F.A.Premier Reserve League - South
	at White Hart Lane, Tottenham, N17.
	Tuesday 20th March 2001, k.o.7pm.

 	      SPURS   V  DERBY COUNTY
         (White/Blue)    (Grey/White)
  	      4-4-2       4-4-2

 	       0(0)       0(0)

	   Ian Walker 1 Lee Grant
	 Ben Bowditch 2 Lewis Hunt
	    Neil Lacy 3 Paul Boertien
    Maurizio Consorti 4 Con Blatsis
    Alton Thelwell(C) 5 Youl Mawene
      Anthony Gardner 6 Bjorn Otto Bragstad
          John Piercy 7 Adam Murray
          Dave McEwan 8 Adam Bolder
      Steven Ferguson 9 Marcus Tudgay
      Willem Korsten 10 Ian Evatt
 Matthew Etherington 11 Gary Twigg

     Yannick Kamanan 12 Fiachra McArdle
          (9)76Mins     (11)84Mins.
         Gavin Kelly 13 Matt O'Halloran
     Paul O'Donaghue 14 Joe Freeman
                         (9)77Mins.
         Jon Jonsson 15 Pablo Mills
         Lee Barnard 16 Tonton Moukoko

This was a freezing night with sleet starting early during the game. There were a couple of hundred people there to see this match including a party of small children. I met up with Bruce and Elaine Lewis and Andy Porter who came over for a brief word.

Spurs lined up with Thelwell and Gardner at the centre of the defence with Bowditch at right back and Lacy at left, both from the U-19 squad. Another U-19 player Consorti partnered Piercy in the centre of midfield with McEwan on the right and Etherington on the left. The Derby side which came top of the league last season and were sitting just behind Chelsea this season are a very strong side without any recognised first team players proved tough opposition.

This game was played mainly in the middle third of the pitch with our attack well under control the first real effort was not until nearly halfway through the first half. The midfield had a great battle throughout the game as the visitors closed down quickly especially Hunt giving Matty little room. The defence did well against a quick striking force led by Tugay who even out jumped Gardner a few times dispite giving away about a foot in height. The two young fullbacks had a tough time with the overlapping backs raiding down the wings.

We did better in the second half with Korsten getting his only shot on target and Etherington fluffing a couple of chances. This was not a good night for Matty as his delivery was poor from set pieces and his crossing when he got down the wing failed to find anyone, not always his fault. Korsten was playing the role of target man and he did get his head to long balls played up to him as he was more mobile for a change and his passing did create a few chances, notably putting Ferguson through in the first half and Etherington twice in the second.

Walker coped well with the attempts on his goal only making one mistake and his distribution was good. Overall it was a good result for us as the Rams were the better side, quicker and stronger. Although not much more dangerous in front of goal, I would say that they outplayed us in all departments, not by much, but enough for me to feel that they will finish top of the league again.

The next game for the reserves is away to Leicester City on the 2nd April with the next game at WHL being on the 10th when we entertain Forest.