GOALS from Antonio German and Matteo Alberti ensured that QPR Reserves continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Goals from Antonio German and Matteo Alberti ensured that QPR Reserves continued their unbeaten start to the season.
A very youthful QPR side stood up to a steady spell of early pressure from the Gills with Rashid Yussuff and Luke Rooney testing debutante keeper Shane McWeeney in the R’s goal.
Experienced defender John Nutter flashed an effort just passed the post as Gillingham continued to dominate the early exchange, with McWeeney once again called into action to save smartly at the feet of Jack Payne.
McWeeney was in inspired form between the sticks for Rangers as he turned away Rooney’s effort on the break, when it seemed the young winger would put away the one-on-one. While Jacob Erskine tried his luck from a free kick, but keeper McWeeney tipped the ball away.
The hosts dominated the opening period with Tom Wynter’s deflected effort drifting narrowly wide. Sam Bewick’s speculative drive was all QPR had to offer but the young guns held firm to take matters level into the break.
Whatever Keith Ryan said to his side at half time appeared to do the trick as QPR came out in the second half all guns blazing, and took the lead in the opening stages.
Romone Rose charged forward to draw a smart save from custodian Alan Julian only for the onrushing winger to square for Antonio German to hand Rangers a lead by rolling home into an unguarded net.
Bewick came back stronger for his first half showing and when a corner wasn’t properly cleared he showed his prowess to fire an effort that drifted narrowly wide from distance.
It could be said that this was the ultimate game of two halves with Gillingham struggling to clear their lines in light of the onslought of QPR’s youngsters. Former QPR man Adam Miller struck well wide for the visitors in a fledgling chance for the Gills.
The side continued to trade blows with Max Ehmer going close with a rising effort from the edge of the area, while Rooney’s wayward effort hit the roof of the stand at the Rec.
Yussuf was in the thick of the action once more as his cross found Tom Wynter on the far post, but he conspired to place wide from close range under pressure from McWeeney.
With just short of ten minutes remaining the R’s most experienced player Matteo Alberti settled the game as a contest, drilling past Julian from a free-kick at close range.
Julian did well to deny QPR skipper Ed Harris, who already has two goals to his name this season, as his header was firmly planted into the grasp of the Gills keeper.
Positive signs from QPR’s youthful reserve side who remain unbeaten this season, but the form of the more experienced players and keeper Shane McWeeney would have been a delight to Keith Ryan.
QPR: Shane McWeeney, Romone Rose, Anthony Sanderson, Max Ehmer, Ed Harris, Taylor Parmenter (Danny Bailey 85), Elliott Cox (Javonne Molloy 77), Sam Bewick, Antonio German, Matteo Alberti, Michael Harriman.
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