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[Steve Russell]

First up were the U18's at 11am who took on Crewe Alexandra.

After going one down, Kemuel Edouard-Marrison's cross was side-footed
into the net by William Poku.

The visitors took the lead after a bit of a scramble in the box, despite
having a number of chances to clear the ball.

The temperature eventually reached 33 degrees at Heston today.

Team: Taylor, Skeete, Moore, Abadom, Sandiford, Ikoraha, McAvoy,
Whitehead, Edouard-Marrison, McCormack, Poku
Subs: Sam McKenna, John Liverpool, Ky'Len McNeil

Full-time: 1-2

[Steve Russell]

As for the Development Squad they kicked off at 2pm...
Kasey Taylor played in goal for the U18's earlier & then moved
over to the bench.

With the amount of young players traveling with the 1st team,
Paul Furlong must have gone with them.

Team: Fittall, Petrie, Adjetey-Brew, Balogun, Majesty, Dyke,
Scarlett, Neziri, Oluwabusola, trialist, Coomes
Subs: Taylor, Cuthbert, Boddy, Neill, O'Brien

After the visitors had gone 0-2 up, Jake Coomes pulled a goal
back on 34 mins. Half-time: 1-2.

Into the 2nd half & Charlie Finney, in lots of space, picked his
spot to make it 1-3

However on 76 mins, substitute Archie O'Brien let fly from a good
20 odd yards to narrow the score-line.

Then Coventry went further ahead after 81 mins when Elliot Betjemann
waltzed his way through the box.

Jake Coomes made it 3-4 after his superb opportunist low drive from a
good 25 yards hit the back of the net.

[ESSEXURs]

Paul Furlong was on the bench in Plymouth. Shown and mentioned in commentary.
The Coomes goal was on X. Brilliant strike.

[Steve Russell]

My U18's match report is now up on the Home Page....

https://www.indyrs.co.uk/2025/08/qpr-u1 ... dra-u18-2/

[Steve Russell]

QPR Development Squad (3) – Coventry City U21 (4)
U21 Professional Development League 2

Team: Fittall, Petrie, Adjetey-Brew, Balogun, Majesty, Dyke, Scarlett, Neziri, Oluwabusola,
trialist, Coomes
Subs: Taylor, Cuthbert, Boddy, Neill, O’Brien

After the U18’s had lost 1-2 earlier in the day, we waited in the car park again for the commencement
of the Development Squad game at 2pm.

With no Paul Furlong and a number of youngsters en route to Plymouth, the team sheet revealed some
16-year-olds in the starting line-up along with a trialist at No.10.

Also Kasey Taylor moved over to the bench after playing in goal for the U18’s earlier.

After a fairly even opening, Mr Hathway booked Isaiah Balogun following a wild challenge just outside
the Rangers penalty area.

The visitors had a good opportunity to take the lead after Tristen Batanni had got to the bye-line, where
he squared the ball, but somehow it evaded everyone, before going behind for a goal-kick.

Rangers’ first real attempt came after Kaleb Dyke’s excellent cross-field ball over to Jake Coomes on the
left-wing. The R’s No. 11’s shot ended up in the keeper’s gloves.

Coventry went on to score two goals in the first 20 minutes or so. The first scorer was unmarked when he
picked his spot, and the second one came after Rangers had lost possession whilst attempting to play it from
the back.

At the other end, excellent play by Leon Scarlett, saw the No.7 weave his way through the box. His angled shot
was then cleared off the line at the far-post.

Following Jake Coomes’ run down the left-flank, the Rangers trialist’s deflected attempt forced Oscar Varney
down to palm the ball away.

As the R’s continued to look to reduce the deficit, Leon Scarlett’s cross into the box found the trialist, who after
turning, saw his attempt blocked. This was followed by a drinks break.

The home side got the goal they deserved on 36 minutes courtesy of the trialist’s close range shot.

Rangers went close to conceding a third goal when Alfie Fittall was almost caught out with a sudden back-pass.

Closing in on the interval, and the players went off for more drinks.

Just before the break, Tristen Batanni was left grounded for some time following a corner. Half-time: 1-2.

Into the second-half, and the Sky Blues went close to increasing their lead on two occasions. Firstly, the R’s
keeper made a good save from a corner, and then just after that, a shot narrowly evaded the crossbar.

Charlie Finney scored the visitors third goal on 54 minutes. And then just after, following a breakaway,
Alfie Fittall did really well to keep out Jack James’ strike at goal.

With two R’s players down for different reasons in the Coventry penalty area, the players headed for the
dugouts for drinks. Isaiah Balogun had to eventually leave the field on a buggy.

Also departing were Enis Neziri and Gabriel Oluwabusola, and the three players were replaced by
Gabriel Cuthbert, Fraser Neill and Archie O’Brien respectively.

Rangers reduced the deficit on 67 minutes when Archie O’Brien let fly from a good 20-odd yards.

Mr Hathway not surprisingly booked David Mantle following an arm in the face of a Rangers player, and
this prompted another pause for drinks.

The R’s trialist bombed forward before belting his attempt into the side-netting.

The away side added a fourth goal after 82 minutes when Elliot Betjemann waltzed his way forward before
shooting into the corner.

A superb opportunist goal from Jake Coomes a minute or so later made it 3-4. The R’s winger’s drive from
25-yards certainly caught out Oscar Varney.

Some excellent play from Cory Adjetey-Brew saw the QPR full-back twist and turn whilst under pressure,
before laying the ball off.

And in the closing stages Alfie Fittall made a great save with his legs.

Next up for the Development Squad is a trip next week to the Idverde training ground to take on
Peterborough United.

Steve Russell..