The Neville Ovenden Football Combination
Team: Stejskal, Finlay, Herrera, Doyle, Witter (Bedrossian), Ready, Bailey, McEnroe, Thompson, Gallen, Meaker
Attendance: 600
On Tuesday 2nd February 1993, QPR Reserves took on Arsenal at Loftus Road. The following match report later appeared in the local press:
‘QPR Reserves scored a thrilling 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Loftus Road on Tuesday night – when midfielder Maurice Doyle scored a superb hat-trick.
The R’s found themselves 2-0 down at half-time when Doyle lobbed the Arsenal keeper and then Bailey scored a penalty.
Tony Witter was forced out of the action after a clash of heads in the second-half, and immediately Arsenal scored twice through Paul Shaw to make it 4-2.
But Rangers, fielding striker Kevin Gallen in his home reserve debut and Jan Stekskal in goal, never gave up.
Doyle rifled home a left-footer from 30 yards and then, with 30 seconds injury time gone, he latched onto a Garry Thompson knock-down and hooked in the equaliser – to the delight of the 600 crowd.’
Just two days later they lost 1-2 to Bristol City at Harrow Borough, Garry Thompson scored the R’s goal.
Midfielder Ara Bedrossian had moved to England following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and joined the R’s during the 1992/93 season.
He had made his reserve team debut the previous month against West Ham United. Ara didn’t make it into the 1st team and moved on to Fulham at the end of the season.
When his playing career ended, Ara was involved with Arsenal as a scout and he also ran their Soccer School in Cyprus for a while.
Steve Russell