Checkatrade Cup, Group 3, 2017-18
            The Hive, Edgware
       Tuesday 28th November 2017, 8pm.

          BARNET      v    SPURS U-21
       (Gold/Black)       (White/Blue)
         4-2-3-1              3-5-2

           2(0)                1(1)

Barnet:– Ross; Santos, Nelson, Watson, Coulthirst(Amaluzor 71), Taylor, Kyei(Tutonda 71), Fonguck(Coker 81), Vilhete, Nicholls, Blackman

Unused Subs:- McKenzie-Lyle, Payne, Aghadiuno, Pascal

Scorers:– Maghoma 47 (o.g.), Watson 56

No Bookings

Manager:– Mark McGhee

Spurs:– Whiteman; Marsh, C. Maghoma, Tanganga(C); Eyoma, Amos(S. Shashoua 71), Edwards(Sterling 81), Roles, Bennetts; Harrison, Loft(Tracey 62)

Unused Subs:- O'Reilly, Pritchard, Skipp

Scorer:– Harrison 16

No Bookings

Coach:– Wayne Burnett

Attendance:– 445

Referee:– Lee Collins
Assistants:- Graham Kane & Louis Marks
Fourth Official:– Matty Buonassisi

Spurs travelled to Barnet at their new home on a cold evening with a light shower at the start of the game. This was the last group match in this year's competition and neither side could qualify for the knockout stages but both sides went out to play to win.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman in goal behind Maghoma, flanked by Marsh on the right and Tanganga on the left in a back three. Edwards was in the centre of a midfield five with Amos and Roles flanked by Eyoma on the right and Bennetts on the left as wing-backs. Harrison joined Loft up front. Barnet included former young Spur Shaquille Coulthurst and junior Andre Blackman who was in the Academy for a year before moving on.

Spurs defended the North end in the first half but looked a little shaky with their new formation as Vilhete and Nicholls fired over and Nelson hit a post following a corner before Harrison had a long range effort saved. Spurs took the lead when Edwards laid the ball out to Bennetts who got down the wing and put in a good cross into the middle of the area for Harrison to meet first time to score. Barnet kept pressing and Fonguck fired over for a corner and Blackman and Nicholls had efforts saved by Whiteman before Harrison fired over for Spurs. Barnet continued to have more of the play and Watson hit the bar with a free kick and Fonguck had an effort blocked before the break.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Barnet continue to press and when Kyei crossed from the left Maghoma turned it into his own net for the equaliser. Coulthirst had an effort blocked for a corner before Edwards played in Harrison for a chance that he put into the side netting. Barnet went in front from another Spurs error as Whiteman took too long to play the ball out and Nicholls slid in to deflect the ball into the net.

Coulthirst fired over before Spurs made their first change with Tracey replacing Loft up front – it took two minutes as the ball stayed in play. Kyei fired wide before he was subbed along with two other players that included Shashoua coming on for Amos. Spurs went to a back four with Marsh moving into midfield as the game began to run down before final changes that saw Sterling come on for Edwards and Spurs going with three up front. Barnet themselves began to see out the game by going into the corners but still looking for a chance such as when Tutonda fired over. Shashoua had the last chance of the game with a low drive from the left channel that Ross saved.

With nothing to play for both sides played open football without the need for desperate challenges. Edwards and later Shashoua showed good ball skills in the middle of the park with Bennetts doing well on the wing and Tanganga especially strong at the back. It was a pity that two mistakes cost Spurs a possible win. Maghoma had to go for the cross and Whiteman will not be the last keeper to be caught out. Spurs finished bottom of the group, Luton and Wimbledon who play next week are both through to the next stage.

Ray

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