U21s Lose to QPR
Monday, 3rd Nov 2014 16:43 by James Ager

Town's U21 side were well beaten 3-0 by Queens Park Rangers at a rainy Playford Road on Monday afternoon with goals from Jordan Gibbons, Darnell Furlong and Olamide Shodipo condemning Mark Kennedy's side to defeat.

The visitors dominated the opening stages in terms of possession but didn't create any real chances until nearly midway through the first half when Adel Taarabt - the only senior player in the Rangers line-up - got the better of Town skipper Joe Robinson before pulling his shot just wide from outside the area.

Reece Grego-Cox then cut the ball back for Shodipo, whose side-footed effort towards the bottom corner was pushed away by Blues keeper Jacob Marsden.

In a rare Town attack, right-back Josh Emmanuel teed up Jack Collison but his goalbound drive from 12 yards was deflected just wide for a corner.

The game was all but settled inside a couple of minutes towards the end of the opening period when the Londoners netted twice. Gibbons raced on to Harley Wise's through ball on 41 and confidently beat Marsden, before Furlong added to the lead with a good finish into the far corner of the net two minutes later.

The visitors were rampant and Taarabt's delightful square pass should have seen Shodipo score his side's third before the interval, but Marsden did well to block the close range effort.

Collison, who was on trial with QPR during the summer, was replaced at half-time having struggled to make an impression on the game after picking up a knock early on.

Despite Rangers having most of the ball, Monty Patterson nearly got Town back into the game just before the hour mark but his 25-yard drive cannoned back off the crossbar, with keeper Joe Lumley beaten.

Moments later, a deep cross from trialist left-back George Wells was knocked down by Cory Galvin and Patterson's effort was blocked by a combination of Lumley and one of his defenders.

However, QPR regained control and Shodipo sealed the win with four minutes remaining when he latched onto a long ball and outpaced the tiring Town defence before slotting past Marsden.

The Town keeper tipped Josh Laurent's near post effort wide moments later to keep the score at three, before the referee's final whistle sounded.

Wells, who is currently with Ryman League Premier side Hampton and Richmond, looked comfortable at left-back against good opposition, as he did in his previous game for the U21s against Swansea last month.

Winger Cameron Stewart drifted in and out of the game and wasn't able to catch the eye with Town on the back foot for large periods of the game. Neither Collison or Stewart appear likely to be involved in the squad for tomorrow’s first-team game against Wolves.

For QPR, Taarabt cruised through the game for the visitors and stood out with some sublime touches and footwork.

U21s: Marsden, Emmanuel, Wells, Collison (Guldbrandsen 46), Robinson, Kenlock, Galvin, Benyu, McQueen, Patterson (Ramadan 65), Stewart. Unused: McDermid, Wyatt, Ellis.

Photo: Action Images

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StowTractorBoy added 16:54 - Nov 3 Disappointing that there seems to be a lack of progress with Collison and in particular Stewart. Thought Stewart was a good signing at the time as he had pace and has caused us problems in the past. Must be very disappointing for Collison who does seem very injury prone. Will be interesting to see the bench line up tomorrow.
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