U18 Professional Development League 2
Team: Adegoke, Siqueira, Bagan, Brown, McDonald, Manufor, Sackey, Lawrence, Kolli, Talla, Petrie
Subs: Clark, McCann, Christmas, Castillo, Bouhiaoui
This was my first opportunity to get to see the U18’s this season. Captaining the Rangers side was Samuel Sackey and the starting line-up included a trialist in goal, Prince Adegokeand 16-year-old Teddy Lawrence from the Avenues, who scored one of the goals in a U21’s friendly at Luton recently.
Into the game and some good work by Rayan Kolli saw him cut-in from the right-flank and win a corner. Nothing came of that but soon after, an excellent ball from midfield picked out Kolli on the edge of the box.
The R’s No.9 then fashioned a superb shot with the outside of his foot which hit the upright and the rebound ended up going behind.
Rangers took the lead from the corner after Teddy Lawrence had squared the ball across goal. Matthew Rowley couldn’t smother the ball and Rayan Kolli made no mistake with a slick finish.
Kolli provided some wonderful skill when, with his back to goal, he turned, flicked the ball up before smashing it just wide of the far-post.
Kyle Daniel-Spray was booked by Mr Blair for a naughty kick from behind on a QPR player.
Rayan Kolli went down requiring some treatment and eventually he was forced off on 18 minutes with possibly a thigh muscle strain? He was replaced by Jabari Christmas.
Teddy Lawrence provided a lovely reverse ball to set-up a team-mate, but his attempt flashed just wide of the far-post.
After the Royals were awarded a free kick, the cross was floated into the box where the R’s keeper dived forcibly forward at full-length to clear the danger.
At the other end, Samuel Sackey’s low effort forced Matthew Rowley down to make a good save. Half-time: 1-0.
After superbly beating a couple of defenders, Lorent Talla’sshot was well saved at the near-post.
Teddy Lawrence was booked after committing a foul and the coming-together that followed.
The Rangers’ keeper made a very good save at the near-post,but as he had taken the ball just over the bye-line, it resultedin a corner being awarded.
The visitors were having the best of it and it was no surprise when they equalised. Following a one-two on the edge of the ‘D’, Ryley Campbell did the rest.
On 69 minutes, Teddy Lawrence and Charlie McDonald made way for Matthew Castillo and Noah McCann respectively.
Six minutes or so later, Lorent Talla’s left-footed shot from the edge of the ‘D’ almost found its way inside the far-post.
Reading took the lead with around seven minutes remaining. With Sam Bagan off the pitch receiving treatment for a nosebleed, Ryley Campbell, with a number of bodies around him, managed to get the ball in the net from close range.
The final Rangers change came on 87 minutes when RamyBouhiaoui was introduced at the expense of Lorent Talla.
The QPR substitute soon got himself into a good position, but he fired his effort directly at the Royals’ custodian.
A game of two-halves as they say and we all thought (very unusually), that the referee had a very good game.
Also looking on was Martin Rowlands and a number of Club analysts.
Steve Russell