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Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
Premier U-21 League 2012-3, Elite Group
Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
Monday 11th February 2013, 12.30am
SPURS v LIVERPOOL
(All White) (All Red)
4-3-3 4-4-2
1(0) 0(0)
Jonathan Miles 1 Daniel Ward
Nathan Byrne 2 Ryan McLaughlin
Ezekial Fryers 3 Craig Roddan
Jake Livermore 4 Stephen Sama
Milos Veljkovic 5 Jack Robinson
Tom Carroll 6 Conor Coady(C)
Cristian Ceballos 7 Suso
Dean Parrett 8 Joao Teixeria
Jonathan Obika 9 Krisztain Adorjan
Harry Kane 10 Marc Pelosi
Massimo Luongo(C) 11 Jordan Ibe
Giancarlo Gallifuoco 12 Jack Dunn
(4)64Mins.
Luke McGee 13 Tyrell Belford
Kenneth McEvoy 14 Jordan Lussey
Dominic Ball 15 Jose Huertas Ortiz
(11)59Mins.
Scorer:-
Obika 18
Booked:-
Livermore 24(Trip) Roddan 45(Foul)
Veljkovic 66(Foul) Suso 90+2(Foul)
Parrett 69(Foul)
Coach:-
T. Sherwood A. Inglethorpe
Ref:- N. Lugg
Assistants:- C. Nzenga & D. Foreman
The heavy overnight snow saw this game played on the first team pitch after a half hour delay. Today’s visitors came to this game a point behind Spurs with a game in hand so it was important that we got a good result. It also saw the return of our former academy coach Alex Inglethorpe. Both teams had players with first team experience on show in this top of the table clash.
Spurs lined up with Livermore and Veljkovic at the back with Byrne on the right and Fryers at left back. Carroll, Luongo and Parrett made up the midfield trio with Kane starting up front and Ceballos to his right and Obika to his left.
Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the north end With both sides looking to pass the ball through the middle using the width of the pitch. This produced few chances. Spurs scored from the first chance of the game when a Parrett tackle saw Obika pick up the loose ball and run at goal passing two defenders before finishing low past the keeper into the net.
A quick break by Pelosi saw him get ahead of Livermore on the left but he was caught by the defender as he crossed behind him. The referee booked Livermore for the trip. Liverpool's first chance came from a free kick by Adorjan which Miles pushed over the bar. Kane fired over from a free kick and then put his next chance wide.
Carroll had an effort saved from just outside the area. Coady got forward and struck a post with a low drive. Pelosi played in Adorjan for an effort that flew wide. As the half ended Byrne got past Roddan on the right but the defender pulled him back and was booked for the foul.
There were no changes for the start of the second half with a more determined Liverpool who became more physical in the tackle. It paid off as they began to put pressure on Spurs midfield, winning more of the ball. Ibe had an early effort that he put over the bar.
Ceballos fired in from the right but Ward saved at his near post. Pelosi fired over and Suso hit a free kick wide. After Ibe had an effort fly wide, Luongo had to go off for treatment for a cut which required him to change his shirt. While he was off the pitch Liverpool made a substitution while Spurs had a player waiting on Luongo.
Miles saved a free kick from Teixeria at the expense of a corner before Gallifuoco came on for Livermore. When Suso bundled over Byrne and got away down the right Veljkovic had to intercept by pulling him back to go into the referee's book. There was annoyance by the Spurs players for the foul on Byrne that was missed. They were further annoyed when Veljkovic was knocked off the ball to start an attack down the right by Ortiz whose cross was just missed by Suso.
Parrett was booked for a foul on Adorjan from behind as the game began to get scrappy. Miles saved from Adorjan after he was set up by Teixeria. Fryers looked to have taken a knock as he was limping and while he was out of position Teixeria got down the right for a shot that was saved as the visitors looked for the equaliser.
Suso was booked for bringing down Ceballos as Spurs looked to counter. Luongo had to go off again to change his shirt for a second time. Ortiz squared the ball from the right for Suso but he fired wide. Deep into added time Ceballos saw his drive saved by Ward as Spurs held out for the three points.
This was a hard won victory against a side that was strong and combative and probably deserved to get something from the game. It was a game of few chances played mainly in the middle third of the pitch. Spurs had the edge in the first half while the Reds were stronger in the second.
Spurs have now beaten both West Ham and Liverpool who topped their groups in the first phase before Christmas and are top of the Elite group. The closeness of the game suggests that the return games will also be tight affairs. With most of Spurs early games being at home a good lead will be needed for the run in when four of the last five will be away.
The next game for the U-21's will be this Friday at Hotspur Way with a middday kick-off when Manchester United will be the visitors.
Ray
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