Premier Academy League, Intergroup
         Spurs Lodge, Chigwell, Essex.
     Saturday 30th October 2010, 11am k.o.

        SPURS       v      COVENTRY CITY 
     (White/Blue)       (Light Blue/White)
        4-4-2                 4-4-2

         2(1)                  2(1) 


     Jordan Archer  1 Alaister Worby
     Jack Barthram  2 Aaron Phillips
     Kevin Stewart  3 Luke Adams(C)
   Laste Dombaxe(C) 4 Conner Grogan
    Callum Tapping  5 Joe Henderson
     Ramil Sheriff  6 Cyrus Christie
        Jack Munns  7 William Roberts
      Alex McQueen  8 Luke Bottomer
     Kudus Oyenuga  9 Jonson Clarke-Harris
    Ruben Lameiras 10 Billy Daniels
    Darren McQueen 11 Josh Ruffels

  Freddie Champion 12 Gael Bigirimana
        (10)72Mins    (7)0Mins.
    Jonathon Miles 13 Lee Burge
Shaquile Coulthirst14 Jordan Wilus
       (11)72Mins.    (10)89Mins.
     William Ekong 15 Courtney Richards
                       (9)64Mins.
        Daniel Day 16 Lewis Rankin

Scorers:-
        Dombaxe 34    Ruffels 42
        Oyenuga 48    Bottomer 74

Booked:-
   Dombaxe 29(Trip)   Daniels 50(UGC)
   Oyenuga 50(UGC) 

Coach:-
    A. Inglethorpe    G. Rioch

Ref:- G. Evetts
Asst. Refs:- P. Dace, D. Simpson

Spurs lined up with Sheriff and Tapping in front of Archer with Barthram at right back and Stewart on the left. This was a first appearance for Alex McQueen alongside Dombaxe in the centre of midfield, with Munns on the right flank, and Darren McQueen on the left(I don't know if the two McQueen's are related). It was also a first start for U-16 new boy Lameiras in support for Oyenuga up front. I have to say that these were starting positions as there was a great deal of position changing during the match.

I missed the start but it was a fairly even game from the start with Spurs playing a more measured passing game than usual, and the Sky Blues playing a high line and relying on quick counter attacks, which saw Adams fire wide before Archer saved from Daniels after he was played in by Bigirimana. Bigirimana had an effort wide from a Clarke-Harris cross.

Dombaxe fired a free kick through the wall which deflected his effort wide for a corner. Dombaxe was shown a yellow card by the ref for tripping Bottomer after the City player had knocked him off the ball. Barthram made a good run down the right playing a one-two before passing to Alex McQueen who laid the ball off to Oyenuga. Kudus played the ball square for Dombaxe to hit a dipping volley that Worby got his hands to but could not stop it from dropping into the net.

Oyenuga was looking more like his bustling best and played the ball into Alex McQueen for a shot that the keeper saved. This was followed by Dombaxe firing wide. The visitors were still causing problems with their quick breaks and Clarke-Harris fired into the side netting before Bigirimana cut in from the right and played Ruffels in on the left. His low drive went in across the keeper who got a hand to it. As we reached half time Ruffels had another effort just wide and a first time attempt by Dombaxe flew high and wide.

With no changes at the interval Spurs came out in more determined mood and Lameiras played in Oyenuga whose effort was saved for a corner. From Munns' corner Oyenuga headed over. Oyenuga did better two minutes later when he wriggled through to fire past the keeper to put the home side back in front. Lameiras was having a good game with good touches and awareness for a pass. When he was caught late his team-mates closed in to protest and a shoving match developed which resulted in Oyenuga and Daniels both receiving yellow cards.

Dombaxe fired over from a pass by Oyenuga before Archer saved from Daniels' weak header. Oyenuga saw his weak effort saved by Worby before Daniels fired wide from a free kick. Archer failed to collect a left wing cross which fell to Bigirimana but he redeemed himself by saving the shot. Bottomer fired in a long drive that Archer saved.

Inglethorpe then replaced Lameiras with Champion and Darren McQueen with Coulthirst. While Coulthirst provided more weight up front we lost the passing of Lameiras in the middle. Coulthirst flicked a half chance over the bar with his first touch. When Barthram lost the ball in a raid upfield, Coventry quickly attacked down the flank and when the ball was crossed, Bottomer was in acres of space coming in from the right and drilled the ball low past Archer to draw them level for the second time.

Richards had an effort saved at the near post before he fired wide minutes later. Coventry were settling for the draw but took advantage to counter when chances arose as when Christie got forward for a shot that was just wide. Bottomer also had an effort wide before Tapping worked his way through their defence before firing wide.

This was a fairly even game with both sides getting forward. For spells Spurs looked the better side with their passing game but after Lameiras was replaced it became harder for them to progress. Oyenuga looked more like the player of two years ago. It was another inexperienced side with the likes of Waller-Lassen and Pritchard rested, and with two new starters. Lameiras has had two sub appearances up to now but he looks good.

Next week the Academy will be away to Reading, which thanks to the wonders of television I will be able to go to. (Ed:- I think Ray means he'll be recording the Bolton Premier League game!)With our inexperienced lads it will be another hard game as Reading tend to start hard and fast.

Ray