shot.

Within minutes, Spurs doubled their lead. This time, a good ball from Hughes found Barcham on the right whose low cross was met by the Ipswich defence, but Slabber was on hand to quickly touch the rebound into the net. Much of the action was in the midfield, and the next real threat on goal was Hogg's curling free kick just wide of Eyre's right-hand post. Eyre's handling was good all night, and in the second half, he was called to make some good saves too. Spurs were under pressure late in the first half, and conceded a few too many free kicks in the danger zone. Craig got a good cross into the box, which Knights just missed, and which Spurs managed to clear for a corner.

After 52 minutes, Jackson's long free kick was headed just wide by Defendi, and Collins made the referee's book over something inappropriate he said to the official. Eyre made a good two-handed save, diving to his right to save from Counago, and then Defendi covered well for O'Donoghue's mistake, as Counago tried to take advantage. O'Donoghue had taken a nasty blow to the head, and tried to battle on, but had to come off, as his vision was impaired. Kieran McKenna took over at right back, whilst Taricco switched to the left and McKie partnered Defendi. You couldn't see the join, as McKie played one of his best games at this level, in my view.

It was a McKie header that started a good move for Spurs, as Hughes collected and quickly switched to Barcham on his right. Barcham's shot did not have much power and was easy for Supple. Barcham had a better effort saved a few minutes later, as Yeates took advantage of no offside from Taricco's throw, found Barcham who tried this time with his left foot, and at least tested the keeper more.

Owen Price made a welcome appearance for Silva, and started up front with Slabber, but then switched to the midfield with Barcham in front of him. In a cameo performance, Owen showed what he can do with a couple of good balls to the strikers. Defendi had to be replaced in injury time, with a slight knock, but Spurs held out for another clean sheet, and will feel confident about next Tuesday's trip to Derby. The last scheduled home match of 2004 is on 29th November against Fulham, before the Reserves face away games against Arsenal, then West Ham. Arsenal are one of the two teams above us in this league, which will add even more spice to the fixture.

The under-18s face Leicester City at Spurs Lodge this Saturday, and Spurs Odyssey will be reporting on that game too.

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