QPR U18 (4) – Barnsley U18 (3)

U18 Professional Development League 2

Team: Cooper, Jude-Boyd, Mongwele, Kalathias, Mahorn, Fahmy, De Silva, Trevitt, Kargbo, Conte, Mema

Subs Not Used: Little, Anthony

The match was scheduled for 12 o’clock, but when the Barnsley team coach pulled up at 11.40, it was obvious that it would be a late kick-off.

The starting line-up included two trialists and five substitutes were seated on the bench.

On a bright and breezy afternoon the game eventually got underway just after one o’clock.

The visitors were awarded a penalty, just minutes into the game. The spot-kick was dispatched straight down the middle to give the Tykes an early lead.

Barnsley notched up another goal within ten minutes after the ball had been given away. Murphy Cooper stopped the initial effort with his legs, but could do nothing about the follow-up.

Just when you thought that the R’s were set for a heavy defeat, this early setback actually kick-started their response.

Hamzad Kargbo, with good control, went on a lovely run down the left, then cut in and his shot forced Archie Brown to dive and palm the ball away.

Then, despite being clipped, he kept going and went on a great run through the middle, but his cross/shot went wide.

Rangers were denied a blatant penalty on 29 minutes. The offence was clearly inside the box, but Mr Langdon awarded a free kick! He then booked the Barnsley keeper.

Dillon De Silva shot just wide of the far post, but he did find the back of the net on 34 minutes. His low shot found its way through a crowded penalty area.

Hamzad Kargbo was shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge, and after some neat control, Armelindo Mema went close to an equaliser when he swung his effort just over the crossbar.

Then Raheem Conte’s corner just evaded the efforts of two of his team mates lurking in the box. Half-time: 1-2. Rangers had finished the first-half strongly after such a disappointing start.

Two minutes after the interval, Hamzad Kargbo shot from a widish position on the edge of the penalty area and the ball took a slight deflection before hitting the roof of the net.

Arkell Jude-Boyd went on a great run from his own half, which ended after his shirt was tugged. The culprit was duly booked.

Kargbo was fortunate not to receive a second yellow after kicking the ball away, but Mr Langdon did have a strong word with him.

QPR took a deserved lead around the hour mark following some good play down the right flank, which then set up Hamzad Kargbo. He duly picked his spot after a slight drag-back to make it 3-2.

Paul Furlong made three changes after 65 minutes when he introduced; Mason McLean, Bunmi Babajide and Alexander Aoraha at the expense of James Fahmy, Stathis Kalathias plus Ryan Trevitt.

Arkell Jude-Boyd curled his effort just wide of the upright and I must say that he was having a very good game.

After around 70 minutes and despite the R’s having the best of it, the visitors equalised when a defensive error handed it to them on a plate. The scorer just had the simple task of slotting the ball in the net, wide of a hopeful defender.

However, Armelindo Mema grabbed a dramatic winner five minutes or so from the end when he directed his shot, low into the corner of the net.

Well done to Paul Furlong and his team.

Next up is a trip to Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Steve Russell