FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SATURDAY 9TH JULY, 2005
STEVENAGE BOROUGH 0 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 (1)
Scorers:-
Kanoute, 44
Mido, 68
Defoe, 84
Referee: - Paul Taylor
Attendance: - Est. – 4,000
Teams:-
Stevenage (4-4-2) (First Half):- Julian; Warner, Hocking, Henry, Gregory; Williams, Bulman, Berquez, Boyd; Elding, Maamria (Capt)
Second Half:- to be confirmed – Team included Boyd, Brough, Bulman, Henry, Nurse, Stamp, Weatherstone, and Williams.
Subs included McAllister, Schillaci, Stewart, Sullivan
No Bookings
Spurs (First Half – 4-4-2):- Cerny; Marney, Huddlestone, Davenport, Jackson; Lennon, Tainio, Carrick, Yeates; Kanoute, Keane (Capt.)
(Second Half – 4-3-1-2):- Fulop; Kelly, Dawson, Bunjevcevic, Edman; Routledge, Mendes, Reid; El Hamdaoui; Defoe, Mido
No Bookings
On a sunny, but moderately warm July afternoon, the fifth annual friendly took place at Broadhall Way between Stevenage and Spurs. As usual, Spurs fielded a different side in each half, and yet were still able to boast absentees such as Club Captain Ledley King, Nourredine Naybet, new signing Paul Stalteri, Michael Brown, Sean Davis, Reto Ziegler, Thimothee Atouba and Anthony Gardner to name but eight individuals. Most of those that were on display have realistic chances of featuring in the first team this season, and the healthy crowd welcomed the first opportunity to see Tom Huddlestone, Teemu Tainio, Aaron Lennon and Wayne Routledge. Of these, Lennon and Routledge impressed the most, playing the first and second half respectively on the right wing, demonstrating more pace and ability to carve up defences than their predecessor, who will be wearing Everton blue this season.
Stevenage too fielded numerous players, some in unmarked shirts, so it is difficult to quote their second-half team accurately. Ex-Spur Ronnie Henry played most of the game at centre back, and was a Stevenage hero in their run-in last season, which culminated in a play-off final defeat, and another season in the Conference. The home side gave a good account of themselves though, particularly at the start of the second half, with the Spurs defence looking less solid after the departure of Tom Huddlestone – a bigger and muscular player than I had imagined.
The home side fielded their own new signings, such as right winger Danny Williams, signed from Hereford, and a midfielder not in the least shy to put himself about – Ollie Berquez. The first half strike partnership of Elding and Maamria yielded plenty of goals last term, but had less chances than their replacements, who had a couple of very good opportunities.
Sadly, the match was preceded by what is becoming a common event – the minute’s silence. This was completely justified of course, but my point is that we seem to be mourning great tragedy too often these days. The remembrance of those who suffered at the hands of terrorism in London this week was sombre and respectful.
Stevenage started well, with good passing and possession, and Spurs did little to impress until the 10th minute, when Kanoute headed down for Keane (wearing the skipper’s armband), who quickly passed to Lennon on the outside of the box. Lennon half-hit a cross/shot which Julian comfortably held. Lennon had already shown a degree of sharpness and skill which augured well for his future at Tottenham. Still Spurs took a while to sparkle, but mid-way through the first half there was a series of events which did bring the crowd to their feet.
An intricate build-up ended with a short pass from Carrick to Kanoute, who passed to Robbie on his left. Robbie’s shot was under-strength to Julian. Then Keane pounced on a mistake about 35 yards out, made a short run and hit a powerful right footed shot low to the right of the keeper. The goalie made a good save, but the shot had been closer to him than it should have been. Now Kanoute received the ball, controlled it and passed to Lennon who cut inside then hit a left foot shot that beat the keeper but was wide of the post. After half an hour, Carrick found Kanoute with a short pass, but the shot was poor.
After 33 minutes, Keane received a long ball and hared away down the right, picking Lennon out in the middle of the area. Lennon again hit a left foot shot, but this was rising over the bar. Six minutes later, Lennon made a startling run from his own half, passed inside to Kanoute, who should have hit a first time shot, but wanting a touch too much, was blocked. Tainio made it into the box to rise to a Kanoute cross, but Julian’s arms were stretched high to catch cleanly. We did not see enough of Tainio to form much of an impression. Clearly he is a hard worker, who likes to get into the box, so hopefully in the new season, we can see more goals from our midfield.
Spurs took a deserved lead a minute before the interval, with swift movement from Keane, receiving a ball from the left, finding Lennon, who set up Kanoute for a shot which did get beyond Julian to hit the net.
After the break, Martin Jol switched tactics, with El Hamdaoui playing behind the striker-partnership of Mido and Defoe, and Mendes making a welcome return to action in the middle, flanked by Routledge and Reid. I suspect that Mendes and Carrick will be battling for one midfield position, and we know who is going to win that, don’t we? Presumably that gives Tainio, Davis and Brown a battle for the other slot. Good luck in keeping them all happy, Martin!
The Spurs second-half formation and make-up was more attacking and therefore vulnerable, and Stevenage had the better early chances, after a half chance at the near post for Defoe. Edman had made one saving block in front of goal, and Fulop saved another effort, before Williams cross was headed wide by Darryn Stamp. After 61 minutes, Reid chased back to help Edman in defence, and had won the ball, but then played into Nurse’s path. Nurse cross into the 6-yard box, and Sullivan made an Acimovic-type miss, managing to fire over from such close range.
Routledge had already been showing plenty of promise and combined well with the advancing Kelly, who passed to Defoe, whose goal-bound shot was somehow deflected for a corner. After a Stevenage substitution, Mido was left with plenty of space in the middle of the area, to take his time with Reid’s corner kick and pick his spot for a second goal for Spurs. Three minutes later Mido was the provider as he headed down for Defoe, whose shot was saved from close range thanks to a great effort from the keeper.
Mendes (who doesn’t do short passes) found Kelly with a good ball. Kelly fed Routledge, who gave El Hamdaoui a chance, but two shots were somehow blocked. In defence, Kelly had looked beatable at times, and when Sullivan got the better of him and beat Fulop with his shot, Bunjee was on hand to make a clearance in front of the line. Routledge capped his debut in the colours (Spurs wore the new home strip) with a great run in from the wing, then a neat reverse pass to Defoe who had an easy finish with the keeper already beaten by the pass. Fulop had to make a great save – diving to his left to push out a curving long-range effort by Weatherstone
Everyone went home happy after seeing some bright and entertaining football from both sides.
Spurs XI (Reserves/Youth) have games at Fleet tomorrow and Cheshunt next Friday, whilst the first team squad leaves for South Korea and the Peace Cup. My next definite fixture will be on July 30th, when the first team are at Reading.
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