FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE (SOUTH)
MONDAY 14TH MARCH, 2005
SPURS RESERVES 1 (1) WATFORD RESERVES 1 (1)

Spurs scorer:-
O’Donoghue, 40

Watford scorer:-
Norville, 45

Referee: - Mr D. Whitestone

Attendance: - Est. 200

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Forecast; O’Donoghue, Bunjevcevic (Capt.), Defendi, McKie; Dilevski, McKenna, Marney (sub Limbersky, 60), Hallfredsson; Yeates, Malcolm (sub Seanla, 79)

Subs not used: - Button; Riley

No Bookings

Watford (4-4-2):- Chamberlain; Osborne (sub Grant, 46), Gunnarsson (Capt.), Mariappa, Collins (sub Mawer, 29); Darlington, Diagouraga, Ferrell, Young; Norville, Coleman

Subs not used: - Kirk; Diafuta, Frost

No bookings

A quite unedifying affair was played out at Broadhall Way Stevenage tonight, as a largely inexperienced Spurs side struggled to play with any fluency against a physically stronger Watford team, who battled well, getting men behind the ball, but also forging several threatening attacks. Bearing in mind the visitors had the ball in the net before Spurs took a 40th minute lead, a draw was a fair result on a night when the sparse crowd was rarely entertained by the football presented.

The variation in experience of those playing Reserve football was best demonstrated by the opposing goalkeepers, with veteran Alec Chamberlain in the Watford goal, and 17 year old Tommy Forecast making his debut at this level for Spurs. On a windy night, Forecast faced a number of testing situations, but deserves to be pleased with his handling and reading of the game for well over 90% of the time.

Phil Ifil will be required for the Youth Cup quarter-final between these two teams on Thursday night at Vicarage Road, so Paul O’Donoghue was drafted in at right back – an unfamiliar role for him too. O’Donoghue was sternly tested by the Watford (Stevenage – born) left winger, Ashley Young who has made 14 starts for the Watford senior team, who created the equaliser as first half injury time commenced. O’Donoghue was allowed forward for corners and free kicks though and got a memorable headed goal.

Bunjevcevic and Defendi had plenty of work against Norville and Coleman, and whilst Bunjee was caught out once or twice, he came to the team’s rescue with a number of fine interceptions and winning tackles and headers. Marcel McKie at left back continues to develop well, providing one of the few moments deserving spontaneous applause with his work down the left flank. Kieran McKenna gave typical midfield battling show, and Dean Marney played the first hour, presumably being preserved for the first team squad’s two matches this week. Icelandic loan player Hallfredsson got a chance to play on his preferred left wing, as Limbersky was left on the bench, but Emil will need to improve dramatically if he is to win an extended spell at Tottenham. There were occasional flashes of inspiration, but too often ball control was found wanting.

“Flashes of inspiration” serves to describe a lot of Tottenham’s play tonight, as there was little in the way of sustained flowing football. Spurs had that close shave with the offside flag coming to their rescue after 7 minutes, when Norville showed strength with his back to goal within the left side of the area, turned the defence and sent a low ball across the area where two colleagues were waiting. The ball was put in the net, but the flag came to Spurs rescue. It was nearly twenty minutes, before Spurs had a lovely piece of play, as Dilevski made a penetrating run, got a return pass of Mark Yeates, then brought a good save from Chamberlain, as Spase tried to squeeze the ball inside the left post. A corner resulted, fired in by Marney. Yeates made room to his left for a shot which was blocked, then O’Donoghue showed that he is not a striker by lifting the ball miles high!

After 33 minutes, after good work from McKie, Hallfredsson’s mis-placed ball did reach Dilevski in the middle. He fed the ball to Yeates who took the ball to the bye-line then crossed for Malcolm, only to see Chamberlain get a vital touch to divert the ball from Malcolm’s toes. Spurs took a 40th minute lead from a corner which had been won by a defensive header to take Hallfredsson’s ball away from Dilevski. O’Donoghue rose beautifully to head Marney’s corner firmly against the far post, rebounding into the net. Watford’s equaliser came after good work by Young, spinning off the defence, then crossing low for Norville to drive the ball home.

There was very little play of note after the break, with a memorable piece of defence from Bunjevcevic, clearing the ball over the bar to concede a corner after Norville’s cross from the bye-line. Claude “Steff” Seanla got on for what I believe was also his reserve debut, and had a lively cameo. Seanla is quite a big lad, who is also likely to feature on Thursday night. The young striker was encouraged every step of the way by Clive Allen. When Limbersky got on, Hallfredsson moved inside to play beside McKenna.

As always with Reserve football, the result is not paramount, but the chance to observe the development of some of our young footballers is of interest. Along with the usual assortment of Spurs coaching and managerial staff, and visiting personnel, I had the great privilege of sitting in front of the second most successful Spurs manager of all time, and the second inductee into the Spurs Hall of Fame, none other than Keith Burkinshaw, although I did not have the opportunity for conversation.

The Reserves are away to Chelsea next week, and then Ipswich, before their next scheduled home game on April 6th against Derby County

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