QPR U23 (3) – Charlton Athletic U23 (6)

U23 Professional Development League

Team: Brzozowski, Williams-Lowe, Genovesi, Bettache, Fox, Omar, Tilt, Mesias, Platt, Bansal-McNulty, Shodipo.

Sub Not Used: Bowman

Faysal Bettache was appointed captain and Paul Hall made two changes to his starting line-up, including 18-year-old full-back, Kayden Williams-Lowe.

Not sure exactly who we were waiting for, but I overhead the ref comment that kick-off would be delayed. Not for long though, the match got underway about six minutes late.

The visitors got off to a flying start after two minutes when Igor Vetokele’s cross from the right was nodded in from close range by an unmarked Wassim Aouachria.

Worse was to follow just four minutes later when Vetokele slotted the ball in the net following some poor defending.

After around 15 minutes, Mickel Platt’s 25-yard shot was well saved by Henry Newcombe. The ball fell to Amrit Bansal-McNulty, but his effort was successfully grabbed by the Charlton keeper.

The Addicks added a third on 22 minutes when Aouachria was tripped by Caden Genovesi in the box just as he was about to shoot. Taylor Maloney stepped up and made no mistake with his spot kick.

The visitors almost scored a fourth after Marcin Brzozowski had given the ball away, but luckily the follow-up effort was put over the crossbar.

At the other end, despite Bansal-McNulty’s shot always going past the far post, Newcombe decided to dive anyway.

Then Genovesi smashed the ball from fully 20-yards, forcing the Charlton keeper into an excellent flying save. Amrit Bansal-McNulty’s effort then hit the post.

A deserved goal for the R’s eventually came after 38 minutes, when a good ball in found Aiden Mesias who ducked, sending his header past the Addicks custodian.

Mr Hughes booked a Charlton player in the closing stages and despite being three down early on, the R’s had looked a very different side for the final 15 minutes of the half. Half-time: 1-3.

Rangers pulled another goal back six minutes after the break. Olamide Shodipo’s lofted ball from the left-wing came back off the far post and Mickel Platt was well placed to finish.

However the pendulum quickly swung back the other way a minute later. The visitors should have scored a fourth, but their effort found the upright.

Defender Kenneth Yao scored Charlton’s fourth on 54 minutes. His low drive from just outside the box found the bottom corner.

Wassim Aouachria scored his second of the afternoon on the hour mark. With Marcin Brzozowski advancing, he chipped the ball in the net after outpacing an R’s defender.

Paul Hall introduced Shiloh Remy at the expense of Olamide Shodipo.

There was a big shout for a penalty when Bansal-McNulty was seemingly fouled in the box, but Mr Hughes wasn’t interested.

In spite it being a difficult afternoon for the R’s defence, I thought young full-back Kayden Williams-Lowe gained in confidence as the game progressed.

On 74 minutes, Ben Dempsey scrambled in a sixth goal for the visitors following a corner.

Mickel Platt had to helped off in the closing stages and Kraig Noel-McLeod replaced him. Earlier Ben Wells had also been brought on.

There was just time for Aiden Mesias to notch up a third goal, and his second, when he hooked the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Steve Russell