FA Premier Academy League – South
     Spurs Lodge, Luxborough Lane, Chigwell
       Saturday 3rd February 2007, 11am
 
            SPURS     v     CARDIFF CITY          
        (White/Blue)          (All red)
            4-4-2              4-4-2
 
             0(0)               0(0)
 
        David Button  1 Scott Allison
        Cian Hughton  2 Dean Hudson
          Joe Martin  3 Ashley Buswell
     Daniel Hutchins  4 James Simpson
      Leigh Mills(C)  5 Lloyd Evans(C)
   Troy 
   Archibald-Henville 6 Anthony Acheampong
        David Hutton  7 Anthony Cook
        Yasser Kasim  8 Jack Carlile
       Tomas Pekhart  9 Mark Jones
   Kyle Fraser-Allen 10 James Upcott
    Andros Townsend  11 Paul Gallagher
 
         Alex Smith  12 Kyle Bassett
                        (7)81Mins
       James Dalton  13 Josh Herring
    Takura Mtandari  14 Jonathan Brown
          (3)46Mins     (11)56Mins
        Luke Medley  15 Sam Wade
        (10) 74Mins     (4)73Mins.
 
Coach:-
      A. Inglethope      G. Twose
 
Bookings:-              Acheampong  44 (Foul)
                        Carlile  44  (Arguing)   
Ref:- Mr. N. Field

It was a bright if chilly morning for the visit of Cardiff City which drew a good sized crowd and I was joined by Paul Smith and Jeff Amankawah. Spurs lined up with Mills and Archibald-Henville at the back with Hughton on the right and Martin at left back. there was a first start for Kasim with Hutchins in central midfield with Hutton on the right and Townsend on the left side. Fraser-Allen played just behind Pekhart up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the South goal, and soon showed that they were just that little better than the Bluebirds by spending most of the time in the visitors half of the pitch. The first shot did not come until after ten minutes from Hutton as despite the pressure there was little for Allison to do. There was some good wing play with crosses from both Townsend and Hutton who swapped wings fairly early. The visitors broke out spasmodically with the pace of Cook but the Spurs defence was rarely stretched. Following a Cardiff free kick, the Ref booked Acheampong for an accumulation of fouls which led to Carlile also being booked for I assume speaking out to the ref.

Spurs took off Martin for the second half with Mtandari coming on at right back with Hughton moving over to the left. Fraser-Allen began to drift wide and actually put in two good crosses which is something I have not seen from him as he usually messes up such chances. He was substituted shortly after by Medley as Inglethorpe changed to two up front. Button had more work to do in this half as both sides played much of the game in the middle third. Pekhart missed a good chance from less than ten yards after good work from Townsend. With five minutes left, Spurs realised that they needed to win this game and pulled all the stops out and laid siege to the visitors goal with a string of corners and free kicks but failed to find the net.

This we dropped more points from a game which we should have won. Pekhart cannot play up front on his own as was shown again today and needs support. There was a lovely through ball to him which the keeper came out quickly and deflected as he shot. Pekhart got to the ball and was looking for a penalty with Acheampong tackling him. As the ball was cleared Acheampong looked down at him and called him a pussy. I could not argue with that.

Next week Spurs are away at Coventry before playing Watford at the Lodge the following Saturday. Before that the Reserves play table-topping Reading at Stevenage on the 12th.

© Ray Lo

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