Tottenham Hotspurs 6 – 0 PSA
23-09-04
This was always going to be the ultimate test for the 2004 squad. Unfortunately for us the game had been scheduled for the day after Norwich City which made this fixture all the more difficult, it could not be arranged for any other day so you go for it or you don’t.
If you ask any of our lads if, even after the 6-0 score line what would they have rather done play or cancel every one of them would say they where glad they played. Due to injuries Jeff Haydon enlisted the services of a young Essex lad Rob who we where most grateful to for filling in at such short notice.
Starting Line-up;
JAKE
BEN
TAYLOR DANEIL JOHNNY
CLAYTON JAMIE MATT TOBIN
KRIS
AARON
Bench; Greg (inj) Zac (inj) Glen, Rob
The pitch once again was top quality and Spurs made the lads feel very welcome. This Spurs team is in the top 6 for there age in the UK and to play them back to back with Norwich was going to be tough on the boys. I did everything I could to explain how difficult this match would be having played against a top academy side the night before, but with young lads of 14 years of age, they where only going to take in so much of what I was saying, they needed to get out there and see for themselves.
I kept more or less the same formation as the night before with the exception of Kris playing just behind the front man 4-4-1-1 with Aaron as the lone striker. As always players would interchange positions and in the second half we would play with 2 up front.
Spurs got off to a flying start with their left winger and attacking central midfielder giving us so many problems. 8 minutes gone and for the first time on the tour we are a goal down. The fluency and pace of the Spurs side was outstanding and within 5 more minutes another attack down the left-hand side netted Spurs their second. No matter what we did Spurs had an answer to it and we found entries into the Spurs final third few and far between. At the half time whistle we found ourselves down 5-0.
There where 2 major factors to consider here 1, the lads are on the other side of the world having played a very demanding match the night before against a Premier League Academy team and 2, This Spurs team where simply outstanding. All I could say to the lads at half time was try and be a little more composed when we get the ball and try to play higher up the field. Spurs where not going to take there foot of the gas so we where going to have to try and fight back. The second half was going to be played for Pride and Passion if little else.
Sure enough Spurs came out for the second half just as they had started the first, strong on the ball and even stronger in the tackle, our lads have never experienced a team as physical as this before, I don’t mean dirty Spurs where just so much more determined and physically stronger than us and credit to our lads they got stronger and more determined as the game went on. Jake pulled of some fine save which kept our pride intact and Taylor’s tackling was outstanding from start to finish. The closest we came to scoring was from a break down the right side from Clayton who managed to get half a yard on his marker, dribble towards the Spurs goal and smash a fantastic drive just over the Spurs cross bar from 30 yards out.
In the end Spurs did manage to get one more goal. I couldn’t have asked for more out of our lads they never gave up and got back into the game more in the second half. The way Spurs played was like watching Brazil in miniature, that’s how fluent they where, interchanging positions in attack and so well organized and balanced in defence, sheer class. Every PSA player gave everything they had and they should be very proud of themselves. I don’t think any of the lads will ever forget this game and if they are smart enough will have learnt so much from playing against Spurs.
On the bus heading back to the hotel the lads showed that no mater what the score was they where not about to let it get them down, yet again the singing went on for about an hour which started with “six nil to the Tottenham boys, six nil to the Tottenham boys” The lads where now beginning to fully understand what these tours are all about. They gave there best, but on the day they where out classed, where they upset? Sure they where, where they going to let it spoil there day? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!
Man of the Match …Taylor
Muzza.