Pre-Season Friendly
Team: Clarke, Searle, Brooks, Lewin, Doyle, Owen, Ali, Mehmet, Stanley, trialist, Dzyadyk
Subs: Blodgett, Wellesley-Davis, Gotch, Leach, Munro, Makowska
QPR FC Women’s final pre-season friendly took place against AFC Wimbledon on the pitch adjacent to Tooting & Mitcham’s Imperial Sports Fields Stadium.
On a very hot afternoon in Morden, the R’s starting line-up included a trialist at No.16, whilst the home side were surprisingly un-numbered.
Around five minutes in, a Dons player cut-in and her shot on goal from the edge of the box was deflected, and with Kenny Clarke going the wrong way, the R’s keeper did really well to change direction and get down to smother the ball.
At the other end, after the ball was knocked on to Grace Stanley, the Rangers striker’s attempt narrowly evaded the crossbar.
Wimbledon went close to taking the lead after the ball had been played in from the edge of the box and the resulting shot was belted into the side-netting.
Drinks were taken on 24 minutes.
Then, a powerful cross from the right was headed just as strongly wide of the upright.
Rangers had a good opportunity for themselves, following a good run by Annie Dzyadyk. Her pass into the box found the trialist, whose shot was then blocked, and Grace Stanley’s follow-up effort cleared the bar.
Danny Harrigan made his first two changes on 34 minutes when Jo Blodgett and Jess Leach replaced Izzy Owen and Grace Stanley respectively.
The Dons took the lead when Daisy McLachlan tapped the ball in the net from close range.
This left the R’s keeper grounded for some time and in need of some attention.
Annie Dzyadyk won the away side’s first corner after 40 minutes, which resulted in a header going wide of the target.
Kenny Clarke did well to hold onto a low-ball in the six-yard box, whilst under pressure and at half-time it remained one-nil in favour of the Dons.
One change was made for the start of the second-half, which saw the introduction of Jaime Gotch at the expense of Libby Doyle.
A solid challenge by Jo Blodgett led to the R’s sub’s long ball going towards Annie Dzyadyk, but the winger couldn’t quite reach it.
Following a free kick from just past the half-way line, the R’s player’s shot just cleared the crossbar.
Annie Dzyadyk was shown a yellow card for some unknown reason?
Rangers’ next opportunity was provided by the trialist, whose strike flashed just inches wide of the upright.
Kenny Clarke made a superb save when she palmed away a Dons player’s powerful attempt.
A Wimbledon player was booked for a challenge on the R’s No.10 from behind, and later another one of their players was shown a yellow card.
With a Dons player being down OFF the pitch, the referee decided to halt play with Rangers in possession?
The hosts went close to doubling their lead when an unmarked player’s shot came off the post.
As for the R’s, in the closing stages a good move initiated by Natalia Makowska resulted in Alana Munro’s attempt being saved.
A number of roll-on, roll-off substitutions took place for a 35-odd minute period, which included Natalia Makowska, Alana Munro and Lily Wellesley-Davis all coming on at some stage.
Next up for Danny Harrigan’s side was a trip to the MK Stadium for the first league game of the season.
Steve Russell