Pre-Season Friendly
First-Half: Halliday, Putman, Wilkie, McCann, Leahy, Aoraha, trialist, Kennedy, trialist, O’Brien, trialist
Second-Half: Halliday, Adjetey-Brew, Cuthbert, McDowell, Friel, trialist, Dyke, Neziri, trialist, Talla, Coomes
At one point I didn’t think we would make it to the Charters Community Stadium as signal failure at Waterloo Station was causing chaos!
The Stadium was developed last year, and the upgrades included new floodlights and the laying of a 3G pitch.
After being informed that no team sheets or programmes were available, we took our place in the 180-seater Main Stand.
Rangers took the lead after one of the trialists had seized upon a loose ball in the box.
As for the home side, the Citizens’ No.7 cut in from the left before shooting over the crossbar.
At half-time it remained 1-0 to the away side.
Into the second-half and after one of the QPR trialists had successfully won the ball, he moved forward before firing wide of the target.
It was no surprise when Rangers doubled their lead after one of the other trialists had shot past the keeper.
Whilst at the other end, a dangerous ball by the No.11 across the face of the goal somehow evaded everyone.
The R’s forced a corner following a deflection of a defender. This resulted in the Rangers No.9 heading over the crossbar.
The away side had dominated the opening 15 minutes or so, but then after a foul on the City No.11 just outside the box, the free kick was belted just wide of the target.
Paul Furlong made wholesale changes just before Joel Halliday had taken the goal-kick.
After Rangers had been awarded a penalty, Lorent Talla stepped up and knocked the ball wide.
Winchester pulled a goal back against the run of play after the ball was knocked out to the right-flank. In acres of space, his cross into the box found a team-mate, who then drilled the ball into the corner.
Close to the final whistle, the Citizens’ No.6 wriggled his way into the box before slotting the ball home to force an unexpected draw.
The Development Squad’s next opponents were Hanwell Town.
Steve Russell
Thanks Steve, I keep hearing about these trialists, do you know who they are?