Last week the U18’s defeated Brentford 1-0 and Pat Harrison put the following report up on the message board:
Team: Bulmer, Harriman, Sanderson, Doughty, Bailey, Olley, Bewick, Perring, Cox, Molloy, Sterling
The Subs included: Christian Nanetti and Frankie Sutherland who came on for Sam Bewick in the second half.
It was a bright and sunny day at Harlington for this Youth Alliance Cup match. The match was pretty tight with few chances for either side. Rangers dominated but it remained goal-less at half time. The visitors started off the better side after the interval but the balance was tipped after a great run down the left wing by Elliott Cox. He then pushed the ball to the bye-line and managed to put over an excellent cross for Raheem Sterling to volley home a cracking goal from just inside the penalty area. Martin Allen and David Pleat were also in attendance and Martin’s son Charlie had a good game in midfield for Brentford.
Some other recent news, Raheem Sterling made his well documented debut for the England U16’s against Northern Ireland earlier this month and what a debut it was. He came on after the interval and was outstanding. Also, we were drawn at home against either Southampton or Hereford United in the FA Youth Cup. We have had our fair share of home ties in recent years and hopefully we can put together a good Cup run.
The weather forecast was heavy rain and gale force winds ! The match kicked off at 10.40am and I think they were trying to get it started even earlier
Team: Bulmer, Harriman, Waters, Ehmer, Bailey, Olley, Doughty, Cox, Perring, German, Sterling
Subs: Brittain, Morley, Nanetti, Sutherland, Molloy and Fernandez
A lovely ball out to Antonio German who then chested it down and lost possession after being quickly surrounded by three Peterborough defenders but managed to win the ball back again momentarily. Later, Sterling gathered the ball wide left, cut in beautifully with a drop of the shoulder and knocked it along the six yard box but German just couldn’t quite reach it. Rangers soon took the lead though when Michael Doughty, with his back to goal, swivelled round and thumped the ball from 25yards which hit the underside of the bar and over the line. He got his second a few minutes later when he bent (not wind assisted) the ball from a free kick straight over the keeper’s head.
Raheem Sterling got the better of his two markers when he skilfully got into the box but was then fouled and the referee without hesitation pointed to the spot. It had a sort of inevitability about it because as far as I could see no one appealed and none of the Peterborough players remonstrated. Doughty appeared to turn down the opportunity of completing his hat trick so up stepped Antonio German to place the ball low and to the keeper’s left. It was all QPR but at the other end Aaron Waters did well to block a potential goal threat. He then created the R’s fourth goal when he launched a wicked up and under cross from the left wing high into the air which the keeper managed to push on to the bar but Doughty was on hand to make a brave header to score his third and Rangers fourth. He looked as if he collided with the post as he was down for a while receiving treatment. Half time: 4-0.
With intermittent rain and the wind becoming to pick up even stronger, the R’s had further chances to increase their lead. German got into a one-on-one position but placed the ball wide. Doughty burst through into the box and the ball found German who’s side footed shot was saved by the keeper. Despite this, it was the visitors who scored next. A cross-field ball went between keeper and full back which allowed a simple tap in. The action then switched to the other end when Raheem Sterling burst into the box and his curling shot on the run went just wide of the post. Steve Gallen made his first change when Frankie Sutherland was introduced at the expense of hat-trick hero Michael Doughty. Peterborough surprisingly pulled another goal back following a corner. An almighty goalmouth scramble ensued before the ball somehow ended up in the back of the net. Sutherland scored a cracker when he skipped past a couple of defenders in the box and belted the ball into the net. Steve Gallen made a couple of late changes with Christian Nanetti replacing Raheem Sterling and soon after, Sam Bewick came on for ‘Reggie’ Perring.
The Saturday Morning Mob also included Alan Barnes, Rob Bennett, Roger Stokes plus Pat and Tom Harrison. Pat almost took off at one stage as the winds grew stronger but thankfully the heavy downpour managed to hold off until later in the afternoon. Well done to Steve Gallen and the team.
Steve Russell