Premier U-18 League Southern group 2014-15
              West Brom Training Ground
         Wednesday 28th January 2015, 12 noon

               WEST BROM   v     SPURS 
             (Blue/White)     (All Black)
                 4-3-3           4-3-3

                  3(1)            2(1) 

               Ethan Ross  1  Harry Voss
             Brad Sweeney  2  Christopher Paul
            Jack Hallahan  3  Joseph Muscatt
                Sam Field  4  Charlie Owens
             Josh Ezewele  5  Luke Amos
           Robbie McCourt  6  Anton Walkes(C)
          Tahvon Campbell  7  Armani Daly
               Samir Nabi  8  Zenon Stylianides
             Andre Wright  9  Shayon Harrison
            Zak Elbouzedi 10  Cy Goddard
             George Cater 11  Anthony Georgiou

               Ben Miller 12  Lloyd Ross
               (11)74Mins     (3)67Mins
               Evan Moran 13  Thomas McDermott
            Chay Scrivens 14  Ryan Loft
                              (7)34Mins
                  Gregory 15 
                    Smith 16 
                (7)90Mins

Scorers:-
       Campbell 21, 83        o.g. (Wright) 8
       Cater 55               Loft 81 

Booked:-
       Field 67(Foul) 

Coaches:-
       A. Danks               K. McKenna

It was a cold blustery morning for this replayed match which was abandoned by the referee, back in November, when Spurs were leading 1-0, thus saving the home side. This being Spurs' third game in six days it should not have been necessary. Both sides came into this game having lost their previous game. West Brom lost away to Fulham 4-0, while Spurs were beaten by Villa 2-1 at home.

Because of the number of games played, Spurs named just fourteen players which meant that the sub keeper had a chance to play. Spurs lined up with Voss in goal behind Amos and Walkes with Paul at right back and Muscatt on the left. Owens anchored the midfield with Goddard and Stylianides while Harrison led the line with Daly on the right and Georgiou on the left.

Spurs defended the south end in the first half and started well in the trying conditions. They took the lead from a free kick taken by Harrison on the right. Wright headed into his own net under pressure from Paul.

Goddard had a long range effort saved easily by Ross and he played in Harrison for a chance that was wide. The "Baggies" began to get into the game and having worked the ball from right to left, Campbell caught out Voss with a curled effort into the far side of the goal to draw the home side level.

Paul crossed for Georgiou to fire wide and Wright drove a left wing cross wide before Voss saved Campbell. Spurs had to make an early substitution when Daly picked up a knock and was replaced by Loft who went up front with Harrison moving to the right.

There were no changes at the start of the second half which saw an early chance for Spurs as Harrison headed wide from a corner. Harrison took the next corner from which Loft headed wide. Spurs were made to pay from those misses when they failed to clear a right wing cross by Sweeney, which was met by Cater, who scored with a rising shot into the near post.

West Brom raised their game with the goal, and began to get on top. Nabi fired wide, before Field was booked for stopping a penetrating run by Loft. Spurs made their second change taking off Muscatt for Ross who played on the left of midfield with Georgiou dropping to left back.

Ross got on the end of a neat through ball by Loft to force a save from his namesake in the home goal. Stylianides fired over from the edge of the area winning a corner. Wright got through for a shot that was saved by Voss, at the expense of a corner which saw Ezewele head wide. A run by Loft saw him play in Ross for a chance which was saved by the other Ross only for Loft, who had continued into the box, to score from the rebound.

Spurs were not level for long as they lost possession on the right and Campbell ran onto a through ball to score past the advancing Voss. The home side were able to see out the game for the victory and the points.

Spurs had fielded a strong team but did not have the subs to be able to change the game as the U-16's who fill in were at school. They will be available for the trip to Brighton on Saturday. West Brom made the most of their second chance wearing Spurs down and taking their chances in a game that could have gone either way. Carter-Vickers should be available on Saturday, having returned from playing in the CONCACAF U-20 tournament for the USA. Onomah and Walker-Peters will also be available having played for the U-21 side against Leicester. Brighton beat Spurs 5-1 at Hotspur Way back in October and are third in the table despite losing to West Ham in their last match.

Ray

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