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For the second friendly on the trot, Spurs
came up against a familiar face in the opposition goal, as this time 44
year old Dave Beasant filled the frame. Not only that, but
recently signed from Borehamwood, former Spurs trainee Charlie Mapes
played the first half for the home side.
It was mostly one way traffic save for a
few opportunities made by the Chairboys, but Spurs looked slick in their
passing and neat on the ball. There were a couple of dodgy moments
with an unfamiliar back three playing in front of Sullivan, but the team
are still building up in their friendlies rather than this being the
pinnacle of where they want to be right now.
The early part of the game was much the
same as at Stevenage, with Tottenham comfortably knocking the ball about
and moving well, but Sullivan had to be alert to fall to his left to
stop a Harris shot. It was a brief sortie at the Spurs end, as
Beasant was kept more than busy by Acimovic, Ricketts, Postiga and
Toda. It was one save from Postiga, that Beasant diverted for a
corner that lead to the first goal ... and a bizarre on it was too
!! Ziege fire the ball in at the near post and the Wycombe keeper
could only push at the ball, which hit the post and went into the net.
The lead only lasted a minute, as a
corner that travelled to the far post was hit back across the six-yard
box by Currie, where Harris was on hand to stick it into the net.
Almost straight away Holligan tested Sullivan, but his effort was
plucked out of the air by the Scot.
Beasant's best save was from a 25 yarder
from Ricketts that dipped nastily and then Redknapp hit a drive from a
similar distance over the top. Ricketts was getting forward well
from his wing back position and made the keeper dive at his feet to deny
him just after the half hour. A couple of minutes later, Ziege
left the action to be replaced by David Galbraith, although it looked
like it was designed to give the German a rest rather than because of
injury.
As half-time approached Postiga went
through, but his effort attempt was saved and then Acimovic hit the ball
way over the bar, when the target was begging to be hit.
After the restart, Wycombe forced a
pile-up in the Spurs goalmouth, with the ball staying out somehow, as
players thrashed at it, but normality was resumed, when Jamie stride
forward and dragged his effort wide of the mark. Redknapp also
made Beasant hop about with a shot from about 20 yards out, that bounced
just in front of the goalie. The captain was the architect of the
second Spurs goal in the 69th minute, when he laid the ball on a plate
to Postiga running in from the left side of the box. The
Portuguese youngster hit a screaming left footer into the roof of the
net from a very tight angle, leaving Beasant bemused. The same
player almost added another, but a combination of Beasant and Vinnicombe
kept him out this time.
With five minutes left, substitute Jamie
Slabber, on for Postiga, put in a low cross from the right wing and
Simon Davies tucked away the opportunity with a neat flick of his
foot. With injury time approaching, McSporran sprinted down the
wing and his inviting cross was finished clinically by Harding at the
back post.
The game was a bit more competitive than
Wednesday and I am sure that Hoddle is looking for a gradual increase in
difficulty as the pre-season programme continues. Both Ricketts
and Kelly were impressive, while Postiga showed he has an eye for goal
from wherever he is on the pitch !!
Tomorrow will probably see a different
side fielded as Hoddle gives maximum on-pitch time to the greatest
number of players.
MEHSTG TOP MAN : - JAMIE REDKNAPP |
WYCOMBE
WANDERERS (Away)