Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List

FA Premier League South
Spurs Lodge, Luxborough Lane, Chigwell,
Saturday 5th March 2005, k.o. 11.30am

SPURS U-18S 2 (1) COVENTRY U-18S 2 (0)

Scorers - Seanla 29 (1-0), 8 51(1-1), Hamed 71(2-1), Sidhu 87(2-2)

Teams:-
SPURS (White/Blue)(4-4-2):- Forecast; Riley, Wright, Wells, Mills, Lee(Kyriacou 46), Davis, Seanla(Barcham 75), Thyer(Hamed 46)), O'Hara(C), Daniels

Booked - Lee 42(dissent)

COVENTRY CITY (Sky Blue)(4-4-2):- No teamsheet but included Wall, Gooding(C), Sidhu and Davis.

No bookings

It was a cold morning with freezing gusting winds from the North which produced driving snow just before halftime. The ground was soft, cutting up easily. The conditions were not ideal for the young lads and also for the small crowd who braved the weather to see it. Spurs lined up with Mills and Lee at the back flanked by Riley at right back and Wright at left. O'Hara was partnered by Matthew Wells making his first start for the U-18's with Davis on the right side and Daniels on the left. Claude Seanla made his first game back from injury with Thyer up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the South goal with the wind behind them and soon had a chance when the visiting keeper picked up a back pass in the second minute. With the City side on the goal line O'Hara lifted the ball over them and the bar. Spurs applied most of the pressure in the opening period with good work down the flanks and good play by Scott Thyer with his back to goal. The opening goal came from a low centre from Charlie Daniels which Seanla turned in at the back post at the second attempt. The Sky Blues came into the game as the half wore on thanks mainly to their 8 and Davis who carved out a few chances including a through ball that released the 8 who went passed Mills into the box and looked set to score until Chris Riley got in a block as he struck his shot. Tommy Forecast also had to dive full length to push another effort from the 8. The ref was penalising everybody who raised the hands making contact which brought a lot of complaints from both sides with O'Hara getting a dressing down from the ref early on and Charlie Lee a yellow card later.

Pat Holland was not happy with the side's performance in the first half and made a twin substitution at the interval, replacing Lee with John Kyriacou who went to right back so that Riley could move into the centre and Radwan Hamed for Thyer up front. Before they could settle in the Visitors equalised when somehow the ball was played in from the left and the 8 turned it in following a scramble in the six yard box. The back four settled down quickly after this shock and steadied under the leadership of Leigh Mills - who should make a good captain - with Riley partnering him well and both full backs pushing forward.

Spurs had most of the ball in the second half with attempts from Seanla, Hamed and a great run and chip by Jamie Davis. Coventry made all three changes early in the half as they sought to get back into the match before the home side took the lead again through Hamed. From a short right wing corner the ball was crossed to the far post where Hamed had got round the back to head home from a tight angle. The visitors never gave up and came back forcing Forecast into another good save and when it looked like we were going to run out winners they got a second from Sidhu when he knocked in a loose ball following a quick counter.

I thought that it was a fairly good game which we should have won but the visitors put up a good fight and did well to get a point. It is probable that Lee was taken off for his own good as he was continually being penalised for his challenges which with a different official would have gone by without a word - that's just my opinion.

Next week the U-18's play at Reading, which with the Reserves at Portsmouth and the first team at Newcastle means a quiet week at the Lodge

Ray

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