FA Youth Cup 4th Round
       White Hart Lane, London N17
      Tuesday 8th January 2008, 7pm
 
        SPURS    V    CHESTER CITY 
    (All White)       (All Yellow)
        4-4-2            4-4-2
 
         2(1)            1(1)
 
    Jamie Butler 1 Paul Dorman
      Adam Smith 2 Brett Robson
 Daniel Hutchins 3 Gio Feliciello
     Yaser Kasim 4 Glen Rule(C)
  Yuri Berchiche 5 Jack Rowlands
   Calum Butcher 6 James Owen
    David Hutton 7 Kieran Morrin
Jake Livermore(C)8 James Gregory  
      Alex Olsen 9 Lloyd Ellams
      Danny Rose10 Paul McManus
 Andros Townsend11 Andy Mitchell
 
  Jonathan Obika12 Chris Newman(15)
       (9)74Mins 
   Oscar Jansson13 Ryan Williams(16)
                   (5)91Mins.
      Ryan Mason14 Paul Smith  (17)
       (2)46Mins.  (2)53Mins.
    Dean Parrett15 Steven Thorpe(18)
      (10)88Mins.  (7)57Mins.
 Takura Mtandari16 Simon Williams (23)

Coach:-
   A. Inglethope   S. Davies

Scorers:-
    Rose 37        Ellams 27                   
    Hutton 88 pen.

Bookings:-
     Hutchins 54   Robson 45
    Berchiche 79   Dorman 87
                   Mitchell 91 

Attendance:- 1,424

Referee:- N. Lugg
Assistants:- V. Torre, P. O’Hare
Fourth Official:- C. Wicks

It was a chilly evening for this fourth round tie at the Lane where Spurs met the team that knocked them out last season in the third round at the Deva Stadium. No need for Inglethorpe to motivate the side.

Spurs lined up with Butcher and Berchiche at the back with Smith at right back and Hutchins at left back. Livermore and Kasim started in centre midfield with Hutton on the right and Townsend on the left wing. Rose played behind Olsen up front.

Spurs defended the Park Lane in the first half and were soon on the attack. With good approach play, but faced with a well disciplined side it was twenty minutes before either keeper was called into action. Hutton did have a chance inside ten minutes but did not get a good contact on Townsend’s cross. Townsend gave Robson a hard time down the left as most of the best attacks came from this flank. After Butcher had a long range effort wide, Chester broke out and Butler had to save from Mitchell before Dorman was called into action to stop a shot from Olsen after he was set up by Hutton.

Townsend then provided a chance for Rose who turned in the box but put the ball wide. Chester attacked down the left with Ellams getting to the line and pulled the ball back for Morrin to head back across Butler. The keeper made a great save tipping the ball over. Two minutes later and another Chester raid down the left saw McManus cross to Ellams who scored with a header at the far post. The goal came against the run of play but did not prevent Spurs continuing to dominate the play.

Townsend crossed for Livermore who hit his effort over. Next Hutchins provided the cross which Olsen missed but Townsend followed up and drove the ball towards the near post only to hit Olsen and rebound clear. Olsen did bring a save from Dorman before Spurs got the equaliser. Smith had made a run down the right flank and drove the ball into the near post for Rose to drive it low across the keeper into the far corner. Another cross from Townsend was put wide by Olsen before the ref booked Robson for one too many fouls on the flying winger.

Inglethorpe replaced Smith at halftime for Mason who slotted into midfield with Hutchins moving to right back. Berchiche moved out to left back and Livermore dropped into the back four.

Almost straight from the kick off Berchiche went down the line and played Townsend in who was tripped by Robson in the box. The ref missed it and Davies turned to his assistants with a knowing smile that said they had got away with it. Three minutes later and Spurs had another penalty appeal when Berchiche crossed to the far post to Hutton. His header appeared to come off the arm of Feliciello. Spurs kept the pressure on as Rose fired wide and Townsend also headed wide from a good cross by Berchiche. Kasim had an effort saved before Hutchins saw Dorman off his line but his effort from just inside the half went wide.

Hutchins was booked for going in hard on McManus. With Spurs pushing forward so much Chester were looking to break with long balls and after Livermore conceded a free kick Butler had to tip over Feliciello’s kick. Mason had a shot saved and Hutton put a free kick well over. Obika came on for Olsen to add more pace up front. Berchiche was making so many runs down the left that when Smith broke down the flank he was caught out and was booked when he brought him down. Ellams was sent through but Butler had no problem with his shot and Hutchins cut out another ball to the striker. With three minutes left Mason played the ball deep into the box and Dorman got his hand to it before Rose tumbled over his outstretched arms. The ref gave a penalty which upset the visitors who chased him to the corner flag. Their coach Davies wasn’t smiling either. After a delay, and a yellow card for Dorman, Hutton stepped up to plant the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Parrett came on for Rose for the remaining time. In the five minutes of added time Ellams had an effort saved and Dorman saved from Parrett.

Spurs are the first club to go through to the next round which is played at the end of the month. We will not find out who we will play for another week when most of the other ties will be played.

Ray

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