BAR HUMBUG FOR MARINE
Kengni so nearly gave brave minnows the dream start but hit the woodwork... then Jose’s pros got down to work
IT dipped but not quite enough, it had beaten Joe Hart but not the crossbar.
From 30-odd yards with just under 20 minutes gone, the game one-sided but the scoreline blank, Neil Kengni had spotted his route to 15 minutes of fame.
With his left boot, he struck it as sweetly as an absent Harry Kane could have hoped for – only to be denied by the goal frame.
At least Kengni will have that memory. Alas that was as good as it got for Marine. The ensuing hammering was all but inevitable.
You might not have predicted Carlos Vinicius running personal riot, but the outcome was in keeping with the 161 places separating these two teams in football’s pecking order.
At the end of such a wonderful journey, there were lovely compensations and consolations for the team from the eighth tier of the sport.
The nationwide exposure, the strongest of financial lifelines – boosted by well over £200,000 from virtual ticket sales – and the visit of managerial deity to the humble Marine Travel Arena.
In the annals of Marine FC history – and don’t forget, they include a defeat in the FA Amateur Cup early in the last century – this season will tower high on its own.
They will never forget this remarkable run.
But deep down, just a little, they would have dreamt.
Manager Neil Young and every one of his players would have dreamt.
Dreamt they could have kept Tottenham out beyond a 23rd minute when Vinicius walked in his first of the night after casually good work from Dele Alli.
Dreamt they could have gone in at half-time still in a contest, instead of Spurs being out of sight thanks to two further strikes from Vinicius and one from Lucas Moura.
The second by Vinicius was an o th e r formality from almost beneath the bar after a parried Matt Doh e r t y attempt, before Moura deceived an increasingly besieged Bayleigh Passant with a cute free-kick.
Passant’s frustration peaked when Vinicius lobbed him from inside the box with insulting ease.
The four-goal lead allowed Jose Mourinho to withdraw Toby Alderweireld and Mou s s a Sissoko at the interval.
Remaining neu t ra l , i n terest in proceedings was pretty much confined to the possibility of
Marine registering a goal. Despite their valiant efforts, it never really looked like happening.
For Spurs fans, the interest was generated by substitute Alfie Devine, the 16-year-old midfielder they took from the financial rubble of Wigan Athletic last year and who promptly became the London club’s youngest debutant and goalscorer when he cut inside and applied a tidy right-foot finish.
It was a moment to savour for a player only 163 days into his 17th year.
His smile said it all . Everyone in the game knows
Devine is some prospect. As is Gareth Bale.
Jose gave the boy Bale a 25- minute run out, which was encouraging for Spurs only in the fact the Welshman did not appear to get injured.
In fact, the closest Bale came to danger was when a dog in one of the back gardens barked threateningly at him as he warmed up.
It was one of those surreal evenings. Unusual, enjoyable, a great occasion for the purists who love football in the raw. But ultimately, entirely predictable.
At least Kengni will always have the one that hit the bar.