Scorer:-
Barnard, 22,33

Referee:- Mr. M. Bull

Attendance:- 931

Teams:-
Ipswich Town: 1 Shane Supple, 2 Sammy Moore, 3 Scott Barron (16 Billy Clarke, 61), 4 Ian Westlake, 5 Aidan Collins (c), 6 Gerard Nash, 7 Jaime Peters (12 Danny Haynes, 61), 8 Cathal Lordan, 9 Dean McDonald, 10 Adam Proudlock and 11 Liam Craig.
UNUSED: 14 Chris Casement and 15 Stuart Ainsley.

Tottenham Hotspur: 1 Tommy Forecast, 2 Noe Paramot, 3 Marcel McKie, 4 Kieran McKenna, 5 Stephen Kelly, 6 Charlie Lee, 7 Stuart Lewis, 8 Jamie O’Hara, 9 Lee Barnard, 10 Andy Barcham (14 Joseph Martin, 74) and 11 Charlie Daniels.
UNUSED: 12 Troy Archibald-Henville, 13 David Button (GK), 15 Alex Smith and 16 Claude Seanla.

Lee Barnard made it 6 goals in 9 games last night as the Reserves made a great recovery from their defeat at home to Leicester last week. As a result, they climbed back to fourth place in the Reserve League. Much has been made of the fact that both sides fielded six players who had battled out the Youth Cup semi-final last season, when Ipswich came out on top.

Lee Barnard is a real goal machine at this level, having scored 17 goals last season (with three hat-tricks), continuing in the same vein this term. I shall have to ask Martin Jol at tomorrow night's Q & A how close Lee is to knocking on the Premiership door. It's a shame we got knocked out of the Carling Cup, because Lee surely deserves a chance to prove himself at a higher level.

Ipswich fan James Ager has kindly provided this report on the match :-

Town’s reserves were defeated 2-0 at Portman Road on Monday night by a classy Tottenham second string. Two goals from Lee Barnard ensured that the visitors left with all three points.

Town included Shane Supple, Ian Westlake, Gerard Nash, Jaime Peters, Dean McDonald and Adam Proudlock whilst Spurs included Noe Paramot and Stephen Kelly.

Town made the better start to the game and McDonald won a corner within the first minute.

In the second minute a good passing move between Cathal Lordan and McDonald resulted in the latter delivering a fine low cross that Westlake touched just wide of Tommy Forecast’s post.

Westlake was getting stuck into the Spurs midfield and he won a crunching tackle before releasing McDonald who in turn fed Peters but the Canadian couldn’t quite get to the ball before Forecast.

In the eighth minute Town won the ball in midfield and a good ball through was almost converted by Proudlock. The big striker had been forced wide but his inventive chip over Forecast almost dropped in under the bar.

Spurs then had their first real attack and a cross from Jamie O’Hara probably should’ve been converted by Lee Barnard but he headed the ball just past Supple’s post.

On 19, a cross from the left by Scott Barron was turned onto the post by Proudlock who volleyed it first time from 18 yards out.

Three minutes later and the visitors were in front. A corner from the right wasn’t cleared properly and the ball was hit back into the crowd of players. The ball then deflected off Supple but Liam Craig kept it out but in doing so he hit it against Kieran McKenna and the ball went into the Town net. This goal was subsequently credited to Lee Barnard who got the last touch after McKenna.

On 25, Andy Barcham came close to doubling his side’s advantage with a good turn and shot which deflected off one of his own players and bobbled just wide.

Eight minutes later and Spurs did double their lead. Right-back Paramot somehow beat three Town players on the touchline before setting up Barcham who crossed it in for Lee Barnard to side-foot home.

Spurs’ left-back Marcel McKie then burst forward and after beating three Town defenders hit a shot just wide which referee Mr Bull somehow adjudged to have touched a Town player and a corner was awarded.

Two minutes before the break and Cathal Lordan struck a shot from 25 yards out which flew just over the Spurs’ bar.

On 53 a Spurs’ free-kick from out wide was headed into the grateful arms of Supple.

A minute later and Proudlock was taken out by Charlie Lee who was lucky to receive just a yellow card as he was the last man.

On 59 a cross from the left was again almost converted but after Barnard had taken a touch he ended up being put off and he shot just wide from six yards out.

Two minutes later and Town made a double substitution. Danny Haynes replaced the quiet Jaime Peters and Billy Clarke replaced Scott Barron. Liam Craig moved to left-back, McDonald went to left midfield and Clarke went up front with Proudlock.

On 66 a mistake by Town skipper Aidan Collins presented Kieran McKenna with a good chance to score his second but Craig got back and blocked the shot.

On 74 Joseph Martin replaced Andy Barcham for the visitors.

Moments later and Supple produced a fine diving save to prevent a screamer from Charlie Daniels.

Billy Clarke then had the ball in the Spurs net but it was ruled out for offside.

With three minutes remaining Proudlock had another chance to score but Spurs stopper Forecast remained big and blocked his effort.

A fine performance was put in from a young Spurs side. The midfield was being run by Jamie O’Hara whilst the defence held firm for the whole game.

Next up for the Reserves is a home game (at Stevenage) next Wednesday 23rd November, against Crystal Palace, who are currewntly above us only on goal difference, but who play at home to Watford tomorrow night (16.11.05). The Spurs Under-18s can be seen at Spurs Lodge this Saturday (at 12 noon), when they face Aston Villa. Spurs Odyssey intends to report on both these games.

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