Team: McLean, Curr, Searle, Grieve, Gunn, Lewin, Blodgett, Hennessy, Wardlaw, Akerman, Hall
Subs: Leys, Nygaard-Parsons, Jordinson, Petit, Moore
After meeting up with Sammy outside Park Royal Station, we set off in good time for the Premier Plus Stadium, the home of St. Neots Town FC.
I have to say that I was disappointed that there was no match programme/team sheet available as was also the case with refreshments and snacks, although there was a Tesco Express a short walk from the ground.
The main stand houses 260 tip-up seats, whilst behind each goal the standing areas are sufficiently covered.
The pitch looked as flat and green as a billiard table, complimented by the fact that it has underground irrigation and a sprinkler watering system.
The QPR players lined up in their away colours which consisted of red shirts, blue shorts and blue & white socks.
It was the U’s who fashioned the first goalscoring attempt of the afternoon when Francesca Partridge somehow put the ball over the crossbar from close range.
And at the other end, a great ball from the right found Mel Hall in the box, but her shot was comfortably held by Lauren Webb.
The home side took the lead in the 16th minute following a corner. Katie McLean had initially made a superb close range save but Sammy Edgar was well-placed to finish.
The U’s really should have doubled their lead after an attempted clearance fell to a United player, but with an open goal gaping, she shot over the bar.
For the R’s, Laura Hennessy fired the ball just wide of the target. Half-time: 0-1.
Early into the second-half and a United effort from a corner was well-defended by Chloe Gunn.
As QPR looked for an equaliser, Ellen Wardlaw’s angled shot finished wide of the target.
Brogan Moore came on for Ellie Searle and Mel Hall moved to wing-back. A minute or so later Steve Quashie introduced Kasha Petit at the expense of Katie Akerman.
The next change soon followed which saw Emilia Nygaard-Parsons replacing Ellen Wardlaw.
Katie McLean, diving to her left, made an outstanding save to deny the home side and she comfortably held the ball from the resulting corner.
The two final substitutions were made as Alice Curr and Vicky Grieve made way for Lauren Jordinson and Nichole Leys respectively.
Rangers got the goal they deserved with around 15 minutes remaining. Brogan Moore’s cross was flicked on by Kasha Petit and Emilia Nygaard-Parsons did the rest.
The R’s then went very close to taking the lead when, following a good run, the ball was chipped just over the crossbar.
The U’s also had a good opportunity to take the lead in the closing stages when their No.6 belted the ball across the face of the goal but it ended up just wide of the far post.
It finished all-square at the final whistle. Steve Quashie’s side battled hard for the point.
Thanks to Sammy for the lift.
Steve Russell