QPR made it three games unbeaten so
far in pre season with a 2-1 win over Kettering yesterday.
Once again the QPR rivals site is providing
the best coverage of pre season. Here is a match report from Rivals.
Click on the link to go to the rivals site and see some images
of yesterdays game.
http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/
Kettering 1 - 2 QPR
By Simon Skinner
Rangers travelled to deepest Northamptonshire
to take part in a testimonial game for R's fan and Kettering Town
stalwart Craig Norman. On another blazing day Rangers were looking
to improve on the rather lacklustre performances in the previous
two games and to some extent achieved their aim.
There were no trialists on show in the
starting eleven and apart from the odd tweak here and there we
can expect the majority of this side to kick off the season.
The start to the game though was a sluggish
one and Rangers found themselves behind in contentious circumstances.
A ball was lofted over the static Rangers defence and they all
appealed for offside.
This was not a bad shout as the forward
runner only looked to have strayed four yards past the last man.
The flag was not forthcoming though and the ball flashed into
the net via Day's left hand. The big keeper was clearly annoyed
at the goal and part of this was probably down to the fact that
having got there he probably should have kept it out.
The lead wasn't to last long as Gareth
Ainsworth came up with an absolute pearler. Cutting across the
field from left to right, he tracked the bouncing ball before
unleashing a searing volley that left the Kettering keeper clutching
thin air. It was a real gem and seemed to kick the whole team
up a gear as some of the passing started to come off.
Midway through the half Marc Bircham took
a blow to the knee and was replaced by Australian trialist Michael
Kathopoulis. With an uncanny look of the Gavin Peacock's about
him he immediately wanted the ball to feet and showed some neat
and tidy touches all though a lot of what he tried didn't quite
come off.
The second half saw the introduction of
Marvin Robinson and Scott Minto on trial. Minto immediately looked
at home at left back and did more than Tom Newey had managed in
either game. Robinson also looked much better than he did at Aylesbury
although I am not sure that he is what we need at the moment.
The second goal came courtesy of a lung
bursting run from Steve Palmer. The skipper had looked pretty
poor all day with the game passing him by all too often. All of
a sudden he latched onto a Kathopoulis through ball and bore down
on goal. He held off a challenge but went wide as he tried to
round the keeper. He still had the presence of mind to turn and
pick out Furlong who beat the keeper with a delicious chip.
The rest of the game was fairly end to
end. Dennis Oli on the right was causing all sorts of problems
and showing signs of developing into a fine player. He beat his
man time and again and whipped in a number of dangerous crosses.
Ainsworth was now operating on the left
and always looked a threat when he tried to cut in and shoot.
This was a much better performance, especially
in the second half, when some of the young player took a chance
to show what they could do.
For me Oli, Kathopoulis and Ainsworth
were the players that stood out. I hope both Minto and Kathopoulis
get another chance against Watford on Saturday as I think they
could both turn out to be useful acquisitions.