FA Premier Academy League U-17, Group D
               Spurs Lodge, Chigwell, Essex
          Saturday 2nd.November 2002, 12am k.o.


           SPURS           V       ASTON VILLA
        (White/Blue)              (Claret/Blue)
           3-5-2                    4-4-2


            0(0)                     2(1)


             Nicholas Eyre 1 Andrew Yarnold
             Joe Watson(C) 2 John Grady
              Liam Francis 3 Nick Green
            Kieran McKenna 4 Gary Cahill
               Philip Ifil 5 Lee Grant
              Ricky Dobson 6 Rowan Caney
                Iyad Ahmed 7 Amadou Kouman
               David Hicks 8 Shane Paul
              Andy Barcham 9 Luke Moore
                Owen Price10 Kyle Nix
            Gareth Jenkins11 Steven Foley


              Andrew Hodge12 Stuart Bridges
              (9)68Min.
              Michael Eade13 Daniel Bridges
               Tommy Welch14 Kevin Mulcahy
               Charlie Lee15 Sam Williams
               (4)85Mins.    (11)11Mins.
                          16 Oluwaseyi Morgan

Scorers - Moore 30, 80

Booked - Green(late) 70, Jenkins & Paul(ungentlemanly conduct)78

With water-laden clouds hanging over the pitch the game started in warmish conditions with the rain coming down in the second half, by which time the two teams were too involved to notice. A small crowd had gathered to watch and I was joined by Paul Smith and Andy Porter. Colin Calderwood and Tim Sherwood joined Steve Perryman to watch the second half, not being put off by the rain.

Spurs lined up with Ifil at the back, flanked by Watson on his right and Dobson on his left. McKenna, Hicks and Jenkins played in the middle with Ahmed wide on the right and Francis on the left. Price played with Barcham up front facing a back four which towered over them giving them little in the air.

Spurs kicked off attacking the left end and for most of the half matched the group leaders with neither side getting on top of the other. Most of the game was played in the middle with both keepers having little to do. Ahmed and Francis made several good runs down the flanks without finding anyone in the box, unlike the visitors who had Moore to lead the line.

The ref allowed the game to flow which suited the Villains hard tackling defence with Williams seeming to have a point to prove to his coach. The deadlock was finally broken when Moore played a one-two on the 18 yard line leaving him in space in the box finishing with a neat flick pass the stranded Eyre. Spurs responded well but nearly fell further behind when a Moore header hit the bar. The closest we came was a Hicks drive just over the bar following a corner and a Ahmed shot turned round the post.

The second half had the visitors in control with occasional breaks by the home side usually down the flanks. Jimmy Neighbour finally made a change when Barcham had an ankle knock and brought on Hodges up front. Andrew is a centre-back and gave height up front and won some balls in the air. Unfortunately he was isolated as the midfield had been forced back on the defensive. Jenkins tangled with Paul on the far side after catching him late which resulted in both players being booked - nothing as bad as you see in the Premier - but the worst incident on the day.

Just after this Villa made the game safe when we lost possession on the right and Moore raced clear into the box and beat Eyre at the near post. Again the youngsters responded and won a series of corners as Villa played down the clock. Price planted a string of dangerous balls into the area from the left without anyone getting that final touch. We almost scored from a Jenkins corner on the right when the ball came out to McKenna on the edge of the box, but his volley was held by Yarold diving to his left.

This was a good performance by the Juniors, the best team display so far and shows that they are beginning to knit together and despite being well beaten by the group leaders they put up a good show. We lacked height up front and Price is more effective when playing deep. Ahmed is very tricky and hard working down the line and with Francis as a wingback on the other side can provide the ammunition for Barcham and Malcolm up front. Dobson and Ifil at the back work together well at the heart of the defence which looked more solid each time I see them. Next Saturday they will be at the Lodge again when the visitors will be Charlton as the U-19's travel the other way.Ed:- Kick off time for next Saturday's game at The Lodge has yet to be confirmed, but they are usually 11 a.m unless stated. Keep an eye on the official site

Ray

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