F.A.Premier Reserve League - South
   	     Clarence Park, St.Albans.
  	Tuesday 5th December 2000, k.o.7.30pm.
 
   		  SPURS V WEST HAM UTD.
            (White/Blue)  (Claret/Blue)
   		  4-4-2    4-4-2
 
     		   0(0)    0(0)
 
 	     Ian Walker 1 Stephen Bywater
      	 Ian Hillier(C) 2 Gary Charles
        Anthony Gardner 3 Tommy Williams
           Ciaran Toner 4 Terrell Forbes
             Ramon Vega 5 Anwar Uddin
           Gary Doherty 6 Stevland Angus
           Simon Davies 7 Ludwig Norbert
        Johnnie Jackson 8 Michael Ferrante
            John Piercy 9 Gavin Holligan
        Willem Korsten 10 Craig Etherington
   Matthew Etherington 11 Jimmy Bullard
 
  	    Neale Fenn 12 Leon Britton
	    (9)70Mins.    (7)85Mins.
  	  Jamie Atwell 13 Billy McMahon
  	    Mark Gower 14 Shaun Byrne
	    (8)70Mins.    (6)46Mins.
       Yannick Kamanan 15 Amos Foweya
			  (9)70Mins.
 	   Blake Saker 16 Dean Cleaver
 
  Booked - Charles 45, Holligan 55, Ferrante 85
 

It was a warm evening with light showers on a heavy wet pitch. Around 200 people turned up to watch the last game this year. Tony Cottee was spotted amongst the crowd which included Bruce and Elaine Lewis, Paul and Greg Smith, Andy Patterson and Steve over from Boston.

The team lined up with Ramon and Doherty in the centre of the defence, Hillier at right back and Gardner at left. Toner and Jackson anchored the midfield with Davies on the right and Matty on the left. Hillier operated in a back four for most of the first half before pushing up into the wingback position during the second half. Up front we had Piercy and Korsten who both look better in the inside left position.

Spurs started the first half kicking up the slope and had a penalty appeal turned down in the first few minutes. In a very physical first half the Hammers took the game to Spurs having the better of the play early on before Spurs got going. On balance the Hammers probably shaded the first half which was very bitty due to the tackling. Both sides had chances with the Hammers having more on target.

The second half was better as the tackling was not so intense and both sides made changes in the search for a winner. Spurs had the better of the opening minutes with Matty having two good chances to open the scoring, Davies and Vega hit a post and Korsten had a deflected freekick pushed onto the bar as we dominated early on. West Ham got stronger as the half developed and Walker had to make a number of fine saves to keep them out.

Hughton pushed Doherty up front in the last ten minutes as the play went from end to end. In the end a draw was a fair result, we had more of the play and chances but they had more shots on target.

We end the first half of the season in forth place some way behind the leaders Chelsea. The next game is on the 16th January when we play Coventry at St.Albans.

Ray