FA YOUTH CUP 6TH ROUND
THURSDAY 17TH MARCH, 2005
WATFORD U-18s 0 (0) SPURS U-18s 2 (2)

Scorers:-
Daniels, 1
Barcham, 25

Referee: - Mr. K. STROUD

Attendance: - Est. 5,000

Teams:-
Watford (4-5-1):- Kirk; Osborne, Mariappa (Capt.), Homand, Parkes (sub Frost, 69); Gilligan, Bangura, Diagouraga, Chapman, Campana (sub Matthews, 75); Grant

Subs not used: - Hoad; Bardle, Cader

No Bookings

Spurs (4-4-2):- Forecast; Ifil (Capt.), Mills, Lee, Wright; Maghoma, Lewis, O’Hara, Daniels (sub Davis, 56); Hamed, Barcham

Subs not used: - Button; Riley; Archibald; Seanla

Booked: - Lee

A jubilant Spurs side earnt themselves a prestigious two-legged Youth Cup semi-final tie against Ipswich with this entertaining, and hard-fought 2-0 win at Vicarage Road, Watford. The match was played out in front of a crowd of some 5,000, most of whom enjoyed a great tussle, from their Rous Stand viewpoint.

Watford had already beaten Spurs at home and away in their Academy fixtures this season, and they included two outfield players who had played for the Reserves side on Monday night. Whilst Spurs’ skipper was Phil Ifil, who played the first two Premiership games this season, the only Spurs player who was at Stevenage this week was goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, who was thoroughly tested tonight, in front of a partisan but fair crowd that readily applauded good play from both sides.

Spurs have a settled side that surely have the potential to develop together in future years. At the heart of the defence were Leigh Mills, and the even more assured Charlie Lee, both of whom played superbly keeping the persistent Watford attacks at bay, supported of course by both full backs, but also gutsy assistance from the midfield, and even the strikers who defended from the front. Stuart Lewis is the more tigerish of the two central midfielders, but beside him, Jamie O’Hara was on top form with his repertoire of long passes.

Barcham has scored regularly in this Cup run, but tonight was the first real look I had at Radwan Hamed, who has fought this way into the team ahead of Seanla and Dawkins, who had been higher in the pecking order. Hamed is a quite tall and slender player, quick and also good in the air, with the potential to lead the line well. His gait when running reminded me of that of the former sprinter Michael Johnson, although I would not suggest he is anywhere near as fast! Hamed seems to lean back slightly as he runs.

Watford set up initially with a 5 man midfield, but their style was fluid, with either Campana on the left, or Gilligan on the right supporting front man Joel Grant. The big number 10 – Diagouraga - had played in that reserve match, as had right back Junior Osborne. The man who caught the eye for me though was number 6 – Andrew Chapman. (Chapman and Diagouraga had switched numbers as announced before the game, and the Spurs Official site has obviously missed that change.

Spurs got off to the best of starts within 50 seconds, as Barcham pounced on defensive weakness from Mariappa, raced towards the bye-line then cut back for the advancing Daniels, who coolly slotted a low well-placed shot to the right of the keeper. Watford were stung, but it took them a while to get Spurs on the back foot. This happened after 12 minutes, when O’Hara made a mistake with a short ball in the middle. Watford passed to Grant, lurking on the left, and his cross to the central area put the Spurs defence under considerable pressure, but they held out. A Mills defensive header did not go far, and he had to block the returned shot after 20 minutes.

In the 25th minute, Charlie Lee sent a great long ball from deep inside his own half, down the left channel. Barcham was onto it in a flash, leaving his marker trailing, as he advanced upon goalkeeper Reece Kirk, and then fired across him to the back of the net. Mariappa tried to make amends after 34 minutes, with an effort from the edge of the box, partially cleared by Lewis, but then came a shot from 25 yards, which Forecast held well. Two minutes, a great run through the middle, led to a chance for Chapman, who was bordering on offside on the left of the Spurs defence. Chapman hit a rising shot, which had Forecast beaten but which rebounded clear off the top of the bar. Grant had a good shot on the turn from just outside the box, in a central position, but it was way over the goal.

After the break, came the Watford dalliance with 4-3-3. with Campana and Gilligan moving up to assist Grant. Spurs survived the pressure, but Forecast conceded a corner when he handled uncertainly a cross from the left. Daniels then got a knock in a hearty challenge, and Spurs were playing with 10 lads for several minutes. During this spell, Bangura won the ball off Lewis, then brought a save from Forecast, diving to his right to concede a corner. Jamie Davis replaced Daniels, and played on the right, with Jack Maghoma switching to the left side. Maghoma (like all the midfield) showed strength throughout, but also had the skill to round players at times.

Just after Davis’s arrival, Spurs attacked down the middle and the ball was switched to Davis, whose cross went beyond the keeper, who then managed to save Hamed’s header at the back post. Forecast then had to make a good double handed save from a rising 25 yard shot by Gilligan. Chapman hit the top of the bar with a free kick from 22 yards after Lee’s foul (which had earnt him a yellow card), and now an hour had gone, Watford might have sensed it was not to be their night. Spurs were now happy to sit back, and let Watford attack, whilst making several threatening counter attacks, which could easily have borne fruit. Such an opportunity came after 67 minutes, when Hamed got onto a poor back pass, and was one on one with Kirk. Hamed should have scored, but Kirk managed to get in the way and force a corner.

As the 5 minutes of stoppage time began, Barcham led a break-out. His shot was blocked on the edge of the area. The ball ran to Davis, who had a good shot very well saved by the Watford keeper. Hamed should have scored or laid back for Barcham, but he hit the side netting. Forecast had one more save to make before the final whistle was blown, and the Spurs youngster could celebrate progress to the semi-final. The first leg (which I believe will be away) has to be played by 9th April, and the second by 23rd April. Both matches should be well-worth watching

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