Spurs reserves recover to earn draw with Blues

TOTTENHAM'S reserves recovered from a nightmare start to take a share of the points in a six-goal thriller with Birmingham City.

The match, played at Solihull Moors FC, saw the Blues make a flying start as Jake Jervis scored from close range after Martin Taylor had flicked on a tenth minute corner.

Spurs were under further pressure straight from the restart and had keeper David Button to thank as he saved a Daniel De Ridder effort.

But boss Clive Allen could only watch on as the same player delivered a precise set-piece for Garry O'Connor to direct home and double the home side's advantage just three minutes later.

And his side had to weather a further flurry of chances in the following five-minute spell before embarking on their remarkable turnaround.

Just after the half-hour mark, David Hutton evaded the attentions of his marker to put the finishing touches on some fine play from winger Kyle Fraser-Allen.

They nearly levelled just four minutes later as a neat interchange between Adel Taarabt and Mtandari created a shooting opportunity which tested City keeper Colin Doyle from six yards out.

But Spurs didn't have to wait much longer to tie the scores and it was Tomas Pekhart who bagged it, the forward turning in a Taraabt cross.

Spurs remained unchanged in the second half and took the lead on 52 minutes.

Fraser-Allen teased the Birmingham full-back before providing a pass for Taarabt to finish decisively from inside the area.

They could have doubled their lead moments later as Taarabt put Hutton through on goal, but the teenager scuffed his effort wide of the far post.

And they were made to pay for the miss when De Ridder broke away down the left and swung in a tempting cross which O'Connor turned in at the back post.

Spurs: Button, Gunter, Archibald-Henville, Martin, Hughton, Fraser-Allen, Mtandari, Kasim (Hutchins 77), D Hutton (Obika 77), Pekhart, Taarabt. Unused subs: Jansson, Olsen, Mason.