Premier U-21 League 2013-4
                 Motspur Park,
              Worcester Park, Surrey
          Friday 13th December 2013, 7pm.

            FULHAM      v     SPURS
         (White/Black)      (All Blue)
             4-3-3            4-3-3

              5(3)             3(0)

        Jesse Joronen   1  Jonathan Miles
       Joshua Passley   2  Alex McQueen
        Sean Kavanagh   3  Kevin Stewart
       Ronny Minkwitz   4  Aaron McEneff
 Stephen Arthurworrey   5  Dominic Ball
         Jack Grimmer   6  Giancarlo Gallifouco
  Ange Freddy Plumain   7  Kenneth McEvoy
Lasse Vigen Christensen 8  Nabil Bentaleb
      Muamer Tankovic   9  Souleymane Coulibaly
     Lyle Della Verde  10  Cameron Lancaster
         Tom Richards  11  Grant Ward

        Magnus Norman  12  Shaquile Coulthirst
                           (10)20Mins. 
       Solomon Sambou  14  Laste Dombaxe
            (7)63Mins      (4)56Mins
Mananga Jonathan Buatu 15  Ruben Lameiras
                           (9)69Mins
       George Williams 16 
             (3)63Mins

Scorers:- 
Tankovic 13,36,74 (pen)    Ball 50
Richards 38                McEvoy 7
Williams 90+1              Coulthirst 69

Booked:-   
Unknown 78(Foul)           Gallifouco 73(Foul)
Passley 80(UGC) 
Arthurworrey 82(Foul)

Coaches:- 
              K. Symons    C. Ramsey 

Referee:– C. Brook
Assistants:- M. Lee & M. Desborough
Fourth Official:– W. Davis

Due to a hold up of traffic in the area I missed the first half and almost gave up on reaching the ground. It was a cool evening in South London. There was a good sized crowd for Spurs' visit to the U-21 leaders. The view of the pitch was terrible as the team benches are right in front of the spectators instead of the other side which made identifying tricky.

Spurs lined up with Ball and Gallifouco in front of Miles with McQueen at right back and Stewart on the left. McEneff anchored the midfield trio with Bentaleb and Lancaster behind Coulibaly with McEvoy and Ward on the flanks.

I understand that Spurs started badly, not controlling the midfield, which allowed Fulham to win the ball and set up attacks. The home side took the lead when Passley's corner was headed back at the far post by Christensen for Tankovic to turn in. Spurs lost Lancaster to a bad injury and he was replaced by Coulthirst. Fulham won the ball in the middle and Richards played in Tankovic for his second. Minutes later and Della Verde won the ball and played in Richards to score across the keeper to send the home side in at the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

Spurs came out in more determined mood and struck early. Ball met McEneff's corner to send a looping header into the net to reduce the the arrears. Spurs now looked the better team as they passed with more confidence and McQueen was getting down the right.

Bentaleb received the ball from the right and played McEvoy in on the left. The winger got round the back and scored with a rising shot from a tight angle. Plumain tried a long range effort that flew over as they looked to get going again. Dombaxe came on for McEneff as Spurs tried to put more pressure on the hosts.

A cross from Ward was fired over before Joronen saved from McEvoy and then Coulthirst and McEvoy again in a short space of time. Spurs drew level when McQueen floated in a centre for Coulthirst to head home.

Lameiras came on for Coulibaly. Fulham were getting worried now as they dived into tackles which the referee seemed to let go. From one such tackle they won the ball and set up a counter attack that won a corner. Fulham then won the ball in the middle and Sambou's effort hit the post. Gallifouco was penalised for fouling Minkwitz as he tried to follow up. Gallifouco was booked for the foul and Tankovic scored from the spot for his hat-trick to put the home side back in front.

Spurs continued to push for another equaliser giving Fulham chances on the break. Miles saved from Tankovic before Fulham picked up three yellow cards in quick succession. The first came when they prevented a quick throw-in on the left. The next one was picked up by Passley for kicking the ball away after they conceded a free kick. The third was by Arthurworrey as he stopped McQueen as he ran past the defender.

Lameiras had an effort that he fired over before Fulham delivered the killing blow in added time. Winning the ball Della Verde got through and drew Miles before squaring the ball to Williams for a simple finish.

The win moves Fulham four points clear at the top of the table while Spurs slip to 15th. Fulham have a strong side that they have built following the success of their academy performances of the last few years. Spurs now have a month's break before the next game at home to Newcastle.

Ray

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