FA YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINAL (2ND LEG)
(at White Hart Lane)
WEDNESDAY 13TH APRIL, 2005
SPURS U-18S 1 (0) IPSWICH U-18S 2 (0)
(Aggregate score 1-4)

Spurs scorer:-
Dawkins, 62

Ipswich scorers:-
Trotter, 63
Collins, 86

Referee: - Mr P. Taylor

Attendance: - Est. 3,500

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Forecast; Riley (sub Dawkins, 46), Mills, Lee, Ifil (Capt.) (sub Seanla, 57); Lewis, Maghoma, O’Hara, Daniels; Hamed (sub Davis, 46), Barcham

Subs not used: - Holloway; Archibald-Henville

Booked: - Lee

Ipswich (4-4-2):- Supple; Moore (sub Krause, 66), Casement, Collins, Synnott; Lordan (sub Haynes, 67), Trotter, Garvan, Craig (Capt.); Knights, Clarke (sub Sheringham, 87)

Subs not used: - Reynolds; Ainsley

No bookings

In a game where Spurs needed an early goal, and Ipswich more than held their own in the first half, coach Pat Holland (with nothing to lose) turned to attack, and threw everything at the Tractor Boys’ youngsters. When Simon Dawkins got the final touch to Leigh Mills’ header from a corner in the 62nd minute, Spurs had it all to play for, but sadly let that hope fade within a minute, allowing Trotter to score at the other end to restore the two-goal advantage. Thus, it is Ipswich who will grace the Youth Cup Final starting next week against either Wolves or Southampton, but sadly for them, it looks doubtful that Billy Clarke will be fit for that game, as he hobbled off towards the end of this game, having succumbed to a tough challenge from Charlie Lee, which led to the free kick from Ipswich finally secured their deserved win.

Ipswich fielded an unchanged starting line up, but this time played in a traditional formation, with Knights and Clarke once again giving Mills and Lee plenty to think about. The Ipswich midfield had plenty of strength in the shape of Owen Garvan and Liam Trotter, with skipper Craig to the fore again on the left. In fact the visitors looked physically stronger overall, showing plenty of mobility in all parts of the field of play as well.

Pat Holland made a couple of changes. Mark Wright sat this game out (in the row to my right in the lower West Stand), and skipper Phil Ifil took his place on the left, with Chris Riley coming in at right back. Radwan Hamed partnered Andy Barcham, and in the midfield, Jacques Maghoma returned to a central role, with Stuart Lewis playing on the right. Thus Spurs resisted the early pressure from the visitors with some stout defending, without causing the opposition defence any real worries. Mid-way through the half, Ipswich had a real chance when Knights raced onto a ball over the top, and Tommy Forecast just beat him to the edge of the area and the ball was retrieved.

After a spell of good possession by Spurs on the left and right, a Riley ball across the outside of the area found Maghoma, whose shot went just wide. Charlie Lee got the only booking of the night, but once again impressed with his easily observed skills. He doesn’t just win and clear the ball, but often makes telling passes too. Leigh Mills tends to make short passes to Lee for the sake of more creativity. Mills though got in a great tackle against Trotter who had got goalside to reach a long ball from the right. Ipswich claimed a back-pass, but Mills’ intervention was a tackle and not an intended pass, which Forecast picked up.

Just before the break, Lee started a great move from the back, sending Barcham away to the bye line on the right. His cross to the back post was headed strongly by Daniels, but held by Supple. Knights had one more effort before the break, from the left with a curved shot that drifted over the bar.

After the break, Pat Holland sacrificed Riley for Dawkins and put on Jamie Davis for Hamed, who had little influence on proceedings. Sadly, it didn’t happen for Davis today either, but Spurs did work well through the middle and down the left side. Phil Ifil moved to the right and Charlie Daniels moved back to help the defence. From this position, he too was able to make an effective supply line for the strikers. Such a ball found Dawkins goal-side and able to resist the strong defensive challenge. Dawkins hit a fairly strong right foot shot across the keeper, but it was held quite comfortably at shoulder height.

Spurs suffered a more pressure when Lordan won a corner, from which Knights got the ball back to Casement, whose header was cleared. Phil Ifil took a knock, and Stuart Lewis had to play at right back, having already switched from right to left midfield to accommodate Davis. Now, it was attack all the way for Spurs, as Claude Seanla came on, and Barcham switched to left midfield. Dawkins and Seanla showed plenty of pace, but sadly their end product when behind the defence was lacking. Great work in the middle by Maghoma led to a run down the left from Barcham, whose low cross was held by the keeper. A great ball from deep was met by Seanla, whose shot was saved, rebounded but then hit wide by Dawkins, who should have hit the target.

The Spurs goal came from O’Hara’s corner taken on the left, headed goalward by Mills, but actually put over the line by Dawkins – only too happy to claim the goal, whilst Mills retrieved the ball. Sadly, Spurs didn’t keep their composure, as within a minute, the Blues were two up on aggregate again, when Trotter latched onto a chip over the defence, and seemed to get two chances to finally prod home. O’Hara was trying to make it happen for Spurs with some great passes, and his ball down the right was collected by Dawkins, and passed inside to Seanla, who had a great chance to score, but hit the ball wide from an angle on the right.

After Lee’s challenge on Clarke, near the right corner flag, Craig’s free kick was converted by a delighted Collins, and it was game over.

All credit then to Ipswich and good luck to them in the Final. I am sure that one or two of these lads will be well-known names in the future. Spurs have done really well to get to this stage, and played some great football along the way. They too have every reason to be proud of themselves. They were watched by Development Coach, Clive Allen, and it was also great to see the legendary Ron Henry in the tunnel to lend his experience to the youngsters, as he has down the years for Spurs.

· Read the Match Report for the First Leg here
· Read the Preview Material for this tie here

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