London Senior Cup Semi-Final
Team: Warren, Adamson, Smith, McCann, Esquerdinha, Alemayehu, Dyke, Scarlett, Pearman, Sanyaolu, Dillon
Subs: Taylor, Leahy, Neill, Brunson, Hassan
Attendance:175
Good to see a ‘QPR Essex’ flag on show and amongst those looking on were some of the QPR Women’s squad.
Rangers were ahead at the Oliver Connell & Son Community Stadium after 58 seconds, following Leon Scarlett’s cross from the bye-line. Philip Sanyaolu was well placed to guide his header into the corner.
The visitors had a good opportunity eight minutes later when a header flashed wide of the post.
Full-back Kealey Adamson’s angled strike from the edge of the box doubled Rangers’ lead.
Rangers were having the best of it, and further goals looked to be forthcoming.
Leon Scarlett cut in and his shot whizzed just past the upright.
Then, good skill from Philip Sanyaolu on the bye-line was followed by Aymen Azaze putting his shot behind for a corner.
The hosts notched up a third around the half-hour mark. Jaylan Pearman’s through ball to Cian Dillon resulted in the R’s striker taking the ball wide of the keeper before slotting it home.
Mr Conn booked Darian Furlong in the 38th minute after the Ambers’ captain had clipped Leon Scarlett.
It became 4-0 six minutes later. Joao Esquerdinha’s low cross picked-out Cian Dillon, who then fired the ball into the roof of the net.
There was still time for another goal and complete Cian Dillon’s hat-trick. Jaylan Pearman side-footed the ball to the on-rushing striker who then shot past the keeper. Half-time: 5-0.
Into the second-half and early on, Aymen Azaze made two good stops from Jaylan Pearman and Leon Scarlett in the space of a couple of minutes.
In the 56th minute, Leon Scarlett’s low strike ended up in the keeper’s gloves.
The visitors won their first corner five minutes later and at the other end Rangers had a goal ruled out for offside.
Two changes were made on 63 minutes, which saw the introduction of Fraser Neill and Kalen Brunson at the expense of Kealey Adamson and Philip Sanyaolu respectively.
And a couple of minutes later, Joao Esquerdinha made way for Jake Leahy, which was soon followed by Ridwan Hassan replacing Cian Dillon.
The R’s were awarded a free kick after the keeper had picked up a pass-back. The resulting free kick ended up being blazed over the crossbar.
Some excellent defending from Tylon Smith, when, running back with an opponent in close vicinity, he successfully knocked the ball back to Charlie Warren, and being clipped in the process, a freekick was given.
Heading into added time, Cheshunt were awarded a penalty. Substitute, Samuel Granville stepped up and planted the ball in the net.
This was soon followed by Mr Conn blowing the final whistle.
Rangers then travelled to Champion Hill to face Dulwich Hamlet in the London Senior Cup final.
Steve Russell