FA Premier Academy League – South
    Spurs Lodge, Luxborough Lane, Chigwell
      Saturday 1st September 2007, 11am

	   SPURS    v     SOUTHAMPTON           
        (All White)      (All Yellow)
            4-4-2          4-4-2
 
            6(3)            0(0)

        Lee Butcher 1 Matej Rondos
    Takura Mtandari 2 James Hatch
    Daniel Hutchins 3 Joseph Mills
    Yasser Kasim (C)4 Andrew Gaillombardo
     Callum Butcher 5 Michael Byrne
     Yuri Bechiche  6 Kyle Davies
  Kyle Fraser-Allen 7 Ian Jones(C)
            Sam Cox 8 Callum McNish  
      Tomas Pekhart 9 Matthew Patterson
      David Hutton 10 Tom Garrod
    Jonathan Obika 11 Kayne McLaggon

        Mark Clare 12 Lucas Stiklakis
                      (11)70Mins.
      James Dalton 13 Liam Hogan 
                      Started game
        Alex Olsen 14 Nile Ranger
        (9) 65Mins.   (10)61Mins.
       Sol Asajile 15 Sam Argent
        (10)57Mins.   (9)46 Mins.
        Ajet Shehu 16  
        (6)78Mins.

Coach:-
     A. Inglethope     M. Crocker

Scorers:-
   Pekhart  21,30, 61(pen)
   Cox    22
   Olsen  80
   Obika  83

Bookings:-
                       Patterson 86(Handball)

Red card:-             Hatch 60 (? Abuse to Ref)

Ref:- Mr. A.Crawford

The morning was cloudy and windy which warmed up as the game progressed. There was a crowd of around forty for our second home match. The visitors Southampton are not as strong as in previous seasons which may reflect their financial problems. The Spurs side was missing a few players with Townsend and Parrett playing in this year's U-17 international competition.

Spurs lined up with Berchiche alongside Butcher at the back with Mtandari at right back and Hutchins on the left. In front of them Kasim and Cox with Fraser-Allen on the right and Obika on the left. Hutton supported Pekhart up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the South end and soon put the visitors under pressure with Hutchins firing wide in the first minute. Two minutes later and Fraser-Allen shot wide following a good run down the right. Hutton was then put through but his effort was blocked and Obika then went wide. Gaillombardo drove the ball in from 25yds. for Saints' first effort which Butcher held at the second attempt.

Hutton got down the left channel and centred for Pekhart, unfortunately he could only get his head under it. Pekhart made amends two minutes later when he had a simple header following a good run by Fraser-Allen. A minute later and Cox scored his first goal from the edge of the area having picked up a loose ball. Southampton responded with Patterson shooting wide and then came close when Butcher dropped a free kick.

Spurs increased their lead when Pekhart turned in another cross from Fraser-Allen. Garrod then tested Butcher with Hutton making Hogan save at the other end. Mills dribbled through the defence and forced Butcher to save at the foot of the near post. Obika got a shot on target and then Pekhart put Cox through but he put the ball just wide.

The second half started as the first ended with Patterson having the first chance from a free kick. Hutton gave way to Asajile who went into midfield. Butcher saved from Jones before Spurs broke for Asajile to run into the box only for Hatch to trip him. The ref showed him a red card for what I can only think was for something he said. Pekhart hit his kick to the right of the keeper for his hat trick.

With the game won and the Saints down to ten, Inglethorpe took off Pekhart for Olsen. The visitors then conceded another penalty when Obika was pushed as he jumped for the ball. Fraser-Allen stepped up to hit the ball down the middle, but Hogan spread himself to block with his legs. Cox then hit the rebound wide. Southampton continued to play with two up front but it was almost all one way traffic now.

Kasim had a shot saved before Berchiche had to be replaced after he landed badly. With ten minutes to go Olsen had a simple header at the far post following another cross from the right by Fraser-Allen. Spurs made it six when Obika hooked the ball in at the near post from Fraser-Allen’s cross. Fraser-Allen then dribbled through the defence forcing a save from Hogan in the last minute.

This was Spurs' first win of the season with a depleted side. The scoreline reflects the poor opposition and it could so easily have been more. It was a great performance from Fraser-Allen on the right as he set up four goals and deserved one at the end. His penalty kick was the only downside.

Next week Spurs go to Little Heath to play West Ham. Before that the Reserves have their first home game at Brisbane Road.

Ray

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