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Reserves Defeat Spurs
Reserves Defeat Spurs
Wednesday, 30th Mar 2005 21:52

Irish U18 star Owen Garvan scored the only goal as Town's reserves beat Spurs 1-0 at Portman Road. The midfielder netted with 11 minutes remaining of the first half but the Blues really ought to have scored more than the single goal.

Town should have gone in front inside the first minute, Pablo Couñago, the only senior player on show, playing in Billy Clarke but the young striker put the ball wide while the Spurs defence appealed for offside.

Chances were few and far between but the Blues were having the better of the possession. Clarke had a 25-yard shot saved by Radek Cerny, before Couñago laid the ball off to Dean McDonald who hit a well-struck shot from inside the area straight at the keeper.

The Blues went ahead in the 34th minute when Garvan produced a bit of magic. The Irish U17 international, who can't be far away from a full Town debut, turned inside the area and shot into the corner of the net.

Billy Clarke wasn't far from increasing Town's lead virtually straight from the second half kick-off. The striker tried his luck from 30 yards, forcing Cerny to tip over. The Irishman got his name in the book shortly afterwards for a late tackle on Kieran Moore.

Clarke was again at the centre of the action in the 56th minute, his 20-yard shot landing on the top of the net. The Irish U19 international, who had given the Spurs defence problems all night with his pace, was replaced with Danny Haynes in the 64th minute.

Garvan wasted a freekick from the edge of the box a minute later, before Mark Yeates picked a yellow card for a poor challenge on Town full-back Sammy Moore.

Keeper Shane Supple had had a quiet night, Spurs having hit a few speculative efforts and little more, but showed his potential in the 80th minute when he was out quickly to block from Mounir El Hamdaoui.

Impressive sub Danny Haynes wasn't far from a goal in the 82nd minute, cutting in from the right but having his close range effort smothered by the keeper. Garvan put the rebound well over.

Supple saved Johnnie Jackson's freekick with little trouble with five minutes remaining, before another Irishman, Cathal Lordan, took over from the reliable Liam Manning at the centre of midfield.

The Blues should have gone two-up in injury time, first Pablo Couñago, who had been largely quiet, burst into the box and beat the keeper only for a defender to block on the line, the rebound getting caught under the Spaniard's feet. Just before the whistle Dean McDonald shot narrowly wide of the post from the left of the area.

Another good display from a reserve 16 which included 12 members of the U18 squad which faces Tottenham in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup semi-final at Portman Road on April 8th.

However, the victory gives no indication of how that match might go, Spurs fielding none of the players which beat Watford in their Youth Cup quarter-final.

Scorer Garvan was once again impressive but throughout the side there were decent performances and the scoreline flattered the visitors. There were few dodgy moments for the defence with Gerard Nash in particular looking solid and composed on the ball.

Winger Dean McDonald once more showed his tricks and pace on the flanks but was guilty of failing to deliver a decent cross on a few occasions, while Billy Clarke and sub Danny Haynes also showed Tottenham defenders a clean pair of heels on a number of occasions.

Reserves: Supple, Moore, Krause, Craig, Collins, Nash, McDonald, Manning (Lordan 86), Couñago, Clarke (Haynes 64), Garvan. Unused: Trotter, Casement, Hammond.


Photo: Action Images



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