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Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
Premier Resrve League South
Brisbane Rd, Leyton, E10
Monday 1st September 2008, 7pm
SPURS v WEST BROM
(White/Blue) (Yellow/Black)
4-4-2 4-4-2
3(0) 2(2)
Ben Alnwick 1 Ryan Allsop
Cian Hughton 2 Matthew Pike
Yuri Berchiche 3 Mo Saied
Daniel Hutchins 4 Paul Downing
Dorian Dervite(C)5 James Hancox
Ricardo Rocha 6 Shelton Martis(C)
Kyle Fraser-Allen7 Dwayne Samuels
Jacques Maghoma 8 Josh Labadie
Andy Barcham 9 Luke Moore
Danny Rose 10 Roman Bednar
David Hutton 11 Sherjill Macdonald
David Button 12 Bartosz Slusarski
Takura Mtandari 13
(6)46Mins.
Adam Smith 14 Sebastian Lake-Gaskin
(5)60Mins
Alex Olsen 15 Chris Woods
Andros Townsend 16 Jamal Clarke
17 Sam Manton
Coaches:-
C. Allen M. Appleton
Scorers:-
Hutchins 48 Bednar 2, 45+
Hutton 73 pen.
Barcham 85
Booked:-
Rose 75(Foul) Hancox 21(Foul)
Red Card Hancox 72(Hand ball)
Referee:- R. Lee
Asst. Refs.:- M. Watson, S. Maynard
Fourth Official – R. Albert
Attendance – About 100
It was a overcast evening in East London for the opening game of the Reserve League with newly promoted West Bromwich Albion the visitors. After a mixed pre-season which saw some of the demoted players from the first team squad being used, it was back to the development squad of players. Spurs lined up with Dervite and Rocha at the back with Hughton on the right and Berchiche on the left. Hutchins and Maghoma were in centre of midfield with Fraser-Allen on the right side and Hutton on the left. Rose played in the hole behind Barcham.
Spurs defended the south end in the first half and did not look organised as the experienced front pairing of the "Baggies" exploited the young defenders. With the game less than two minutes old a weak header by Dervite was worked down the left and crossed to Bednar unmarked on the right side of the area. He finished strongly past Alnwick to stun the home side. The visitors closed down the Spurs players all over the pitch, not allowing them to settle and causing errors which they were quick to exploit.
Labadie fired over and Moore drove wide as they pressurised Spurs. The was some good approach play by Spurs especially by Hutton who was getting past Pike and putting crosses in. Rose got down the left and crossed for Barcham to hit wide. Hancox was then booked for a foul on Rose as he tried to get past. Alnwick saved an effort by Moore before Maghoma tried from range but went well wide. There were calls for a penalty when Hutchins' effort was blocked before another Hutton cross was cleared by Pike. Moore then took the ball into the box and when closed down the ball broke loose across the goal where Bednar pounced to knock it in from a couple of yards out.
Mtandari replaced Rocha for the second half and was soon having to defend as Albion looked to increase their lead. Bednar turned the ball wide at the far post from a corner. Rose clashed with Labadie over one challenge and the same player tangled with Maghoma. Devite played a long ball over the top of the visitors defence for Hutchins to run onto. He controlled the ball and lifted it over Allsop as he came out. The goal gave spurs more confidence and Rose fired over and Barcham had an effort fly wide.
Albion were sitting a little deeper now but still countered dangerously with Moore forcing Alnwick to turn his shot away. Bedner got past Dervite but put his shot wide. Smith came on at right back for Berchiche with Hughton moving to the left side. Bednar fired over again before pressure from Rose at the other end led to the ball finding Barcham to his left. His snap shot was blocked by Hancox on the line with his hand. The ref had to send him off and Hutton stepped up to send Allsop the wrong way.
Spurs were now hyped up and forcing errors from the visitors as they began to find holes in the defence. Rose dived in on one loose ball but caught Saied and was lucky to only get a yellow as both feet were in the air. Allsop saved from Hutchins before Labadie fired over at the other end. The best move of the match came with Rose picking up the ball in the middle of the park and turned to run at the "Baggies"' defence. He played a lovely pass inside the full back for Fraser-Allen who went to the line and crossed low and hard. Barcham got ahead of the ball but managed to turn and hook the ball home inside the box. Hughton then played a one-two with Hutton and went to the line before turning inside and unleashing a drive that the keeper turned over. Bednar had an effort that was turned wide for a corner before Barcham had his shot saved in stoppage time.
This was a hard won victory for the Spurs side, as the early pressure by the visitors caused a lot of mistakes and their strikers capitalised. Gradually they got back into it but at half time it did not look as if they would get anything from the game. Hutton had shown the way with some good work down the left which with the skills of Rose and the running of Barcham things began to change. At the end they were stroking the ball around confidently.
I feel that they will still struggle in some games due to the young age and lack of physical strength. They like playing the ball about with some lovely one touch football but will find like West Brom not all sides will allow them to play. The next game for the Reserves is away to Aston Villa next Monday evening. This Saturday the U-18’s will play Ipswich Town at the Lodge.
Ray
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