Premier League 2, Division 1 2017-18
         Victoria Road, Dagenham, Essex
         Monday 12th February 2018, 7pm

            WEST HAM   v   SPURS
         (Claret/Blue)  (White/Blue)
             4-2-3-1      4-1-4-1

               2(1)         2(2)

         Nathan Trott  1  Alfie Whiteman
          Ben Johnson  2  Joseph Pritchard
           Joe Powell  3  Jaden Brown
          Alfie Lewis  4  George Marsh
            Josh Pask  5  Christian Maghoma(C)
       Tunji Akinnola  6  Jonathan Dinzeyi
       Grady Diangana  7  Shilow Tracey
       Domingos Quina  8  Dylan Duncan
     Oladapo Afolayan  9  Kazaiah Sterling
     Marcus Browne(C) 10  Jack Roles
    Sead Haksabanovic 11  Keanan Bennetts

Jahmal Hector-Ingram  12  Matthew Lock
          (11)68Mins
       Daniel Jinadu  13  Brandon Austin
       Jeremy Ngakia  14  Maximus Tainio
           (5)60Mins      (8)87Mins
        Reece Hannam  15  Rayan Clarke
                          (7)90+3Mins
       Bernardo Rosa  16  Jeremy Mukendi
           (7)83Mins

Scorers:-
     Diangana 19          Bennetts 2
     Browne 77(pen)Tracey 25

Booked:-
     Lewis 74(Holding)    Roles 90+2(Late)
     Ngakia 90+4(Foul)

Coaches:-
         Terry Westley    Wayne Burnett 

Attendance:– 401

Referee:– Sam Purkiss
Assistants:– Isaac Searle & Michael Ryan
Fourth Official:– Tom Fell

Spurs travelled to Dagenham on a chilly evening to play West Ham United who lost their last game to Sunderland 1-0. Spurs had beaten table-topping Liverpool 1-0 last week. Earlier in the season the "Hammers" beat Spurs 3-2 at Hotspur Way before Spurs beat them 7-3 in the PL International Cup. We did not play them at this level last season as they won promotion to Division One by beating Newcastle in the final play-off after finishing the season in fifth place.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman in goal behind Maghoma and Dinzeyi with Pritchard at right back and Brown on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with Duncan and Roles ahead of him flanked by Tracey on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Sterling up front.

Spurs defended the East end in an open game that saw us take an early lead. Bennetts ran onto the ball when Sterling was tackled on the left. He advanced and played in Tracey on the right and got into the six yard box to convert the cross.

Afoyayan drew a save with the follow-up going wide. Bennetts got forward to play in Roles but his effort was blocked for a corner. Whiteman saved from Diangana before the West Ham player got down the right and crossed for Quina to fire in the equaliser. Browne played in Diangana to draw a save from Whiteman. Browne then had an effort saved before Spurs went in front again. Marsh won the ball in the middle, playing it forward to Bennetts who passed inside the full back for the advancing Tracey to score. Whiteman saved from Diangana and a free kick from Browne before the break.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Afolayan fire over at the near post from Haksabanovic's cross. Bennetts' effort was deflected wide for a corner which saw a Maghoma header saved. Browne fired over before the home side made a couple of changes.

Browne hit another free kick over the bar before Lewis went into the ref's book for pulling back Bennetts when he got past him. Hector-Ingram drew a save from Whiteman and then, when he got into the area again, Pritchard conceded a penalty leaning into him. Browne made no mistake from the spot.

Afolayan headed over from a free kick before Spurs made their first change. Tainio replaced Duncan who had moved to right back during the first half. As the game moved into added time Roles was booked for a late challenge and Clarke replaced Tracey. In the last minute Ngakia was booked for a foul on Bennetts.

Spurs gained a point in an entertaining match which showed both sides attacking intent. The "Irons" were more aggressive in the tackle while Spurs used their pace. Marsh had to receive treatment twice during the game in which he did so well. The point moves Spurs above Sunderland (to tenth place out of 12) on goal difference. Spurs travel to Swansea on Friday evening. Swansea are on a good run, having beaten Manchester City 1-0 in their last game.

Ray

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