There seemed little danger when Coombes received possession 30 yards from goal, but seconds later he was sprinting away in celebration after his piledriver flew into the roof of the Ahli net.
Spurs ended the half in the ascendancy and Van der Vaart was again inches away from giving them the lead when he met Bale's cross but his header flew wide.
He tempted Oram to drive at one that seamed marginally away from the left-hander, coaxing an edge that flew straight to Andrew Strauss at first slip for his first wicket of the match.