F.A.Premier Reserve League - South
  	  Clarence Park, St.Albans,
      Tuesday 13th February 2001 k.o.7.30pm.

  	     SPURS     V    WIMBLEDON
  	 (White/Blue)       (Green/Green)
  	     3-5-2 	       4-4-2

  	       3(0) 	      0(0)

  	   Ian Walker 1 Paul Heald
 	Ian Hillier(C)2 Paul Shepherd
      Anthony Gardner 3 Des Byrne
 	 Simon Davies 4 Craig Lewington
       Alton Thelwell 5 Samuel Okikiolu
       Destin Makumbu 6 Mikele Leigertwood
          John Piercy 7 Lionel Morgan
      Johnnie Jackson 8 Alex Tapp
      Yannick Kamanan 9 Paul Robinson
       Willem Korsten10 Joel McAnuff
  Matthew Etherington11 Neil Jenkins

        Les Ferdinand12 Mehmet Unal	
         (9)72Mins.     (4)70Mins.
       Jamie Attwell 13 Shane Gore
     Steffen Iversen 14 Stephen O'Flynn
         (7)72Mins.     (9)78Mins.
        Ciaran Toner 15 Sam Sloma
      Steve Ferguson 16 Wade Small

Bookings - Byrne 55 late tackle, O'Flynn 87 high tackle

It was a cold evening, but dry with the temperature dropping as the evening progressed. The pitch was still heavy from rain the day before. There was a good sized crowd for our first home game this year as I joined Bruce and Elaine Lewis, Paul Smith, Andy Porter and Wyart Lane. The official site promised Carr and Armstrong, but we still had THREE strikers on the bench as Chris Hughton fielded a young side with three U-19 and a further two on the bench.

Spurs lined up with a back three of Makumbu, Thelwell and Gardner, Hillier and Etherington as wing backs, Davies and Jackson holding the centre and Piecy as the attacking threat in support of the front two.

The first half was very scrappy as the Dons played their usual spoiling game, closing down quickly and forcing errors, with no time on the ball Spurs created very little. Chances were few with the first falling to Wimbledon after 10 minutes. Spurs first came ten minutes later with Piercy's shot saved by Heald. Piercy had a couple more efforts as did Korsten and Kamanan. Hillier had a shot just wide from a good position and Davies whose shooting is becoming like Freund.

The second half started like the first until Korsten was played through in the 48th minute, he passed inside to Piercy who was brought down for a penalty. Korsten put the ball into the bottom left corner with the keeper going the wrong way.

A minute later and it was two. Piercy found Etherington on the left who ran down the line drawing four defenders before crossing to the far post for Hillier to shoot in from 8 yards.

Spurs now started to dominate and brought on Ferdinand and Iversen for their first run out after long injuries. The first touch by Les was a 20yd. drive which the keeper held. Les and Steffen both had a couple more shots including a lovely shot on the turn by Iversen from 20yds that Heald pushed over. Wimbledon could not match the experience of Ferdinand and Iversen which showed in the final minute when Walker came out of his area and cleared to Korsten deep in the visitors half. He laid the ball inside for Les to volley home from the edge of the box.

After a shaky start we came good and it was good experience for the younger players facing a team that would not let them dictate the play and made them work for the result which their superior skills deservered. Next week we are away at Watford before returning to St.Albans on the 6th March for the last game there this season when we play Charlton Atheltic.

Ray