Match Report:

Stevenage Borough FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC

Friendly match

Friday 13th July - 7:45pm

Boro 1 - Spurs 8

Spurs were the visitors tonight as Boro kicked off a new season in an entertaining match which saw 9 goals in total, and although often outclassed, Boro played some good football bearing in mind training had started only a week before.

Boro started the match with a fairly strong squad, with all trialists / new signings amongst the starting 11. Paul Wilkerson was in goal, with a back four of Hamsher, Sturgess, Goodliffe and Trott, a midfield trio consisting of Andy Arnott, McMahon and Walters, and a three-man attack of DJ Campbell, Williams and Nazha. Spurs started with a 3-5-2 formation, with Neil Sullivan in goal, wingbacks Piercy and Etherington, centre backs Thelwell, Toner and Bunjevcevic, a midfield trio of Davies, Clemence and Gustavo Poyet, with Les Ferdinand and Steve Ferguson up front.

Both teams started well, but it was Spurs who not surprisingly got on the scoresheet first on 8 minutes, when debutant Gus Poyet scored from a free kick in off the post. The goal acted as a wakeup call for Boro and soon tackles were flying in all over the place, mainly from the workmanlike midfield trio, and especially from Steve Walters who looked really up for the game, and caused a short stoppage in play after a superb hard tackle on Matty Etherington which caused Poyet to react badly.

Boro equalised on 18 minutes when Thelwell brought down Williams inside the box, and the ref had not choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped John Hamsher who confidently steered the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, just past the outstretched hand of ‘keeper Sullivan.

Boro did have another great chance, and perhaps should have taken the lead when Williams chipped Sullivan only to see the ball crash against the crossbar and for the relieved Spurs ‘keeper to save Campbell’s rebound on the line.

Unfortunately for Boro, Spurs stepped up a gear and soon the floodgates seemed to open. Firstly Ferguson netted from close range past a helpless Wilkerson from a Clemence cross, and then Poyet scored a poachers goal to make it 3-1 by tapping in the rebound after Wilkerson had brilliantly saved Ferdinand’s effort on goal. The Uruguayan soon had a hatrick on his debut, as he volleyed a Ferdinand knock-down in off the post and Spurs hit five just before half time when Ferguson tucked away his second goal of the game after the ball had taken a deflection to him.

Spurs made 11 changes for the second half, coming out in a 4-4-2 formation with Kelly in goal, Tarricco, Perry, Hillier and Jackson at the back, Anderton, Freund, Sherwood and Consorti in midfield with Iversen partnering Kamanan up front. Boro made 7 changes for the second half, with young James Hasell in goal, a back four of Hamsher, Sturgess, Smith and Sodje, a midfield four of Arnott, Armstrong, Clarke and Morgan, with Hay and Nazha as the strike partnership.

There were no goals for nearly 30 minutes as both teams attempted to make chances for each other. Spurs could have scored twice through Consorti and Sherwood if it hadn’t have been for two outstanding saves from Hasell. Fresh from his loan period last season at Harlow Town, he will be staking a very strong claim for the number 1 shirt this season along with Wilkerson.

However, Hasell and Boro couldn’t hold out for too much longer and with 12 minutes left on the clock the biggest cheer of the night came as Iversen placed a superb ball for Steffen Freund to guide over the advancing ‘keeper and into the back of the net for his first ever goal for Spurs in two and a half years of being with the club.

Paul Fairclough answered this by bringing youngsters Duckett, Abbott and Bridge on for Sturgess, Arnott and Nazha, and although they were only on for a short time, they showed enough to prove their increasing good reputations.

Spurs obviously weren’t going to go easy on Boro, and soon the score was 8-1 as young Kamanan scored twice, firstly a first-time shot into the roof of the net from a Freund cross and secondly a tap-in after Iversen had forced a third superb save out of young Hasell.

Not long afterwards the final whistle was blown, and although Boro were eventually convincingly defeated, there were plenty of good performances from Boro players and Paul Fairclough will have been left with a lot of good things to reflect on.

Final Score

Boro 1             -            (Hamsher pen)

Spurs 8            -            Poyet (3), Ferguson (2), Freund and Kamanan (2).

Attendance: 5914

Ratings:

Wilkerson – 7 – made some good saves, but was helpless with some of the goals. Still tended to swipe at a few balls instead of attempt to catch them.

Hamsher – 7 – Played well as normal, but mix-up with Goodliffe allowed Spurs’s second goal.

Sturgess – 7 – Made a good Boro debut, making several good tackles and good passes.

Goodliffe – 6 – Again, another debutant who had an average game. Should be great in the future though.

Trott – 7 – Had a fair game. Good to see him playing in his rightful position at centre-back.

Arnott – 7 – Made a good debut, with several great tackles making up for a few misplaced passes. Possibly filling Matt Fisher’s place only while the former Kettering player is “otherwise engaged”.

McMahon – 7 – Started off this season where he left off last season. Good vision and great passing.

Walters – 8 – Possibly the best outfield player for Boro tonight. Superb tackles, some delightful passing and looks really fired up for the coming season.

Campbell – 8 – Another player who had an eye-catching debut, making a nuisance of himself with his blinding pace and good positioning. Could be bargain buy of the summer.

Williams – 7 – Played well, also making himself known to the Spurs defence with his pace and passing. Unlucky not to have scored.

Nazha – 7 – Showed some good skill and passing for the time he was on. Should be given more chance to show himself.

Hasell - 8 – made at least 3 superb saves in the 45 minutes he was on. Will be fighting furiously for the number 1 shirt this season.

Duckett – 7 – Only on for a short while but looked pretty comfortable in defence.

Smith – 7 – The usual really, showing some good tackling and passing.

Sodje – 7 – Will be a star for Boro this season. Made great hard tackles and his movement with the ball was delightful.

Abbott – 7 – Again, only on for a short time, but played well.

Armstrong – 6 – Didn’t think young Paul had a very good game. Didn’t seem his usual strong, pacy self, but his commitment was still there.

Clarke – 7 – Played really well in centre midfield showing some great passing.

Morgan – 6 – Didn’t get much of a chance to play his own game.

Hay – 7 – Held the ball up well, and linked up well with Nazha and other team mates around him.

Bridge – 7 – Only on for a short time, but impressed.

 Up the Boro!

Written by Turbo – stevenageborofc.cjb.net’s own die-hard Boro fan!

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