Town’s reserves fell to a 2-0 home defeat against a young Spurs side in a patchy game at Portman Road this evening. A goal right on half-time from Steve Ferguson put the away side ahead. Town had Richard Naylor and Gary Croft on display while the only notable player on display for Spurs was former England keeper Ian Walker.
A rather dull first half lacked clearcut chances with the best going to Spurs. Abidallah went close in the first couple of minutes after good work from Richard Logan. At the other end there was a major let-off for Town when Steve Ferguson was put one-on-one with Salmon. The Town did well and put the ball round the post for a corner.
There was another major let-of for Town when Yannick Kamanan headed against Mike Salmon from point blank range. Ferguson, who was proving a real handful for Town, had got away from Karic and sent in an excellent cross.
Town’s best chance of the half fell to Richard Naylor when he was set through on goal, but he failed to repeat his Wembley effort and Ian Walker saved. Abidallah hit a freekick from just outside the area which Walker fumbled out for a corner in the 26th minute, but nothing came of the kick. Richard Logan hit a wild shot well over ten minutes later.
With three minutes left before half-time the dangerous Kamanan hit a shot wide while at the other end Naylor hammered a shot against a defender. It seemed the half was going to remain goalless until in the final minute when Ferguson was put away beyond the Town defence with Karic nowhere and finished well.
At half-time Town swapped Richard Naylor for Heerenveen’s Belgian U21 player Ian Claes. He and team-mate Marc Van Eijk are spending time training with Town as part of an unofficial co-operation agreement the two clubs have.
On 47 Ferguson came close to putting Spurs 2-0 up when he hit a shot from the right-hand side of the box, but this time he was well wide.
Stephen Moffat came close to scoring for Town two minute later when he headed a corner goalwards but Walker was in the way and saved cleanly.
In the 53rd minute a slip from Gary Croft allowed Kamanan a run at goal. He hit his shot well, but couldn’t get the direction and the ball went wide.
The second half was proving better than the first and Karic almost got clear on goal, but a late flag from the linesman ended the chance.
Town came very close to scoring when Richard Logan and MarcVan Eijk combined well. Logan put in a cross and the Dutchman was inches from stabbing the ball home.
Nabil Abidallah came close a couple of minutes later when he broke through the Spurs defence but couldn’t get in a final decisive touch. This was partly to do with the defenders following whose challenges bordered on the illegal.
Town introduced the latest driving bad boy Sean Friars for Van Eijk. The Dutchman had had a quiet game the earlier move with Logan.
Ian Claes had an appeal for a penalty when a ball was played over the top to him and he claimed the ball hit the hand of a Spurs defender. Tow were by now putting on a bit of pressure and Amir Karic nearly got I a telling cross fro Logan after work from Abidallah and Friars.
With 12 minutes left referee Mr Deadman produced the first yellow card of the night to Neil Lacy for a foul on Abidallah.
In the 81st minute Ashley Nicholls hit a weak shot to Walker after a strong run down the left from Karic.
In the 73rd minute Richard Logan was teed up on the edge of the penalty are by Ashley Nicholls. Sadly for Town he scuffed his shot wide of Ian Walker’s post.
With one minute left Steve Ferguson broke free on the left, ran in on goal, hammered a shot past Salmon and wrapped the game up for Spurs.
Salmon, Croft, Karic, Nicholls, Miller, Moffat, Van Eijk (Friars 65), Bloomfield, Naylor (Claes 46), Logan, Abidallah.