MazFin-:-THFC-:-Last Match

MAZFIN---THFC SECTION---LAST MATCH

Tottenham (3) 4 Stockport County (0) 0

Ledley King led the way as the new Spurs generation took one more step towards continuing the club’s Cup legacy by crushing County. King’s flick header after five minutes, substitute Simon Davies’ first Spurs strike and Mike Flynn’s cringe-worthy own goal combined to render the second half redundant.

Davies’ second – an inspired drive from the edge of the box – simply confirmed the inevitable and ensured Spurs joined fellow Londoners West Ham in the sixth round in style.

After the airing of Spurs’ smalls in the High Court this week - through Sir Alan Sugar’s successful libel trial against the Daily Mail - this was exactly the sort of clean-cut display the club needed as it seeks to extend its run of winning silverware in years ending in one.

Stockport, struggling against first division relegation, have never won at the Lane, and but for Sheski Kuqui’s spurned first half header, they barely looked like changing history. Spurs, unbeaten this year, scored after just five minutes as King glanced Stephen Clemence’s free-kick from the right across Hatter keeper Lee Jones from seven yards.

The loss of Oyvind Leonhardsen, who limped off after a 15th minute Flynn challenge, failed to interrupt Spurs’ flow. Indeed, it was Leonhardsen’s substitute Davies, who doubled the lead on the half-hour as the young midfielder, picked out by Les Ferdinand, coolly finished after beating Shane Nicholson.

County were not without their chances, but Kuqi spurned a clear header from Nicholson’s corner and Jarkko Wiss did likewise from Flynn’s centre to suggest any threat to Spurs’ ascendancy would be fleeting.

The game was over before County self-destructed as the unfortunate Flynn stubbed the ball into his own net as Luke Young’s cross sought out Les Ferdinand. Spurs’ finishing simply got better in the second half.

Davies finished off a sublime move by latching onto Tim Sherwood’s ball over the top and driving home from the edge of the area.

Gary Doherty perhaps tried too much as he jinked past three defenders on a run from his own half, but he still managed to find Clemence who wastefully fired wide. The let-off was generous, but not enough to allow County what would have been a staggering comeback.

The visitors first appearance in the fifth round since 1949/50 will not be one they’ll want to remember.

Tottenham :Sullivan, Young, Doherty, Campbell, Freund, Sherwood, Leonhardsen (Davies 14), Clemence, King, Ferdinand (Thelwell 66), Rebrov (Korsten 87).

Stockport : Jones, Grayson, Nicholson, Flynn, Clark (Fradin 54), Cooper (Carrigan 81), Gibb (Connelly 61), Wiss, Clare, Kuqi, Wilbraham. Goals : Tottenham : King (5), Davies (30, 50), Flynn (44 og) Attendance : 36,040

WEST HAM UNITED 0-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Still no Away Win!

West Ham and Tottenham produced an entertaining encounter at Upton Park, but neither side could make a breakthrough as the game ended 0-0. Andy Booth, on his debut for Spurs, had the ball in the net on 20 minutes, but he was flagged for offside after powering a Darren Anderton cross past Shaka Hislop.

The Hammers also had a goal disallowed, with Frederic Kanoute having an effort chalked off for an infringement. Paolo di Canio, who was the hero in the weekend FA Cup victory over Manchester United, almost produced a goal on the stroke of half-time. He tormented Spurs` back-line before sending over an inviting cross that Frank Lampard thudded against the crossbar. In the second-half, Oyvind Leonhardsen nearly won the game for the visitors, but hia shot that beat Hislop was cleared off the line by a covering West Ham Finnish defender, Hannu Tihinen.

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