TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
1 - 4 (Horlock)
18 October 1990

Banks

Padington

Horlock

Gale (Comerford 46, Reed 65)

Marquis

Kelly

Rush

Livett

Hancock

Macari

Clarke

Table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur had won seven of their opening eight matches prior to the match at Upton Park. The Hammers' attempts to prevent them improving upon that record were not made easier by conceding a goal in the second minute, and from thence onwards the portents were most favourable for the North Londoners.
The only player with any length of First Team experience in our line-up was Tony Gale, continuing his return to 100 per cent Illness by participating in the opening half. The visitors included such as Brian Statham, Terry Fenwick and John Moncur, emphasing the present gap between our senior squad and the young professionals and trainees who usually comprise our XI in Combination fixtures.
Nevertheless, overall it turned out lo be an entertaining evening's soccer; fine weather and a larger-than-average attendance, plus the presence of several club officials on 'scouting missions' created a good atmosphere, with added spice coming from five goals that might have been considerably more in number.
That second-minute goal came after a corner, Phillip Gray's header diverting past Steven Banks into the bottom left-hand corner. Another Spurs' corner four minutes later was directed to the far post, but Paul Moran scooped the ball over the bar from two yards out; the same player broke clear in the tenth minute, but Banks advanced to cut down the angle and the shot went wide.
Hammers replied with a couple of good moves. Simon Clarke eluded four defenders, but his final shot went two yards outside an upright; and the visiting rearguard was in a rare tangle when Bobby Mimms could only parry away Paul Kelly's drive.
It was rather against the run of play when Spurs scored again in the 34th minute. A through pass was gathered by Moncur, but despite some mild appeals for hand-ball from the home fans play was allowed to continue and the shot from 12 yards made it two-nil.
Tony Comerford made his third Combination appearance when subbing for Gale, but was quickly incapacitated by a blow on the thigh; so he went off after 20 minutes to be replaced by Peter Reed.
Tottenham's third goal was a peach. A long crossfield pass was connected by Gray on the volley, and the striker completed his hat-trick with a perfectly timed header a quarter-hour from the end. Although four-nil in the lead Spurs were not relaxing their efforts, but nevertheless conceded one goal and were fortunate not to have their margin further reduced. Darren Hancock curled one past Mimms from the edge of the box, and in the concluding ten minutes Clarke's shot went directly at the 'keeper from ten yards. Pressure produced another corner, and from the clearance Matthew Rush's power drive rebounded from an upright.