There’s a big match on at Underhill, Barnet tomorrow night (Monday 27th February, 2006)!
Spurs Reserves will be the visitors playing against their bitter rivals, Arsenal, who play at Barnet’s home ground. Admission is usually free and the kick-off will be at 7 p.m, so if you are thinking of going, try and arrive early. Whilst there will be plenty of room in the ground, the main stand will fill up quickly. I shall be attending with Spurs Odyssey reporter, Ray Lo.
The match is even more special this year, because it is Spurs and not Arsenal who sit at the top of the Barclays Premiership Reserve League (South). We are actually 4 points above the gooners, so the positions will not change - whatever the result, but whilst their first team colleagues are suffering with their league form, you can guarantee that those who represent “the others” will be as keen as ever to get a result tomorrow.
After all, our opponents have enjoyed superiority over us at Reserve level for too long. The corresponding fixture last season was played in December, 2004, when we lost 2-1. It’s so long ago, that Jamie Slabber was our scorer, and he is now operating at Conference level, with Grays Athletic. Slabber’s goal was a last minute consolation, and Spurs did gain revenge at Broadhall Way in April last year in a thrilling 4-3 victory, when Lee Barnard scored a hat-trick. It was nail-biting stuff though as Arsenal scored two late goals, through Smith and Lupoli to make Spurs fans sweat.
Arsenal have a habit of fielding strongish sides for these matches, but they have had so many injuries, that many of those who might have featured in this game have been getting first team experience. Nevertheless, I expect Lupoli will play, and his strike partner might well be Bendtner. They both played in a 7-1 annihilation of the Spurs under-18 side last season at London Colney. Bendtner and Lupoli were also the architects of a 2-0 defeat for Spurs at Broadhall Way, in October.
Lee Barnard has missed the last two reserve games, due to a foot injury, and might still be doubtful for this match. The Spurs side is likely to be predominantly made up of Clive Allen’s youngsters, rather than first team squad players. It’s also an International week, so who knows what the teams will be precisely? It would be handy to have Radek Cerny in goal, and I expect the team to feature McKenna, Lee, Davenport, Bunjevcevic, John Jackson, Charlie Daniels and Andy Barcham. Tom Huddlestone has been called up for the England under-21 side, so you can expect to see more than one of the Spurs under-18 side from Saturday, such as Lewis and Martin, on the bench for Spurs.
I can guarantee you a crowd of several thousand fans, most of whom will be baying for the team we love to hate, so your support would be most welcome.
I hope to see you there, but in any event, I shall be reporting for Spurs Odyssey after the game!
