Harlow Academy 9-3 Tottenham Hotspur
By Jay Jaffa at Paringdon Sports Club
JACK Leachman’s second hat-trick of the season helped Harlow Academy thrash Tottenham Hotspur 9-3 in blustery conditions on Wednesday.
The win means manager Steve Blaney’s side bounced back from a 2-0 home defeat last week in emphatic style.
However, for Blaney, the size of the win meant little, suggesting that “we learnt more last week when we lost 2-0 to Halstead”.
Harlow sported a number of changes to the first team including a start for striker Lewis Francis as Blaney adopted a 4-4-2 formation. Francis took the place of Billy Jones, who is again involved with Enfield Town.
Further changes saw usual captain Danny Pinnuck absent having been called to represent Essex, but better news saw midfielder Leachman return to the fold having missed the majority of the game against Halstead.
After an even first ten minutes, Harlow fell behind to Tottenham following a good move down the right flank. However, Harlow showed their resilience by scoring two quick goals through Leachman and Francis five minutes later to take the lead.
Despite a second goal for Tottenham, that would be as close to Harlow as they would get for the remaining 70 minutes as the home side took advantage of some woeful defending.
By half-time Harlow had a 6-2 lead with Leachman and left winger Ricky Ward on hat-tricks. Striker Jake Goddard scored the other goal.
Leachman was unfortunate not to have secured a first-half hat-trick as his dipping 30 yard volley hit the post.
Leachman almost broke the second-half deadlock but was denied by a superb sprawling save from the Tottenham goalkeeper, clawing a 20 yard drive out of the top corner.
Just minutes later Goddard weaved his way through the Tottenham defence to open a chance that he took clinically to make it 7-2.
Also on a hat-trick, Goddard should have taken home the match-ball. Frustratingly he shot wide when played through by a glorious pass from substitute Remi Richards – younger brother of Galatasaray and Turkey international Colin Kazim-Richards.
With ten minutes remaining Harlow grabbed another goal through right back Jake Everett who tapped in a rebound after Ward’s long range effort was parried by the Tottenham keeper.
Ward’s hat-trick failed to materialise but Leachman’s did as he flicked the ball over the Tottenham defence in the dying minutes and ran on to his own pass. As the keeper advanced, Leachman placed his shot inside the near post.
“I was disappointed not to keep a clean sheet,” said coach Blaney. “I would have preferred a 6-0 than a 9-3”
Harlow Academy face Cambridge United next week in the league’s youth cup competition at Paringdon Sports Club.
A round-up of all 12 goals:
0-1: a Tottenham central midfielder played his right winger in behind the Harlow defence and he crossed low for the number nine to tuck home.
1-1: battle for possession on the left saw Gino Miller win the ball for Matt Hook, who in turn played Leachman in and he coolly slotted in at the near post.
2-1: Harlow catch Tottenham defence trying to play the ball out of the defence and Jake Goddard squared for Lewis Francis to fire into the bottom left corner.
2-2: loss of possession in the left-back position meant Tottenham’s superior numbers could flood inside and take advantage of the space available. Low finish by number eight.
3-2: Tottenham goalkeeper sees his pass intercepted by Aghd “Ike” Ayesemuate and he rolled the ball to Jake Goddard to score with a first time shot.
4-2: Tottenham keeper plays the ball into his central midfielder who is tackled by Goddard. The Harlow striker found Leachman who saw his initial effort saved, but pounced on the rebound to get his second goal.
5-2: Jake Everett’s long throw from the right is headed home unopposed by left winger Ricky Ward.
6-2: Leachman played a long diagonal pass into the box where Ricky Ward found enough space to hit a first time half-volley low into the Tottenham goal.
HT
7-2: Jake Goddard shimmied through the Tottenham defence and finished low for his second of the game.
8-2: Ricky Ward’s long range strike was parried by the Tottenham keeper but Jake Everett was on hand to tap in the rebound.
9-2: Tottenham keeper’s clearance is controlled by Leachman in central midfield. He flicked the ball over the defence, ran onto his own pass and found the bottom corner for his hat-trick.
9-3: Consolation for Tottenham as a lob from distance found the net.
