FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP RESERVE LEAGUE
MONDAY 15TH MARCH, 2004
SPURS RESERVES 0 (0) ARSENAL RESERVES 2 (1)

Scorer:-
Birchall (2), 41, 60

Referee:- Mr.. J. Singh

Attendance:- Est.. 2,000

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Hirschfeld; Kelly, Mabizela, Bunjevcevic (Capt.), McKie; Marney, Hughes, Jackson, Ricketts; Yeates, O'Hara (sub Malcolm, 61)

Subs not used:- Eyre; Wright, Lee; Daniels

Booked:- Mabizela, McKie, Jackson

Arsenal (4-4-2):- Taylor; Bailey, Hoyte, Simek (Capt.), Nicolau; Bentley, Fabregas, Cregg, Karbassiyoon; Birchall (sub Shiels, 82), Bradley (sub Larsson, 87)

Subs not used:- Holloway; Fowler, Djourou

Booked:- Gregg, Simek, Shiels, Nicolau

A bumper crowd of at least 2,000 packed into Broadhall Way, Stevenage, many of whom probably expected to see more of their beloved first-team stars. Those that favour the red half of London went away happiest though, as a side packed with under-19s beat a Spurs team, which featured 5 or 6 players who like to think of themselves as being on the peripherary of the first team. The simple fact is that Spurs took too long on the ball, and were defeated by a keener, lightning fast side that always seemed to have three players around the man on the ball, and moved the ball around when in possession with more speed and greater effectiveness.

Spurs had their moments, but Adam Birchall took the glory with two goals, one in each half. Spurs' bench was dominated by under-17 players, and of course ex-Arsenal lad Jamie O'Hara does still qualify at that level. Surely he and Ricketts would be up for this challenge, and drive on their team-mates? O'Hara was started as Yeates' strike partner, but was soon switched with Ricketts, as he (O'Hara) was having more effect in the middle with his determined runs. Yeates too showed plenty of skill when falling back, and ultimately, Spurs probably paid for not having an out and out striker on the field. Jamie Slabber has gone on loan to a Copenhagen side, and Lee Barnard was absent (although I thought I spotted him in the crowd), perhaps through injury.

Arsenal had most early possession, but were beaten back well, before Spurs had the best early attack after 4 minutes. Yeates did well in the middle before spreading the ball to Dean Marney on the right. Marney had the beating of Nicolau, but his cross was beaten out as far as Jackson, whose shot was comfortable for Taylor to collect going down to his left. A ball to Jackson on the left was crossed and deflected where Yeates was involved in a challenge with the keeper and adjudged to have committed a foul.

Mr. Singh, the referee who we last saw at Upton Park, was very keen with his whistle, and seemed more pedantic regarding the positioning of Spurs free kicks than those of Arsenal. He also allowed the Gooners to dawdle around the free-kick taker for ages, and finally booked Nicolau for offending in this way in the closing stages. Mabizela and Cregg were fairly booked for late challenges.

After 24 minutes, Hirschfeld was out well just outside his area to clear from the feet of Birchall, who was racing for Bradley's long chip over the defence. Dean Marney had a good effort, when using Ricketts as a wall for a return pass, before firing about 2 yards over the bar. Fabregas worried Hirschfeld with a 30 yard dipping shot at the other end. Bentley got away from the Spurs defence down the right wing and his deep cross was returned into the danger zone, where Mabizela coolly flicked the ball for Jackson to clear.

Then, in the 41st minute, Arsenal took the lead. Ironically, the goal was created after Ricketts judged that he could not make the ball near the bye-line, and instead of letting it out for a goal kick, conceded a throw. From the throw, as Ricketts slowly made his way back, Bentley sent a long ball over the Spurs defence and into the Spurs half. My view (and I accept it is biased) was that the assistant referee was not in line with play, and that he missed an offside against Birchall who was allowed to race goalward and drove beyond Hirschfeld for the goal.

Spurs best chance came three minutes after the re-start, when O'Hara slipped the ball to Ricketts on the left, who passed it back to McKie. Marcel sent in a deep cross and Marney's shot was saved by Taylor. Then from the rebound, Marney headed, but saw the ball hit the top of the bar, before going out of play. Taylor was soon to thwart Yeates, as he got down well to Ricketts' low cross with Yeatesy ready to finish off.

Having been booked early on, Mabizela was a little shy of tackling Fabregas as he danced into the Spurs area, then failed to get in an effective challenge, as the number 8 jinked around a couple of other challenges. before sliding the ball to Birchall, who readily scored his second goal, starting off great celebrations by the team and fans in red.

O'Hara was replaced by Michael Malcolm, but the only decent chance came when Jackson swung in a free kick and Mabizela saw his header pushed round by the keeper for a corner.

The Reserves play their last home game next Monday, against Nottingham Forest, when a quieter night at Broadhall Way is guaranteed. I had to suffer high pitched voices in each ear, at very high decibels all night. Next time, I'll take my ear plugs!

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