FA YOUTH CUP 5TH ROUND
(at White Hart lane)
TUESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY, 2005
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (2) EVERTON 1 (1)

Spurs scorers:-
Mills, 8
O'Hara, 31

Everton scorer:-
Hopkins, 36

Referee:- Mr. D. Whitestone

Attendance:- Est. 2,500

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Forecast; Ifil (Capt.), Mills, Lee, Wright; Maghoma, Lewis, O'Hara, Daniels; Dawkins (sub Hamed, 77), Barcham

Subs not used:- Button; Riley; Davis; Thyer

Booked:- Wright, O'Hara

Everton (4-4-2):- Gallagher; Wright, Hughes (Capt.), Boyle, Wilson; Hopkins, Vidarsson (sub Phelan, 47), Kearney, Fowler (sub Kissock, 67); Vaughan, Anichebe

Subs not used:- Jones; Holt, Molyneux

Booked:- Vaughan, Phelan, Wright

After scoring two cracking goals from set pieces in the first half hour, and threatening to score more, Spurs under-18s had to tough out the best part of the second half to survive some late efforts by the visitors to win their way through to the Youth Cup quarter finals, where they will meet Watford at Vicarage Road.

There were some household names on display in front of at least 2,500 keen supporters at White Hart lane tonight. Everton's youngsters are coached by none other than Gary Ablett, who is one of those who can claim to have played for both sides of Liverpool. There was a Mark Wright at left back for Spurs, and a Mark Hughes at centre back for Everton - also the Toffees' captain.

It is less than three years ago that an Everton side cast Spurs aside in the semi-finals of this competition, thanks to two goals by a certain Wayne Rooney. Those present tonight will have noted a few names from both sides who have the potential to hit the headlines in years to come. The Spurs captain, Phil Ifil, has already played at Premiership level. At centre back, Leigh Mills was signed at the beginning of this season from Swindon for what could turn out to be a sizeable fee, but beside him, although not as tall, Charlie Lee also played with the stature, guts and expertise of any defender you could wish to see. Lee switched to the central defenders' role in the last year, and was a candidate for man of the match in my book, winning many crucial balls, and not just heading or passing them anywhere either.

Mills and Lee were up against a strong strike partnership in James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe, and they were well supported by a tall midfield central pairing of Vidarsson and Kearney. Stuart Lewis was industrious in the middle for Spurs, whilst it was left to Jamie O'Hara to probe the Everton defence with balls directed at either of his strikers but also the wing-men, Charlie Daniels on the left and Jack Maghoma, playing in an unfamiliar right wing slot, as he usually plays in the middle.

Spurs got off to a great start in the 8th minute. A corner had been won after Maghoma's threatening cross, taken by O'Hara and headed home across the keeper by a delighted Leigh Mills. It really is a joy to see how excited these youngsters get about scoring and winning at the club's stadium where they all dream of playing on a regular basis.

It must have been a close call for referee Mr. Whitestone, when Anichebe got behind the Spurs defence, and into the area. Charlie Lee made the challenge and the striker went down claiming a penalty, waved away by the referee. Everton had a shot from Vaughan blocked for a corner, after Anichebe's ball, then from the corner, skipper Hughes hooked the ball wide. Three minutes later, Dawkins did well to turn the ball into the path of Barcham in the Everton area but the keeper was just first to the ball. After 20 minutes, Everton worked the ball from right to left and in a central position, Vidarsson hit a rising left foot shot that hit the top of the bar near the stanchion.

Spurs had a magnificent chance to increase their lead, as O'Hara sent Barcham away down the left. Barcham's cross passed across the goalmouth and could only have been a foot or so in front of Dawkins reach, before being cleared. Five minutes later, Everton's Vaughan got the first yellow for following through in a challenge with Forecast for a ball which was there for him to attack, in fairness. After Lewis had been fouled 25 yards out, Jamie O'Hara stepped up and hit a great free kick to the keeper's top right corner to take a 2-0 lead, and start more exuberant celebrations in front of the West Stand crowd. The hard work was not over though, as five minutes later, after Mark Wright had blocked one cross, Anichebe did it again, and Hopkins beat Forecast to the ball at the near post to reduce the deficit.

Vidarsson tried to run off a first half knock for only a minute after the break, but was replaced by Scott Phelan. Soon after that a Jamie O'Hara free kick was scrambled clear after about three efforts to prod the ball over the line had failed. After 50 minutes came a move which really deserved a goal for Spurs. Wright's ball into the Everton half was cleverly flicked by Barcham into the path of Charlie Daniels who did not have to break his momentum, hitting a cracking shot that just missed the post and bounced off the boards at the back of the goal into the net. For a moment, it looked like he had scored, but it was a goal kick.

Spurs deserved a two goal lead, especially after Barcham did well to win O'Hara's ball, getting round the defence, but then seeing Gallacher just getting a saving touch to his attempted shot on goal. Ifil got forward as much as he could, and after an exchange with Maghoma, tried a left foot shot that the keeper saved just inside his left post. As the minutes ticked away, Spurs suddenly had worries as substitute Kissock managed a run into the box from the right, but then fired wide across the goalmouth. An even bigger escape came after 84 minutes, when Vaughan headed a cross back to the near post, and Hopkins had the goal at his mercy but also fired wide across the keeper.

Having defended stoutly, Spurs broke speedily through their own substitute - Hamed, who was blatantly fouled 45 yards from goal by Sean Wright, who justifiably got a yellow card for his cynical foul. He was not the last man, and thus avoided a red card. Kissock had another late effort, which was only parried by Tommy Forecast, but after three minutes of injury time, the final whistle was blown and the celebrations started for Spurs, who will hope for strong support for a local quarter-final game. Spurs Odyssey will certainly seek to be there!

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