Richmond Spurs: Match Report: CC THFC 2

Courtesy of Official Site-

Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone scored the second half goals that secured a
2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the third round of the Carling Cup at the Lane
on Wednesday night.
It was domination without reward in the first half and
the frustration continued into the second period until Bale broke the deadlock
with a speedy break and slick finish. A perhaps rare Huddlestone header
settled the encounter a few minutes later. There was an early flurry of acton as
a result of a Chris Riggott foul on Jermain Defoe around 20 yards out. Bale
struck the free-kick into the wall, but the full-back seized upon the rebound
and fizzed just wide via a slight deflection. From the corner Michael Dawson was
causing mayhem but lines were eventually cleared. At the other end Fabio
Rochemback thumped in an effort that bounced just in front of Paul Robinson and
the England No.1's reactions proved to be in fine working order. On eight
minutes Defoe cleverly put Jermaine Jenas in the clear but, after speeding onto
the invitation, the midfielder suffered a miscue in front of goal and the chance
went begging. Teemu Tainio then extended a similar invitation to Defoe after a
barnstorming run from midfield and this time it was the quickly advanced Brad
Jones in the Boro goal denying an opener with a brave block. A deep free-kick
from Tom Huddlestone was then flicked just wide of the upright by the head of
Dawson. A thrilling run from Bale that left his marker trailing in his wake
enlivened proceedings again in the 19th minute, only for his charge to be
knocked off course just as he was entering shooting mode. The flow and tempo of
of the encounter was being completely dominated by the team in all white and the
lead was nearly taken again when a Bale free-kick landed between Dawson and
Jones, with the goalkeeper doing just enough on this occasion. Tainio really
should have scored just before the half hour mark when a perfectly measured
cross from Defoe stood up awaiting execution, but was headed rather tamely into
the hands of Jones. That miss aside, Tainio was probably one of the most
effective players on the pitch in the first half, demonstrating his usual snap
in the tackle along with some imaginative distribution. Another effort on goal
from the Finn, that was charged down, led to the ball falling kindly for Defoe
to nod over Jones in front of goal and it was only the cross bar that prevented
him from adding to the two he opened his account with against Famagusta last
week. It could have gone against us at the other end when Riggott took advantage
of some confusion following a free-kick just before half-time, with the central
defender thankfully hooking over the bar. How the score remained level at the
break was something of a mystery. The start of the second was lively without
quite the rate of chances we witnessed in the first. A Bale free-kick caused
some alarm when Jones spilt it and Defoe nearly played predator then there
really should have been a penalty on the hour when David Wheater chopped down
Aaron Lennon inside the area. Referee Mr Stroud saw differently. A Pascal
Chimbonda cross next found Defoe at the back post and the little hitman thrust
his head forward and connected with the ball and forced a flying and very good
save out of Jones. Martin made a double change after 69 minutes, with Defoe and
Jenas making way for Robbie Keane and Didier Zokora The change worked a treat
and on 71 minutes superb vision from Keane set Bale scampering away down the
left channel, the 18-year-old proceeding to round Jones and slot home from a
tight angle for his third goal in our colours. Three minutes later it was two
when Lennon left Rochemback in his wake chasing down Paul Robinson's
pinpoint clearance before weighting a superb cross that was met and headed
beyond Jones by Tom Huddlestone. It was essentially job done, mission
accomplished from that point and we can now look forward to the draw for round
four on Saturday.