Spurs U18 win Away.

Charlton U-18s v Spurs U-18s, 11.09.10

CHARLTON 0 v 3 SPURS

Scorers:-
Dombaxe 14
Pritchard 57, 64
Waller-Lassen 67




It was a warm morning with just a touch of rain for the trip to South London to play group A side Charlton Athletic. Spurs fielded almost the same side as last week which indicates that there is another XI friendly next week. This time the opposition had a mix of first and second year scholars which would make it a more even contest.
Spurs lined up with Miles in goal behind Francis-Angol and Yeboah with Stewart at right back and Day on the left. Tapping and Munns started in the centre of midfield with Waller-Lassen on the right and Pritchard on the left with Dombaxe in support of Coulthirst up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the north end. In a fairly even contest the home side had the first chance when Pigott drew a save from Miles and Waller-Lassen opened for Spurs with an effort that went wide. Spurs went in front when Pritchard was quick to rob Morris when Gough rolled out the ball and got down the left before squaring for the incoming Dombaxe to finish.

The home side responded well driven on by Jordan and Warren in the centre to put pressure on the inexperienced Spurs defence. Harriott had a fierce drive saved and Pigott headed wide from Jordan's centre. Harriott had another effort diverted wide for a corner which was taken short to allow Warren a strike that was wide of the near post. After Harriott fired wide Spurs won a free kick for a foul on Waller-Lassen just outside the area. Pritchard took the ball from his captain and hit the free kick over the wall dipping onto the crossbar. Azeez fired wide as did Pigott before Waller-Lassen picked up a pass from Dombaxe a forced a save from Gough. Azeez got down the right and almost equalised until Miles saved with his left foot for a corner.

Charlton made one change for the second half replacing the tall striker with a pacy one moving the tall Azeev up front. Azeev was not as effective as Pigott and caught Tapping late when a through pass was cut out. Spurs were beginning to string passes together and a flowing move saw Munns' shot saved by Gough. Harriott fired wide and then Yeboah gave the ball away to Warren who shot wide. Stewart got forward to win a corner which was followed by another one from a Dombaxe effort.

Charlton were then hit by three goals in a ten minute spell which effectively ended the game as a contest. The first came when they conceded a free kick in the D. Pritchard took the kick and using less power chipped the ball over the wall and into the net. The home side pushed players forward and after a melee of blocked shots the ball was cleared upfield where there was one defender to two attackers. Coulthirst headed the ball into the path of Pritchard who only had the keeper to beat. As Gough came out he fired over him into the net.

Inglethorpe made two changes before the restart with Francis-Angol replaced by Ekong and Champion replacing Pritchard. Both changes had been expected as the players were returning from injuries. Azeez fired over before Waller-Lassen latched on to a defence splitting pass to score with a low drive for the fourth. That goal knocked the stuffing out of Charlton and it was fairly easy for from then on with the Spurs defenders now more comfortable on the ball. Goldberg did produce a lovely powerful shot on the turn that produced a quality save from Miles to match. Angol came on for Coulthirst as Spurs closed out the game in the last fifteen minutes.

This was a good performance from our inexperienced side with them beginning to show signs of gelling. They are beginning to pass the ball better and move off the ball. Despite the scoreline it was for most of the game quite close with a single goal in it. With the second goal Charlton pushed forward leaving space at the back, for which they were punished. They also failed to use the height advantage they had at deadball situations against our rookie defenders. In the end we had the luxury of taking off Pritchard and Francis-Angol who were not match fit and replacing them with novices who had a chance to ease themselves into a winning side.

Next week the Academy entertain Chelsea at Spurs Lodge. They have had a mixed start to the season as well so it will be an interesting game.