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Spurs reserves lose out to Spam stiffs

BoringOldFan

It's better to burn out than to fade away...
Sep 20, 2005
9,955
2,498
Tottenham reserves were beaten 3-1 by a well-drilled West Ham side that featured a number of first-team players. It was an opportunity for coach Clive Allen to give some Academy players a bit more experience, but there was no disguising the gap in technique between the two sides as the visitors ran out comfortable winners.

West Ham fielded Jimmy Walker, Jonathan Spector, John Pantsil, Bobby Zamora and Dean Ashton, all with Premier League experience. Clive Allen went in the other direction, bringing in the likes of Jonathan Obika, Takura Mtandari and Dean Parrett from the junior side.

Spurs started brightly and looked good, as centre backs Dorian Dervite and Troy Archibald-Henville got the better of the more senior strike opponents. Dervite even managed some forward runs, and one great through ball to right winger Kyle Fraser-Allen saw a dangerous cross to Simon Dawkins create a chance.

Spurs took the lead when Danny Rose took a free kick on the right which flew across the penalty area and into the far corner without anyone touching it. But West Ham were clicking into gear and equalised just before half time after some sloppy defending.

Rose was looking good playing left central midfield inside David Hutton, and Fraser-Allen made some dangerous runs down the right. But Dawkins and Obika were unable to strike up a Berbatov-Keane style partnership and too many attacks broke down in the latter stages.

The second half was more of the same, as first Dean Ashton tapped home from close range, and then the Spam no. 7 drove right through the centre of midfield and the defence to flick a right-footed shot past David Button. Despite the introduction of Takura Mtandari and Dean Parrett, Spurs were unable to regain the initiative and create further problems for the visitors.

You can read the official report here.

All in all a disappointing night, so here are some photos featuring Paxton the SpursCommunity mascot.

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Paxton reads what his heroes got up to last night.

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There's more to following Spurs than going to European cities of culture and Wembley. Paxton spends a cold night in Leyton.

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Kyle Fraser-Allen waits for play to resume. I know - crap caption.

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1-1 at half time and Paxton gets some refreshment.

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Unfortunately after the excesses of last night he can't handle it, and ends up "doing a Ledley".

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Troy Archibald-Henville is booked in the second half.

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David Hutton and Fraser-Allen are substituted by Takura Mtandari (14) and Dean Parrett (not in pic).

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Dean Parrett was asked to play right midfield. Made bright start and then struggled to get into the game. But the boy looks strong and has a few tricks.

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Bleach-blond Dean Ashton (centre) helps out his defence at a corner.

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Joe Martin (third left) skies a late chance over the bar.

So something like a sixth straight defeat on the trot for the stiffs. A far cry from their league-winning antics of two seasons ago. But then they featured Radek Cerny, Stephen Kelly, Jamie O'Hara, Calum Davenport, Johnnie Jackson, Dean Marney, Charlie Lee, Charlie Daniels, Andy Barcham and Lee Barnard to name but ten. Clive Alen is grappling manfully with the changes in his squad and choosing to give more experience to the youngsters. Hopefully in the case of Rose and Parrett it will pay off with first-team appearances in a season or two.
 

jackhealy

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2006
1,280
216
every time I read a reserve report Rose always seems to stand out. We should think about sending him out on loan if there are no chances in the first team. He should improve by playing first team football.
 

MidnightCaller

Life Long Spurs Supporter
Oct 22, 2006
378
6
How did 15 year old Dean Parrett do, and was that England international Dean Ashton playing, why is he not playing in the first team, he is a great player.
 
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