FA Premier Academy League,   
       Abbots Leigh, Bristol
Saturday 17th November 2007, 11.30am
 
  BRISTOL CITY     V       SPURS   
  (Red/White)            (All White)                     
     4-4-2                 4-4-2
 
       1(1)                1(0)
 
    Megyeri Balazs 1 Lee Butcher
    Chris Williams 2 Takura Mtandari
       George Boon 3 Daniel Hutchins
   Martin Slocombe 4 Jake Livermore(C)
    Luke Wilkinson 5 Calum Butcher
      Andy Rose(C) 6 Chris Casey
       Joe Edwards 7 Kyle Fraser-Allen
    Ashley Kington 8 Ryan Mason
    Marlon Jackson 9 Alex Olsen
   Tristan Plummer10 Jonathan Obika
Robert Stambolziev11 Andros Townsend

     Joe McClennan12 Yasser Kasim
                     (9)46Mins.  
                  13 James Dalton
       Ryan Child 14 David Hutton
       (11)75Mins.     (7)55Mins.
                  15 Mark Clare
                  16 Sam Cox  
                       (2)82Mins.
Coach:-
       J.Clayton     A.Inglethorpe

Scorers:-
      Wilkinson 26   Hutton 65

Booked:-
 Williams 79(Foul)  Fraser-Allen 29(Late)
                    Mtandari 81(Simulation)

Referee:- R.Vaughan
Assistants:- J.Higgins, M.Griffiths

It was a cold, overcast morning with a few drops of rain, unlike last season when it was raining throughout. A good crowd of over sixty came to watch a close fought game between third and fifth.

Spurs lined up with Lee Butcher returning in goal and Calum Butcher and Casey continuing at the back, with Mtandari at right back and Hutchins at left back. Livermore came into centre midfield alongside Mason with Fraser-Allen on the right wing and Townsend on the left. Obika and Olsen started up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking right to the left and had the first chance when Livermore hit a 20 yard shot over the bar. City responded by pressurising the back line and Stambolziev had two attempts off target before they took the lead. A corner from the left was swung in for Wilkinson to head in at the near post. They went close from two more set pieces.

Fraser-Allen was refused a free kick when he was tackled and responded by going into a tackle high and late for which the ref gave him a yellow card. After Edwards put a good chance wide Obika set Mason up in the box but his strike was blocked. Rose hit a rocket just wide when the ball came out to him and Obika got under a cross in the six yard box, when a tap-in would have done.

Kasim came on for Olsen at the start of the second half as Inglethorpe switched to 4-5-1 with Obika on his own up front. Obika got his head to a cross at the far post but the ball bounced up and over the bar. Hutton came on for Fraser-Allen on the right. Butcher saved from Slocombe and Sambolziev before Townsend cut inside to force Balazs to save at the other end. Hutton crossed for Mason to volley, but again Balazs saved to his left.

After Hutton and Townsend switched wings, Hutton was blocked as he made a run to the far post just outside the area. Hutton took the free kick himself and curled it over the wall into the far side of the goal to level the score.

Balazs stopped Hutton from adding to his goal when he was played in by Obika. Butcher came and missed a cross and was thankful that Sambolziev’s effort at the far post was cleared off the line. Butcher made up for his error saving from Plummer before Kington put a cross over the bar. Williams was booked when he blocked Hutton’s run on the left. Mason had another shot saved before Mtandari weaved his way into the box and looked to have been caught by Boon. The ref thought otherwise and booked the Spurs player for diving even though he stayed on his feet.

Inglethorpe replaced him straight away with Cox. The last chance fell to Jackson who put his effort wide of the post.

This was a good point as Bristol just had the better of the game although either side could have won with the chances that were created. Obika causes defenders plenty of problems and both wingers have control and pace to create some chances during a game. The introduction of Hutton increased our attacking threat and his free kick was the biz. Bristol stay third, but we move up above Reading into fourth place.

The U-18’s next game is on the 1st December when Birmingham visit the Lodge. Before that the Reserves have a home game (at Leyton Orient) against Reading, who use a strong squad of players, on Monday 26th November. If you are in town for the AGM then stick around for this one.

Ray

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