STOKE CITY RESERVES 0
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR RESERVES 1 (Mason 66)

City's second string slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the Weaver Stadium on Wednesday night in the final home game of the 2008/09 Premier Reserve League South season.

Ryan Mason's second half header was enough to secure all three points for Clive Allen's side who were forced to play the majority of the match with just ten men, after Jake Livermore was dismissed for violent conduct in the 10th minute.

Mark O'Connor named a young side ahead of the clash with the entire starting eleven being made up of Academy players, with only Nathaniel Wedderburn, who spent a spell on loan at Notts County this season, having any first team experience.

For the visitors Allen handed starts to Brazil international Gilberto, former Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Alnwick and England Under 21 star John Bostock, as they looked to secure a win which they were in desperate need of if they had any chance of snatching the league title from under the noses of current leaders Aston Villa.

The match could have got off to the perfect start for the visitors who went close on two occasions within the first 60 seconds. Firstly, the impressive Bostock burst down the left flank and whipped in a dangerous ball which evaded a packed penalty area, while moments later he went agonisingly close with a half volley from the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors continued to dictate the early stages and went even closer in the tenth minute through Gilberto, who crashed a 20-yard effort against the crossbar, before Wedderburn scrambled the ball away from danger.

Spurs were then dealt an early blow after Livermore was immediately shown a red card by the referee after a nasty challenge on Tom Urwin left him needing treatment from the physio. From the resulting free kick the Potters claimed their first effort on goal. A neat one two between Louis Moult and Warwick Alexander resulted in Moult firing an effort straight into the hands of Alnwick from 18-yards.

The action was soon back at the other end and Bostock again forced Tom Harrison into making a smart save after launching a long range effort at goal. An individual piece of brilliance from Ryan Mason very nearly put the visitors ahead midway through the half. However, his sublime chip narrowly dropped over the bar after Bostock played him through.

The City stopper again had to be alert to deny Simon Dawkins in the 37th minute after he neatly controlled, turned and shot goalwards from inside the penalty area. He then produced the save of the game moments before half time when he produced a superb one handed save to palm Mason's effort around the post, after he looked certain to give the visitors a one goal advantage.

The Potters came out of the break with a lot more intent and some neat build up play could have led to the opening goal of the game, but after racing clear of the defence Moult saw his low effort saved by the legs of Alnwick.

A goal did finally come in the 66th though, but unfortunately it was for Spurs. Some slick passing down the left released Bostock who fired in an inch perfect ball which Mason met with aplomb before it nestled in the back of the net.

One could, and really should, have been two just six minutes later. A long surging ball from deep inside the Tottenham half found its way through to Mason, who with just the keeper to beat fired against the bar for a second time, before it dropped into the hands of the thankful Harrison.

City pushed forward in search of an equaliser and went close when substitute Danny Stockhall volleyed inches over after Darren Brunt teed him up with an intelligent header. The visitors then went close to adding to the scoreline through Bostock, whose cross cum shot narrowly evaded the far post with Harrison looking beaten.

Harrison again performed heroics to keep City in the game late on when he somehow denied Bostock and Mason, while Moult and Brunt did their utmost to secure a point for an extremely spirited City side with late long range efforts.