Goals from George Fowler (pictured), Ben Morris and Luke Woolfenden saw Town’s U23s to a comfortable 3-1 victory over QPR at Playford Road this afternoon, while keeper Nick Hayes saved a penalty just after the break with QPR’s only response Danny Rowe's header in the final minute.
The Blues started as they would go on with striker Morris hitting a low shot through to visitors’ number one Timothy Seny Dieng in the eighth minute, then on 11 Conor McKendry scuffed a weak effort to the keeper.
But Gerard Nash’s side didn’t have to wait too long to go in front. James Blanchfield sent over a freekick from the left and skipper Fowler nodded home at the far post.
Town continued to dominate and threaten, and on the half hour Shane McLoughlin and Morris exchanged passes on the left before teeing up Blanchfield, whose shot was blocked.
The former Arsenal youngster then played a one-two with Morris, whose low effort was saved.
On 33 Adam McDonnell shot over from the edge of the box but two minutes later the Blues doubled their lead.
McKendry fed through Morris, who rolled his man and chased the ball into the area before confidently beating Dieng.
Two minutes before the break Rangers hit their first shot of the match but Rowe’s effort failed to test Hayes. Just before the whistle Blanchfield sent a low effort through to Dieng.
The second half was only two minutes old when QPR were awarded a harsh penalty when Robinson was adjudged to have handled Axel Prohouly’s cross from the right. While the ball may have struck the defender’s hand it was certainly more ball to hand than the other way round.
Prouhouly took the kick himself and hit it low, well to Hayes’s right but the England U17 international got down and across superbly to palm it out.
A minute later at the other end McDonnell sent over a dangerous ball from the left which QPR defender Alex Finney would probably have diverted past his own keeper had he managed to get a touch on it.
On 50 QPR striker Kingsley Eshun hit a low shot across Hayes from the right of the box and the Blues keeper again made a sharp save down to his right.
The visitors' brief fightback was effectively ended seven minutes later when McKendry sent over a corner from the right and Woolfenden stooped to head in Town’s third goal.
Town continued to look for further goals and on 63 Blanchfield saw a shot deflect wide, then four minutes later, after excellent work from McKendry, McDonnell sent Morris away on the left but the England U18 international shot across the face.
Great way to finish the year with a 3-1 win over QPR, can't wait to get home😄👊🼖 Patrick Webber (@patrickwebber_3) December 19, 2016
A 74th minute Morris shot from just outside the box hit Blanchfield, before there was a brief bout of handbags involving most of the outfield players after McDonnell reacted to a poor Finney challenge and then McKendry - who was subbed after treatment - was left in a heap by a subsequent challenge.
Referee Paul Howard eventually restored order and spoke to Finney and Blues midfielder Flynn Downes but kept his cards in his pocket.
McKendry’s replacement, striker Declan Daniels, won a freekick which Morris sent well over, then another sub, Australian frontman Ben Folami, similarly went too high with an effort from distance.
Good end to first half off the season with a 3-1 win over QPR, now home on Wednesday for Christmas 🤘ðŸ»ðŸŽ…🼖 Conor McKendry (@mckendry_conor) December 19, 2016
With the game in its final scheduled minute QPR pulled a goal back. Gianni Crichlow crossed from the right and the unmarked Rowe headed home at the far post.
In injury time the visitors might have pulled another one back but Hayes brilliantly tipped AJ Folkes’s shot from distance over the bar.
A thoroughly deserved victory for the U23s who dominated from virtually start to finish and might well have won even more comfortably.
There were impressive performances throughout the side with McKendry creating two goals, Morris and McLoughlin always keeping the QPR backline busy and Blanchfield, McDonnell and Downes controlling the game in midfield.
Good way to end the year with a 3-1 win against QPR , excited for Christmas now 🤘🌲☃︖ James Blanchfield (@JamesBlanchy) December 19, 2016
The Town backline rarely looked in much danger, while keeper Hayes will have been pleased with his performance and particularly his penalty save, but perhaps frustrated not to record a clean sheet although he could have done little about the QPR goal at the end.
Assistant boss Terry Connor was among those watching the game, alongside fitness coach Andy Liddell and U18s coach Alan Lee, but manager Mick McCarthy wasn’t present with the first-team squad not having trained today.
U23s: Hayes, Woolfenden, Webber, McDonnell, Fowler (c), Robinson, Blanchfield, Downes, Morris, McLoughlin (Folami 64), McKendry (Daniels 78). Unused: Marshall, Marsden, Ndaba.
QPR: Seny Dieng, Springer Downs, Brzey, Klass (Clarke 64), Arthur, Finney, Prohouly, Folkes, Eshun (Wallen 71), Rowe, Crichlow. Unused: Akinola, Herdman, Wallen. Referee: Paul Howard.