Premier U-21 League 2013-14
        Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
       Monday 17th February 2014, 12 noon

            SPURS     v     BOLTON
        ( White/Blue)    (All Orange)
           4-2-1-3           4-5-1

             2(2)             5(0) 

       Jordan Archer  1  Jay Lynch
        Alex McQueen  2  Oscar Threlkeld
          Danny Rose  3  Andy Kellet
     Milos Veljkovic  4  Hayden White
        Dominic Ball  5  Cian Bolger(C)
    Ezekiel Fryers(C) 6  Josh Vela
      Kenneth McEvoy  7  Sanmi Odelusi
     Sandro Cordeiro  8  Luke Woodland
Souleymane Coulibaly  9  Zach Clough
          Harry Kane 10  Tom Youngs
 Shaquile Coulthirst 11  Robert Hall

       Kevin Stewart 12  Robert Holding
           (3)65Mins
          Luke McGee 13  Harry Campbell
                         (1)19Mins
       Aaron McEneff 14  Chris Lester
          (10)65Mins     (10)71Mins
      Ruben Lameiras 15  Iliev
           (8)52Mins     (9)46Mins
                     16  Niall Maher

Scorers:-   
        Coulibaly 22     Youngs 68 pen
       Coulthirst 36     Lester 75
                         Iliev 79, 82, 84 

Sent off:-   
   Ball 67(Last Man) 

Coach:- 
        P. Brush         J. Fullarton

Referee:– C. Brook
Assistants:– S. Farrer & S. Scott

Spurs entertained Bolton Wanderers at Hotspur Way as they looked for their first win in four matches. The visitors lost their last game 4-0 to Manchester City but sit 11th in the table six places above Spurs. Both sides had players who were involved in the last game played between this two sides which was the amazing 8-4 Bolton win at WHL in the Youth Cup just over a year ago.

Spurs lined up with Archer in goal behind Ball and Fryers with McQueen at right back and Rose on the left. In front of them was the midfield pair of Sandro and Veljkovic. Kane played behind the front three of Coulibaly flanked by McEvoy and Coulthirst. Sandro and Rose were making their comeback from injuries and Sherwood was there to see them.

Spurs kicked off attacking the West end and soon looked to settle into a good pattern of play while Bolton relied upon the pace of their wide players.

Bolton had the first chance when Therlkeld headed wide at a corner. Hall drew a save from Archer before McEvoy headed over Coulthirst's cross from the left. Lynch saved a drive by Kane before Spurs had the ball in the net. Good work on the left between Coulibaly and Kane resulted in Kane playing the ball to the near post where Coulthirst turned and drove in, only to be ruled off side.

Hall whipped in a cross which Odelusi just missed, before Coulibaly could not get to a McEvoy cross into the box. Lynch and a defender had a coming together with the striker going for the cross which led to the keeper having to be replaced.

The new keeper, Campbell was still getting up to speed when Spurs took the lead from a corner. McEvoy floated the ball to the far post where Coulibaly headed home. Coulthirst sent Coulibaly away down the left and continued into the area for the return which he fired wide. Veljkovic drove wide from the edge of the area before Kane fired over from a corner.

With Spurs on top even Sandro had an effort that was saved. Kane had a drive saved and another one deflected for a corner. When the "Trotters" failed to clear, McQueen put over a deep cross that Coulthirst headed in at the far post.

Coulibaly saw his header from McEvoy's cross saved by Campbell for a corner. Following another corner, the ball was only cleared to Veljkovic on the edge of the area and his low drive hit the outside of the left post. Campbell saved again from Kane before Hall fired wide for the visitors near the end of the half.

Bolton replaced Clough with Iliev for the second half and sought to get forward now that the wind was behind them. Odelusi fired wide early on and Kane hit a dipping free kick just over the crossbar and onto the net. Sandro was caught by a tackle and went off to be replaced by Lameiras.

McQueen crossed for Coulibaly to fire wide and also provided a ball inside the full back for McEvoy to collect and fire into the side netting. Hall fired over for Bolton before Lameiras drew a save from the keeper. Spurs made a double substitution replacing Kane and Rose with Stewart and McEneff and reverting to 4-3-3 with Fryers moving to left back as Stewart partnered Ball in the centre of defence.

Before Spurs had adjusted to the new formation Hall intercepted a pass and ran through the defence into the area where Ball stopped him. Unfortunately for the defender he was the last man and was shown a red card as well as conceding the penalty. It was the turning point of the match as Youngs stepped up to send Archer the wrong way from the spot scoring low to the right.

Veljkovic dropped into the back four leaving two in midfield as Bolton stepped up a gear to take advantage of the extra man. Vela fired wide and they added Lester to their attack. It was Lester who scored the equalising goal from Kellet's cross.

Kellet fired wide before Spurs gave away the next goal. Fryers was caught in possession on the right and when the ball was played into the goal-mouth Stewart was robbed by Lester for Iliev to score their third. It was soon four as Iliev ran through the Spurs defence to shoot low past Archer and he completed his hat-trick by heading home Hall's cross to make it 2-5. McQueen had an effort that flew over before Hall drew a save from Kellet's cross at the end.

Spurs started well on top and should have had more than the two goals they scored. Once they went down to ten men, Bolton woke up and took advantage of the situation to over-run Spurs. Spurs should have tightened up, but continued to try and play expansive football.

The next match for the U-21's is away to Southampton on Friday 28th at the "Saints'" training ground.

Ray

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