Premier Reserve League South
          Brisbane Rd., Leyton, E10
       Monday 6th September 2008, 7pm

        SPURS       v      PORTSMOUTH
    (White/Blue)           (All Blue)
        4-5-1                4-5-1

         2(2)                 3(1)

      Cesar Sanchez 1 Jamie Ashdown
         Adam Smith 2 Richard Duffy
       Cian Hughton 3 Andre Blackman
     Kieran McKenna 4 Marc Wilson
   Dorian Dervite(C)5 Djimi Traore
      Ricardo Rocha 6 Marlon Pack
       David Hutton 7 Glen Little
    Jacques Maghoma 8 Tom Kilbey
       Adel Taarabt 9 Gael Nlundulu
      Hossam Ghaly 10 Ellis Martin
   Charlie Daniels 11 Jerome Thomas

      Jamie Butler 12 Callum Reynolds
    Yuri Berchiche 13 
   Takura Mtandari 14 Jon Stewart
        Alex Olsen 15 James Hurst
        (4)81Mins.
 Kyle Fraser-Allen 16 Jordan Hughes
         (7)72Mins.   (10)62Mins.
                   17 Joe Collins
                      (11)90Mins.

Coaches:-
         C. Allen     P. Groves

Scorers:-
        Daniels 31    Kilbey 34, 69
        Taarabt 43    Nlundulu 64

Booked:-
   McKenna 23(Late)   Blackman 53(Late)
   Ghaly 33(Holding)

Referee:- M. McLaughlin

Asst. Refs:- A. Field, M. Mellor, M. Ergun

Attendance – Aprox 150

On a cool evening with light rain, Spurs entertained Pompey for our second home game of the new season. We saw the first appearance of Sanchez in goal and the return to action of Ghaly. Portsmouth had Little who played for their first team against us at Fratton Park.

Spurs lined up with Dervite and Rocha at the back with Smith at right back and Hughton on the left. McKenna and Maghoma were in centre midfield with Hutton on the right and Daniels on the left. Ghaly had a free role behind Taarabt up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the North end and Ghaly started by robbing Duffy on the side line. The home side looked rusty with their play somewhat disjointed. Portsmouth attacked on both flanks and Nlundulu headed a chance wide at the far post. Taarabt showed some of his attacking flair, firing in a shot that Ashdown saved comfortably before Traore missed with a header at the far post. The passing in the middle was going astray too many times despite some lovely exchanges involving Ghaly and Taarabt. Ghaly took a little time to get into the game but when he did his passing got better and he was spraying them all round the park.

McKenna was booked when he was slow to a ball and caught the Pompey player. Taarabt blasted a shot that went high and wide before his next shot hit the far post. Spurs went in front when Portsmouth conceded a free kick just outside the area left of centre. Taarabt touched it to his left for Daniels to fire it low past the wall and in off the left post.

It was still a close game with both sides attacking with pace. Ghaly was booked when he lost possession and tried to pull the player back. Portsmouth played the free kick to Little on the edge of the area who laid it off to Duffy. His cross was met by Kilbey in the middle who headed home.

Blackman got down the left and drove the ball in and off the crossbar. Taarabt played a one-two on the edge of the area and fired Spurs ahead again with the help of a deflection. In stoppage time Thomas got down the left and forced a save from Sanchez.

In the opening minutes of the second half Taarabt played Daniels in on the left but he fired over and Maghoma put his effort wide. Blackman was booked for going in late on Smith. Ghaly playing in Hutton on the right who cut inside but his weak shot was easily saved. Spurs' passing was much sharper in this half as it looked like the visitors were dropping off more and they were having a lot of possession with good approach play.

Spurs were caught out when Little received the ball on the right and he delivered a cross into the six yard box where two players had arrived. A header by Kilbey was saved on the line by Sanchez who also blocked his follow-up but could not prevent Nlundulu from scoring from that rebound.

Taarabt ran at the Portsmouth defence but fired wide. The Spurs defence was caught napping again when Little played a corner to Duffy who crossed for Kilbey to head into the far side of the goal. Two players had attacked the ball unmarked for a second time. Fraser-Allen came on for Hutton to add a little more pace down the wing and Olsen came on for McKenna to push for an equaliser. Nlundulu got through but fired wide. Taarabt was unlucky when his fierce drive struck the outside of the near post. With time running out Ghaly put his chance wide.

This was a well contested match with some good football played by both sides. Spurs played the ball from the keeper through the midfield to Taarabt which was much more effective in the second half than the first. As is usual with Adel he tried to run with the ball most times even when there was another option available. He did play others in so he is improving.

Ghaly showed some good passing once he got settled and spread the play well. He will get better with more games as he is the closest to being on the same wavelength as Taarabt. The problem for Clive is that the next game is not until December when they play Fulham so he has to keep them sharp.(Ed:- According to my fixture list, the next game is in November)

Ray

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