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FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE
(at Broadhall Way, Stevenage)
MONDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER, 2004
SPURS RESERVES 2 (1) NORWICH RESERVES 0 (0)

Scorers:-
Barnard, 36
Silva, 61

Referee:- Mr. K.Yeo

Attendance:- Est. 400

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Fulop; Kelly, O'Donoghue, Richards (Capt.), Defendi; Dilevski, Marney, O'Hara (sub McKenna, 83), McKie (sub Barcham, 75); Silva, Barnard

Subs not used:- Eyre; Riley; Malcolm

No bookings

Norwich (4-3-1-2):- Ward; Briggs (sub Willis, 69), Halliday, Shackell (Capt.), Brennan; Blackburn, Mulryne (sub Howell, 69), Smith; Henderson; Crow, Jarvis

Subs not used:- Herbert; Howlett

No bookings.

Both the strikers scored tonight for Spurs to give them a two-goal victory in a fast-paced game at Broadhall Way, Stevenage. Jacques Santini (as far as I could see) was the only big Spurs name missing from the cluster of Arnesen, Jol, Hughton, Cuperley and Segers who came to see how the youngsters are developing, but no doubt also to assess Dean Richards first competitive game since the pre-season.

Norwich might understandably feel that it just wasn't their night, but in the end, a little too much inexperience told on them, as Ryan Jarvis failed to score a twice-taken penalty at the end of the first half, and then Ollie Willis and Ian Henderson could not get the ball in the net in the closing stages. Mind you, there was also some good defending from Spurs to be seen, particularly from right back Stephen Kelly who cleared off the line from Henderson's effort.

Perhaps Dean Richards best work came when he was spraying diagonal balls for McKie and Dilevski on the Spurs flanks, but as the game wore on Dean struggled against the pace of the Norwich youngsters such as Danny Crow, who played against Spurs Under-18s two weeks ago. It will be a while, I fancy, before Richards will be challenging those in possession of first team places at the back.

Rodrigo Defendi did a competent job at left back, and was little exercised in the second half. Marcel McKie was tried in an unfamiliar role on the left wing, and was to be instrumental in the second goal, but for a lot of the time he seemed shy to take players on down the line. O'Hara and Marney were an exciting pairing in central midfield. Marney has played there in the past, and tonight he had a number of great runs that left Canaries in his wake.

Barnard was partnered by a fitter looking Silva, whilst Spase Dilevski played on the right flank. The players assembled around the centre circle and observed a one-minute silence for the passing of the legendary Brian Clough, who today left this world aged just 69. It's hard to believe that just 13 years ago he was managing a Cup Final losing side against Spurs, but for my generation, all too easy to recall the achievements he had with Derby County and Nottingham Forest, now languishing in the lower reaches of the Coca Cola Championship.

Spurs started brightly, and Marney had a dipping shot go just over the bar near the left-hand post after 4 minutes. Three minutes later, Marney's corner was headed over by Richards. Much of the play was in the middle of the park for a while, with little goal-mouth incident, and Norwich forged a chance after 20 minutes, when Jim Brennan went on a run from the left, cutting in towards the box. Brennan could have shot, but chose to pass to his left for Blackburn who fired way over the goal. A speculative ball towards the Spurs goal by Henderson was helped on its way by Richards, and Crow hit a powerful shot across the goalmouth, which was not a worry for Marton Fulop in the Spurs goal.

Spurs took a deserved lead in the 36th minute, when Marney tried a shot which was blocked, then found Barnard who made room to pass the ball into the corner across the keeper. Just before the break, Norwich were awarded a penalty, when it looked like both Richards and O'Donoghue brought down an opponent. Jarvis stepped up, and Fulop saved the penalty, diving to his left, only to be adjudged by the assistant referee to have moved before the kick. No doubt the officials were being extra vigilant after Van Der Sar's efforts for Fulham on Saturday. Even given a second chance, Jarvis could not beat Fulop, as he skied his kick abysmally, and the half-time whistle blew.

After the break, Spurs played some nice fast passing football down the right flank, and work by Marney, then Dilevski, gave Kelly the ball to cross. Silva was on the end of the cross but could not control it, and the ball ran safely to Norwich keeper, Darren Ward. Marney tested the keeper with another belter, just past the post, before Spurs increased their lead after an hour. This time, Spurs carried the ball down the left, and McKie did take the ball almost to the bye-line, before sending a low cross, which was cleverly dummied by Barnard into the path of Silva, who finished neatly with a left foot shot to the keeper's right.

The Canaries then came alive, and could have quickly reduced the deficit. Crow got behind Richards, and had the goal beckoning, but fired wide. Then Brennan went on another run, trying a shot which Fulop got down to save for a corner. Crow left Richards behind again, but this time chipped the ball onto the top of the net. Three minutes from the end, Stephen Kelly won a great tackle near the half way line and Marney was away again, hitting a curving shot which Ward could not hold, but which was cleared. Then at the death Willis's shot hit a post and rebounded out to Henderson, whose effort from very close range was blocked by Kelly, to somehow preserve a clean sheet for the Reserves, and a welcome three points.

The absence of Ricketts, Bunjevcevic, Mabizela, and Reto Ziegler from this squad suggests that maybe they will have a part to play on Wednesday night at Oldham. Assuming Atouba is not fit, and that John Jackson starts, then perhaps Ziegler will get a place on the bench. Who knows?

The Reserves next match is at Leicester next Wednesday 29th September, and their next home game is on 11th October against Charlton.

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