FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SUNDAY 31ST JULY, 2005
ALDERSHOT 0 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 (2)

Scorers:-
El Hamdaoui, 20
Davenport, 38
Day (o.g.), 66
Keane, 69

Referee: - Mr J. Evamy

Attendance: - Est.:- 2,500

Teams:-
Aldershot (4-4-2):- Bull (Captain) (sub Glasspool, 58); Sulaiman, Tobi (sub Winfield, 77), Conroy (sub Day, 46), Hamilton (sub Salmon, 67); Crittenden (sub Nurse, 55), Lee (sub Scott, 72), Alexis (sub Lawrence, 46), Med (sub Brayley, 58); Midgeley (sub Field, 72), Brayley (sub Ruggles, 46)

Spurs (4-4-2):- Fulop (sub Burch, 51); Marney, Dawson, Davenport, Jackson (sub Bunjevcevic, 57); Lennon, Huddlestone, Carrick, El Hamdaoui; Keane (Capt.), Kanoute

Subs not used: - Hallfredsson, Yeates, Barnard

A moderate crowd (not expecting the Spurs second “first team” of the week-end) saw a moderate game at The Recreation Ground, Aldershot, where there was little to write home about, enough to keep the home fans excited at the few near chances they had against a high class team, and a Spurs performance, well within their capacity, sufficient to score a four-goal victory, but not enough to emulate a Charlton XI 8-0 win earlier this week against the “Shots”.

Martin Jol was pleased enough to allow all the contenders for next week’s last pre-season game at home to Porto to get a good work-out, but the Lilywhites never had it too easy, as the Red-shirted home side put everything they had into the game. Truth be told though, the Spurs goalkeepers were hardly tested, and whilst the defence was breached a few times with decent crosses, the target was rarely hit.

On the other hand, Spurs looked as if they were there to enjoy themselves, playing fast but entertaining football, perhaps getting too relaxed in the last third, as Robbie Keane could have had a first half hat trick, but had to wait till mid-way through the second half to finally hit the net. Both Dawson and Davenport impressed at the back. Both with good block tackles, and both with good long distribution to the front men. Huddlestone was skilful in the middle but caught in possession once or twice, whilst Carrick’s delivery was not too hot today. Carrick had a few shooting opportunities himself, and it was his shot that was cruelly deflected past a substitute keeper who looked as if he had eaten all the pies (Andy Glasspool), but still managed to concede no more than his predecessor, the Aldershot skipper Nikki Bull, returning from injury.

Aldershot have had a hatful of injury problems and one of those, full-back Hassain Sulaiman, was the only member of the team to play 90 minutes, as Manager Terry Brown rang all the changes he could in a second half which lost all sense of rhythm. At number 8, “Shots” featured an ex-Spurs reserve player, David Lee, who left Spurs five years ago, and has been on an exodus since, visiting 11 different clubs at the last count!

El Hamdaoui had a third minute cross/shot well held by Bull, who two minutes later saved well from a Robbie Keane shot, hit casually with his trailing foot, after good work by Aaron Lennon and El Hamdaoui again. Dawson was on hand to block Crittenden’s effort from a quick counter. Dean Marney over-lapped Lennon to take the ball to the bye-line and loft a cross which Keane headed back across the keeper and wide. Alexis had a good chance for the home side after 18 minutes, when the ball was crossed deep from the left, headed back and hit by the midfielder on the volley.

At last, Spurs made their supremacy count, as Kanoute collected a half-cleared ball, past the defence and chipped for El Hamdaoui to come in and head home. Mid-way through the half, Spurs broke from the back, and El Hamdaoui passed inside to Lennon, whose quick pass was stepped over by Robbie Keane to allow Carrick a run, from which his shot hit the post. Spurs had a throw from the right after 36 minutes, Kanoute passed inside to Carrick, who again got into a good shooting position on the 18 yard line, hesitated and was blocked, before El Hamdaoui had a good effort saved. From the corner, Dawson’s header was parried but Davenport was on hand to fire home emphatically to double the lead. Carrick sent Kanoute away in the next minute. Fredi got behind Tobi, and hit a low shot that skimmed the outside of the post. Fulop did have a good save to make from Brayley just before the break after a cross from the right.

A Jackson cross early in the second half left substitute Day floundering, but Robbie Keane flicked the ball wide. Carrick’s goal came in the 66th minute, and it was Day’s unfortunate deflection that carried it past the keeper. Within minutes, Robbie (not Roy as announced on the tannoy!) Keane finished off Kanoute’s low cross from the left, with an easy finish.

Spurs’ excellent unbeaten pre-season programme continues then, and next Saturday we have a tough test before the Premiership programme begins, with the visit of former European Champions, Porto. See you there!

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