Bolton Wanderers U23 (6) – QPR U23 (1)

U23 Professional Development League

Team: Dieng, Campbell-Young, Barzey, Paul, Hamalainen, Arthur, Darbyshire, Akinola, Adams, Eze, Alfa

Subs: Springer-Downes, Voss, Klass, Bowler, Folkes

Perhaps the 1-6 score-line was slightly harsh, but nevertheless we were well and truly turned over by a group of Bolton U23 players, some of which held first team experience.

Tim Seny Dieng made a very good save on 6 minutes after the ball had been shot across the goal area.

Three minutes later, Alex Perry fired the ball into the net from the edge of the area to open the scoring.

Minutes later, Eberechi Eze’s free kick was held by Ben Alnwick and then a superb pass by Niko Hamalainen found Brandon Adams, who lobbed the keeper on the volley but missed the target.

Rangers’ next opportunity came when Eze curled his pass to Adams, whose shot just missed the far post.

After 27 minutes, Eze won a crunching tackle in the centre circle, then went on to shoot from the 18-yard line and Ben Alnwick palmed the ball round the post for a corner.

QPR were 0-2 down after 36 minutes and the writing was on the wall. Alex Samizadeh cut in from the left flank and fired his shot into the back of the net.

Just before the half-time whistle, Ody Alfa set up Brandon Adams whose shot was blocked by the Bolton keeper.

The Trotters were on top and clearly the better team, although Eze (excellent prospect) and Adams had had their chances.

The main problem was that the Rangers defence had a tendency to get caught in possession and that was how the first goal was conceded early on.

Overall the R’s back-four did not look solid enough and there was a lack of cutting edge upfront. Half-time: Bolton 2 – QPR 0.

No changes were made by either side after the break, but the R’s did make some minor formation changes with Brandon Barzey reverting to right-back, Chris Paul moving to the centre of defence and Channing Campbell-Young slotting into the midfield.

The first chance of the second-half came after 49 minutes when Eze laid on a through ball for Adams who shot was just off target. Nine minutes later, AJ Folkes came on for the injured Jeremy Arthur.

Around the hour mark, Danny Darbyshire flicked Eberechi Eze’s corner just wide of the far post.

On 65 minutes, a good interchange between Eze and Darbyshire then set-up Folkes whose shot was smothered by Ben Alnwick. A minute later, following a run through midfield, Alfa’s shot clipped the outside of the post.

Josh Bowler was introduced on 70 minutes at the expense of Danny Darbyshire.

Bolton were becoming increasingly dangerous again, especially down both flanks. More goals from the home side were certain to follow.

Then after 72 minutes, the home side won two 50/50 challenges and the ball broke to Samizadeh, who shot across Dieng into the far corner.

Rangers had a good chance to pull a goal back when Eze fed Adams and Alnwick saved his effort with his feet.

Bolton scored their fourth on 80 minutes, when following some tricky footwork, Alex Samizadeh curled his shot past the R’s custodian.

A minute later, Colin Lonsdale was shown a yellow card following a foul on Josh Bowler.

In the 83rd minute, Alfa set up Adams and his shot bounced off of the Bolton keeper back to Adams and then rebounded over the crossbar.

Rangers soon found themselves 0-5 down. Despite Dieng blocking the initial effort, the ball fell to an unmarked Alex Samizadeh, who was then able to knock the ball into an empty net.

The Trotters added a sixth in added time after Tanner had cut in from the right wing and his shot went in off the post.

There was still time for the R’s to get a consolation goal after Josh Bowler’s cross was tapped in by Ody Alfa.

The Bolton striker Alex Samizadeh was my man of the match, notching up four goals for himself.

It was quite a surreal situation watching a match in the 28,000-capacity Macron Stadium, with less than 200 spectators present! It was never that bad at the White City in May 1963!

Bernard Lambert (Kerrins) – with additional information from Gordon Macey