FA Premier Reserve League – South
         Recreation Ground Aldershot
        Monday 19th March 2007, 2.00pm

 
         CHELSEA     v      SPURS   
      (Blue/White)       (White/Blue) 
          4-4-2             4-5-1
 
           0(0)              0(0)

    
Yves Ma-Kalambay(C)  1 Ben Alnwick
    Shalin Cummings  2 Phil Ifil
        Carl Magnay  3 Joe Martin
     Sam Hutchinson  4 Jake Livermore  
        Jonas Elmer  5 Charlie Lee(C)
      Liam Bridcutt  6 Leigh Mills
     Fabio Ferreira  7 David Hutton
       Philip
       Younghusband  8 Kieran McKenna
         Lee Sawyer  9 Andy Barcham
   Sergio Rodriguez 10 Jamie O’Hara
     Miroslav Stoch 11 Emil Hallfredsson
 
     Morton Nielsen 12 Cian Hughton
          (9)78Mins    (3)66Mins.
        Nick Hamann 13 Tommy Forecast
           Tom Bird 14 Lee Barnard
                       (7) 61 Mins
      Tomi Saarelma 15 Daniel Hutchins
                    16 Alex Smith

Coach :-
           B.Rogers    C.Allen
          
Booked:-               Lee 92(late)
 

Attendence:- Approx. 250

Referee:- R.Vaughan

Assistants:- P.Andrews,I.Fissenden, D.Treleaven

It was a cold, wind-swept afternoon in Aldershot for this re-arranged kick-off. There was snow before the start which cleared to sunshine. Five minutes into the second half the game had to be stopped due to large hail-stones before a little thunder and lightning before the game finished in sunshine. Now for the match!

Spurs lined up with Lee and Mills at the back with Ifil on the right and Martin on the left. Livermore and McKenna were in central midfield with O’Hara in front of them and Hutton on the right with Hallfredsson on the left in support of Andy Barcham up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking down the slope towards the Station end. Neither side made any impression during the opening period as they could not keep the ball for long. The first chance went the way of the visitors when McKenna fired wide after a quarter of an hour. Chelsea replied with a weak header from a free kick. Ten minutes later Spurs had a chance when Barcham dribbled into the area but his shot was blocked and both McKenna and O’Hara had follow-ups blocked as well. Spurs managed to play most of the rest of the half in the blues half without causing the keeper much trouble.

Within a minute of the restart Younghusband fired wide and after the restart from the hailstorm he also hit a freekick wide. This was followed by Hallfredsson striking a shot wide and O’Hara had an effort blocked. Allen sent on Lee Barnard for his first game this season moving Barcham to the right side in place of Hutton who had had a quiet game. This gave Spurs more shape as Barnard held the ball up more with his back to goal.

Allen also replaced Martin with Hughton, who contained Ferreira a little better. This had the effect of moving the game into the Chelsea half for the rest of the game as they were now beginning to string more passes together. Charlie Lee even collected the ball deep in his own half and ran forward hitting a shot.

Spurs were now peppering the home goal from all angles. Barnard, McKenna, Livermore and O’Hara all had efforts. Barcham was put through but missed his kick. Mills got the ball in the net from a corner, but the goal was ruled out. Kalambay missed a clearance and the "goal". With so many pushing forward, Lee was booked when he caught Nielsen late as he chased back in stoppage time.

The game started as a non-event, but as the game went on Spurs got their game together and had most of the play in the second half, without dominating the game. Chelsea showed a little skill early on but faded with Ferreira being the most effective. The pitch and the conditions did not allow good flowing football and made it hard for both teams. The next reserve game is away to Aston Villa on the 10th April. This Saturday the Academy will be away to West Ham at Little Heath.

Ray

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