My first taste of an LDV Trophy game after decided the cinema was a better option during the last two years. Despite the competition being laughed at by many it is a chance to actually win something and looking at the teams in it we really have a good chance of winning this.

Of course the worry before the game was about picking up more injuries and suspensions but Ian Holloway is a clever manager and was never going to risk all of the players needed for the busy run of games in the next few weeks.

The LDV usually means a small crowd so it was just the South Africa Road Stand and the Paddocks open for this one yet despite a crowd of 3,500 it was still a nightmare getting into the ground. The queue was back to the box office for the South Africa Road Ticket booth and when we finally got into the ground I just managed to get a beer before for some bizarre reason the food kiosk was closed with plenty of people still waiting to get in. The club has under estimated the crowd again and many people ended up missing the first 10 minutes of the game.

It was an interesting atmosphere inside the stadium as it was more like a pre season or a reserve game with QPR fans chatting among themselves for most of the game.

Me and Carly took our seats in Block B of South Africa Road, which is near the school end of the stadium. The view was ok but pillars blocked the corner towards the Loft, which must be a bit annoying for those who pay over £20 for these seats every week.

As the teams came out we got a first look at the line up which had six changes to the team that beat Grimsby. Nick Culkin made his first start of the season in goal whilst Arthur Gnohere replaced Palmer at the back. Clarke Carlisle was expected to play but was ruled out after a bout of flu at the weekend.

Warren Barton started at right back with Eric Sabin getting a full home debut on the right wing. Marc Bircham was captain for the night and one of the more experience players on the pitch. Youngsters Dennis Oli and Richard Pacquette also got a first start of the season up front.

The bench was full of experience though so if things went wrong we had Ainsworth, Furlong, Thorpe, Gallen and Palmer to come on and sort things out. Rangers started brightly in an almost silent atmosphere around the ground as fans still tried to get into the ground. Eric Sabin was showing good pace down the right wing and was causing problems but when he did beat his man he didn’t seem to know what to do with it and chances were wasted.

Dennis Oli had our first shot of the game. He showed good pace and skill to get away from his man in the box and fired a shot just wide of the far post with the keeper beaten.

We were well in control and a few free kicks brought some shaky defending from Kidderminster but we failed to capitalise. Richard Pacquette was next to go close firing a shot just over the bar before Rowlands miss hit shot went wide.

It was a decent display by Rangers but we were still very much in first gear and had a few scares at the back. Barton was not looking at his best and a under hit back pass put Culkin in trouble but the Kidderminster forward panicked and Forbes came across to win the ball with a sliding tackle and clear the danger.

Barton was looking very dodgy defensively which is a worry against opposition who rarely threatened. He was comfortable on the ball though and supported Sabin well in the other half and showed a few moments of quality with some neat passing.

The game needed a goal and another Pacquette volley was well blocked to keep the scored level. The referee then decided to get involved and booked two players. Pacquette went in the book for pushing when a free kick was punishment enough.

Sabin was next in for a miss timed tackle which was a foul but the yellow card was ridiculous especially as it was the linesmen not the ref who spotted the foul and the ref never bothered to ask his linesmen how bad the tackle was. Sabin didn’t help his case though by running away from the ref, which probably annoyed him enough to get the card out.

A goal finally game after 35 minutes and it was QPR’s first ever in the LDV. Rowlands did well coming into the middle and played a great defence splitting pass to Sabin. For once the linesmen flag stayed down and Sabin easily beast his full back for pace and played a lovely pass into Pacquette who shot first time into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. Pig Bag was played around the stadium but the atmosphere was so quiet very few fans even got excited about the 1-0 lead.

We almost extended the lead before the break. Dennis Oli volleyed just over from outside the box after a clash of heads between Pacquette and the Kidderminster defender.

As the half time whistle blew it was time to fight to get to the toilet and the bar in very cramped conditions. I just about managed it but don’t think I could sit in this stand every week. If the lack of legroom and restricted view wasn’t enough it was a nightmare trying to fight through the crowds to get a drink during the break.

No changes at half time by Holloway as we attacked the empty loft and hoped for a few more goals. They never came though as both sides played a not very fun game of “I’ll hoof to you and we’ll hoof back”. It was not great to watch and the standard of football was very poor indeed. Kidderminster never really threatened though and the lead looked pretty safe throughout the half.

With most of us falling asleep during a very uneventful half two changes were made. Gallen and Thorpe replaced Pacquette and Oli and the game quickly came to life. Both players linked well and looked very sharp. Twice Thorpe put through Gallen but had his efforts saved by the keeper.

Rowlands was also now well involved linking well with Gallen and the usual skill by Gallen of holding it up and spreading the play also saw Sabin come back into the game.

Steve Palmer was next on replacing Marc Bircham as both teams seemed to settle for what they had. But then as most of the crowd began to contemplate leaving we got a second goal.

Sabin did well on the right to win the corner and Gino Padula ran over to the corner where he can usually expect a rousing ovation but today he just had a steward looking at him whilst he picked his nose.

Padula swung the corner in and Gnohere was totally unmarked to head past the keeper and make the game safe. The game was safe now although in truth we hadn’t really looked in any danger before then.

Rowlands and Gallen had chances to extend the lead further but when the final whistle went it was a good job done and a place in the second round of the LDV for the first time in our history.

A few positives to take out of the game. Fringe players like Sabin and Paquette did their first team chances no harm at all with good performance and we didn’t pick up any injuries ahead of a busy schedule of games.

So Rangers are now five wins away from going to Cardiff again for our first LDV Final. Whilst the early rounds are about as popular as Alpay at the moment if we can use the fringe players and continue winning then a day out in Cardiff will be most welcome for QPR fans.

Man of the Match: Richard Pacquette

Players Ratings

13. Nick Culkin: Didn't have a save to make and started throwing the ball rather than kicking it in the second half which was good to see. 7/10

20. Warren Barton: Very shaky at the back but passed the ball well. On this evidence he'll struggle to get in the first team. 6/10

3. Gino Padula: Another solid display despite playing well within himself. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Defended well although I do worry about the way he lets the ball bounce a few times before attacking it. Still made a few very timely tackles though. 7/10

24. Arthur Gnohere: His first goal for the club and a solid display at the back using the ball well and defending well. 7/10

12. Eric Sabin: Very impressive pace but not a lot of else to be honest. Looks like he may cause problems as a sub but nothing more. 7/10

17. Marcus Bean: Chased and won the ball in midfield but a pretty quiet game from Bean. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: Made captain for the night and he looked eager to impress. Worked very hard but his passing sometimes let him down. 7/10

14. Martin Rowlands: His quietest game yet for Rangers but he was playing within himself and still showed a few glimpses of what a good player he is. 7/10

15. Richard Pacquette: held the ball up well and had a shot at every opportunity. Faded after the break but good to see him get off the mark for the season. 7/10

18. Dennis Oli: His pace caused several problems and he was unlucky not to score his first ever goal for us. 7/10

Subs

9. Tony Thorpe: Linked well with Gallen as he turned provider on several occasions. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Had three efforts on goal in a short period of time and looked very sharp and confident. 7/10

4. Not on for long but ran around a lot. 7/10