Barnet 3 Spurs XI 2

Tim Sherwood's Spurs XI left themselves too much to in the second half this afternoon after going in at the break 3 goals down. A spirited second half comeback with goals from Harry Kane and Jon Obika meant Spurs were able to come out of the game with some credit, although it has to be said that the first half defending left a lot to be desired.

Spurs went a goal down in the first minute when a needlessly conceded free-kick was struck high to David Button's right. The back line including the reasonably experienced Jake Livermore and Andros Townsend, looked like rabbits trapped in headlights at times as Barnet launched high ball after high ball down the slope and deep into the Spurs penalty area.

Around the 25th minute mark, Barnet scored 2 goals within a minute and whilst Spurs had enjoyed much of the possession, Jon Obika and Harry Kane were playig as if they had ever met each other before, never mind form a striking partnership. Both did come lose on one occasion each, but in the light of their vastly improved display in the second half, it is fair to assume they were given a half-time kick up their backside.

The second half saw the same team take the field but with a completely different attitude and performance. Kane was pulled down and got up and coolly scored from the penalty spot, this the 2nd penalty PL referee Mark Halsey had given (Barnet also scored from theirs) and it was game on.

Obika pulled another one back and for a while it looked as if Spurs were going to move onto a draw or even a win. But as the game opened up, Barnet also had their chances and a couple of decent saves from Button kept us in it until the end.

I was disappointed with our first half display, some good spells of possession, but not a lot else. In the second half, the front two looked decent, particuarly Harry Kane. Andros Townsend began getting forward more effectively and had a excellent spell and young Tom Carroll has come on after his spell at Leyton Orient last season and gave a very very impressive display throughout the afternoon.

A reasonable after out with a decent enough crowd of just under 1600. The only slight gripe was the poor attempt by the stadium announcer who when anouncing the raffle ticket prize of two tickets to see the Spurs v Bolton game in December, said it had been won by Luka Modric and then proceeded to wet himself at his "funny joke"

Finally, Sherwood kept the same players for the first hour of the game before introducing a player built like Frank Bruno into the back four who the stadium announced said was "Teddy". No idea who he was.