Northampton Town v Spurs – Match Reports

From sexy football to water sports. The fact that this game ever started was a bit of a miracle. The sweeping rain that lashed the car on the way up the M1 was very much in evidence when we arrived at the Sixfields leisure complex. It looked like Las Vegas with all the neon lights shining out of the darkness, but the actual fact of the matter was it was like having a football ground at Lakeside shopping centre. The small, but homely ground was not matched by the seats, which, even for somebody with short legs, were far too near the row in front. The reason why so many fans stood for the second half was that they wanted to go home with some feeling in their lower legs ! The match started with lots of splashing around, but little direct action to trouble the keepers. The home side took the lead on the half hour, when Nielsen played a back-pass to Baardsen, who almost picked it up, but remembered to kick the thing. Unfortunately, it went straight to Parrish who took the shot first time and put it back over Espen’s head into the net. Lots of Jurgen style diving went on to celebrate, but Tottenham’s new found determination saw them pull level just nine minutes later. A long Carr cross slipped out of Woodman’s grasp, Iversen’s on target effort was blocked and the ball stuck in the six yard box for Armstrong to shoot into the goal. It was a relief for him, as it looked like he needed a goal. The play was mainly around the Northampton goal with Anderton allegedly getting the ball over the bar from on the line following Armstrong’s knock-down, but little more to get excited about, except for whether the weather game would be completed.

The half-time entertainment consisted of three fans who had to try and place the ball from the centre spot into the boot of a car at the corner flag to win it or from the edge of the penalty area to win £500. Now, this would be nigh on impossible in the best of conditions, but tonight you were just waiting for one of them to end up on their backside. They let us down and all palpably failed to lose their footing, but also they failed to get anywhere near the car. The funniest part was one of the participants, who was a home fan, getting all riled up because the Tottenham supporters were giving him stick.

Luckily, Tottenham were more on target during the second half. They were quickly into their stride, with a low curling cross into the box by Armo being cleared off Iversen’s toe for a corner. From this, the ball slithered off a few bodies and fell to Sol, who hit a powerful shot that almost ripped the guts out of the defender on the line on the way in. A couple of half chances fell to the Cobblers, but with Ginola in the mood to run at the opposition, he was brought down in the box by Gibb. He stepped up to take the penalty himself, but hit a weak, low shot which the keeper got down to save with ease. This rallied the home side and they roared into tackles and put some pressure on the Tottenham back four, but Baardsen was not forced to make any saves – the closest shot going over the bar from Corazzin. From a Northampton corner, Tottenham broke down the left and Ginola beat a couple of men before laying the ball off for Nielsen to shoot. Iversen got in the way and the ball broke out to the wing. Anderton didn’t give it up and produced a neat lofted chip into the middle of the six yard area, where Chrissy headed his second goal of the game. This wrapped up the match. Or should have done. Northampton forced the pace of the game and their late pressure saw a shot half saved by Espen, then cleared off the line by Calderwood, but the ball came back in and a header hit the post, rolled across the line and was finally hacked away by Sol Campbell. That was virtually the last action of the match and Tottenham had secured a place in the Fourth round after overcoming a potentially treacherous pitch and difficult opponents here.

MEHSTG TOPMAN : – CHRIS ARMSTRONG

Frank Saul scored the only goal of the game to give Spurs victory.