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Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
NI Milk Cup Vase 3rd/4th play-off
Knocken Rd. Broughshane
Thursday 26th July 2012, 1.30pm
SPURS v Co. LONDONDERRY
4-1-2-3 4-4-2
(All Navy) (All White)
2(1) 1(1)
Spurs:- Priestley, Lyons-Foster, Magbadelo(Ogilvie 51), Walkes, Campbell-Young, Pritchard, Amos(Goddard 36), Winks(C), Harrison (Oduwa 30?), Georgiou(Miller 36), Sonupe
Scorers:- Harrison 10, Oduwa 69
L'Derry:- Brady, Mullan, Hassan, Barr(C), Higgins(McClay 47), Donnell, Ramsey, Taylor(Toland 47), Mullan(Hudson 36), Glenn(Hegarty 36), Surgenor
Scorer:- Donnell 25
Spurs' last game was played in warm sunshine in a small hamlet to the east of Ballymena where the final was to be played. The ground used was the local council pitch which is not up to the standards of our Academy. The organisation was good as it has been for the whole tournament.
Spurs lined up with Priestley in goal. Vincent-Young and Lyons-Foster started in the middle of the defence with the taller Magbadelo at right back and Walkes at left back. Pritchard again was in front of the defence to allow Amos and Winks the freedom to roam across the pitch. Sonupe was up front in a central position with Harrison on his right and Georgiou on the left.
Spurs defended the west end of the pitch in the first half and soon showed their passing skills. Georgiou got down the left and crossed for Amos to draw a save from Brady.
Londonderry were more direct in their approach with Donnell firing over and Surgenor doing the same.
Sonupe attacked through the left channel and fired in a shot that Brady could only parry and it fell to to feet of Harrison who made no mistake with the rebound.
The two teams then spent a while playing the game in the middle with some good approach play, but failing to make that killer ball. Georgiou got down the flank and crossed for Harrison who fired wide. That was the player's last kick of the match as he came off to be replaced by Oduwa.
Hassan fired in from distance that Priestley was glad to push out. Oduwa advanced through the right channel and hit a cross that Brady pushed out to Amos who fired over. Hassan then got round the back and fired a low cross which was met by Donnell to draw Londonderry level.
Oduwa attacked down the right and put in a cross. Georgiou missed with his kick and the ball reached Amos whose effort was saved. Magbadelo fired wide from the edge of the area. Higgins fired over as did Hassan while Ramsey drove wide. Ramsey took a free kick that Priestley saved at the near post.
Both sides made changes for the start of the second half. Spurs replaced Amos with Goddard and Miller came on for Georgiou. Oduwa moved to the left and Sonupe drifted to the right with Winks in between them.
Hegerty proved to be a livewire for the Irish side and he set up Donnell for an effort that flew over. Goddard played in Sonupe who played the ball across for Magbadelo but Brady blocked at his feet. Hegerty attacked down the left channel before playing the ball out to Hassan, who crossed for Donnell who drove wide.
Ogilvie came on for Magbadelo and went into the centre of the back four with Lyons-Foster moving to right back. Oduwa run on to a through ball to drive low into the net only for the referee to rule it out for offside. Miller was the next to be denied as his effort hit the post. Winks got to the line and let fly but Brady got down to save at the near post with the ball deflected up and over the bar for a corner.
Sonupe fired wide and Winks was too high as Spurs began to find more space as legs tired. Surgenor was wide for Londonderry as the minutes slipped away. Oduwa was always dangerous as he forced another save from the keeper, but he could not be denied as he met a cross to sweep the ball home. The last chance fell to Londonderry when Donnell played in Mullan but Priestley saved.
While Spurs had the most skillful players, Londonderry compensated with good team play. When they introduced Hegerty they had a player as skillful as our our own. There were more signs that the midfield are beginning to pass to each other more effectively. Five games in five days has meant that the squad have had to be rotated to rest players. Priestley has had to play in all the games as Harry Voss got injured in his only appearance and Ogilvie has also spent a lot of time on the pitch.
The result means that Spurs finished third in the Vase section which is 11th overall.
Ray
Here are Ray's other reports on this tournament:-
Spurs youngsters to take part in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup
Co. Armagh 1 Spurs (U-17s) 1 - Spurs' penalty miss costs two points
Spurs (U-17s) 1 South Coast Strikers 7 - Spurs' lads trounced
Spurs (U-17s) 4 Otago 0- Alex at the helm!
Spurs (U-17s) 1 CSKA Moscow 2 - Russian strength wins it
Ray's reflections on the tournament
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