Premier Academy League, Group B
        Spurs Lodge, Chigwell, Essex
    Saturday 21st February 2009, 11.00am

          SPURS     v    ASTON VILLA
      (White/Blue)      (Claret/Blue)
          4-4-2             4-5-1

           4(0)              4(2)

     Oscar Jansson  1 Benjamin Siergest
        Adam Smith  2 Matthew Roome
           Sam Cox  3 Jack Dyer
       Yaser Kasim  4 Arsenio Halfhuid
    Steven Caulker  5 Calum Flanagan(C)
    Calum Butcher(C)6 Richard Blythe
  Paul-Jose M’Poku  7 Tomos Roberts
      John Bostock  8 Gary Gardner
    Jonathan Obika  9 James Collins
        Ryan Mason 10 Andreas Weimann
   Andros Townsend 11 Andras Stieber

      Jamie Butler 12 Kofi Poyser
                      (7)56Mins.
    Jake Nicholson 13 Thomas Dau
      Nathan Byrne 14 Ben Love
      Anthony Jack 15  
      Coskum Ekim  16  

Coaches:-
    A.Inglethorpe     T. McAndrews

Scorers:-
      Townsend 58     Weimann ?, 90+1
      Obika 64, 67    Collins 37, 71
      Mason 90+2

Booked:-              Gardner 60(Late)

Referee:- L. Wood

Both sides put out strong teams due to the importance of the game. Spurs had Butcher and Caulker at the back with Smith on the right and Cox on the left. Kasim and Bostock in the centre of midfield with M’Poku on the right and Townsend on the left. Mason was in support of Obika up front.

Spurs attacked the South goal in the first half but when I took up my position the "Villans" had already scored through Weimann and the visitors looked on top with Spurs not putting passes together and being closed down quickly all over the pitch.

In the 34th minute, Villa won a free kick about 25 yards out which Gardner took and Jansson saved to his left. M’Poku got down the right but fired over from the angle. Weimann broke down the right and crossed for Collins to connect with a diving header coming in on the far post to beat Jansson for the second. Gardner put a chance over soon after as the home side struggled to make any impact. Spurs were happy to get in at half time.

Inglethorpe’s half time talk certainly pepped them up as they started the second half in a much more determined manner. Townsend drove into the side netting and five minutes later M’Poku crossed into a crowded box and Mason got his foot to the ball only for it to be blocked on the line. Siergest then had to make saves from Townsend and Bostock before Mason saw his shot deflected for a corner. Townsend took the right side corner and drove it directly into the goal catching Siergest off his line. The keeper could only help it into the net.

Spurs were now getting to the ball first as the visitors looked to hold on to their lead and Gardner went into the referee’s book for a foul. Spurs had the momentum and Townsend drove wide of the far post having switched wings. A long ball out of defence saw Obika quicker to the ball between Flanagan and Blythe to slot the ball under the advancing keeper to bring the scores level.

As Spurs pushed for another goal M’Poku saw his effort cleared off the line at the far post. When Roome failed to head clear the ball flew square across the pitch and Obika was quicker to react than the Villa centre backs again to get to the ball and direct his effort past the keeper. Not prepared to sit on the lead, Spurs kept up the pressure and Townsend fired wide and Kasim drew a save from Siergest.

Spurs' lead did not last long as Villa broke down the right and Collins headed in the cross for 3-3. Mason fired wide from M’Poku’s cut back and then he got down the left and cut the ball back for Obika. Despite being pulled off the ball he recovered but put the ball wide. Seconds later, Jansson saved from Collins as both sides looked for a goal.

After Collins headed over from the resultant corner Townsend got down the right to cross for Mason to fire wide. Chances were coming thick and fast with Mason having a shot saved and Gardner firing over. There were six chances in three minutes with neither side letting up. Blythe headed over following a corner and Mason saw his effort saved. After Gardner had put his chance wide we reached ninety minutes without another chance.

In stoppage time Villa struck again when Poyser got down the right and crossed low for Weimann to score off the underside of the crossbar. They thought that they had won it but Spurs hit back. The ball was worked down the left and when it was pulled back Mason was on hand to drive low into the far corner. There was just time for the game to be restarted before the ref called time.

This was a game that swung both ways with a draw probably the correct result. Spurs maintain their two point lead over Villa who are joined by Coventry who beat Bristol City today. Spurs are due to meet Coventry next week in a re-arranged fixture which is another must win game if they are to win the group. The home game ended in the remarkable 6-6 scoreline.

Ray