Paul Jones started in goal behind Bignot, Stewart, Kanyuka and Howell. Ainsworth, Rowlands, Oliseh and Donnelly were in midfield with Gallen up front with new Polish striker Adam Czerkas.

Rangers started the game quickly and Donnelly quickly won a freekick thirty yards from goal. Rowlands stepped up to take the kick and sent it onto the roof of the net. Stevenage centre half Santos Gaia nodded a header wide at the other end ten minutes later and this seemed to spark the game into life.

A couple of minutes later Rangers hit the front when a throw from the right found the feet of Ainsworth. He tried to trap it but the ball skipped up on him, luckily it was perfect for the volley and he sent a screamer into Julian’s top right hand corner from fully thirty five yards. It was reminiscent of the first of his wonder goals against Rushden and Diamonds.

The lead didn’t last long though and Stevenage exposed the young left hand side of the R’s defence. Howell and Kanyuka got in a muddle trying to play offside and nippy winger Craig Dobson burst clear and bore down on Jones’ goal. The Welsh stopper was well beaten by an excellent finish into the corner.

Some of the senior pro’s offered some “encouraging” words to the two young defenders and seemed to be asking them to get rid of the ball rather than try to step up against somebody so quick. There was no such dallying as the game went on and both Kanyuka and Howell had fine games.

Just after the half hour mark Rangers were back in front thanks to a fantastic strike from Scott Donnelly. The ball was worked into the little midfielder just inside the box and he turned outside his marker before curling a beauty past Julian into the top corner. If the Stevenage keeper concedes two goals like that in a game again this season he will be very unlucky.

As the half wore on Gallen and Czerkas started to get more involved. Gallen sent in an excellent cross from the left which the Pole nodded onto the roof of the net. Minutes later he made space of his own with a fine run and forced an excellent low save from Julian at his near post.

Just before the break Oliseh was forced off after taking a heavy tumble challenging for a header. There is no need to take any risks and I am sure if this were a competitive game he would have been able to carry on. Bailey took his place in the middle of the park with Rowlands.

Waddock didn’t make any further changes at half time and Rangers were certainly the better side as the second half begun. Howell won a corner and Donnelly’s delivery was flicked by Czerkas and than hacked into the stand by an off balance Ainsworth.

Tony Thorpe was causing some problems for Kanyuka and Stewart with the smart movement we came to expect from him during his spell at Loftus Road. He had a goal chalked off for offside just before Rangers went 3-1 ahead.

Czerkas won a freekick twenty five yards out and Rowlands sent in a perfect freekick to the far post. Gallen out muscled his marker before planting a firm header past the outstretched Julian from six yards.

Stevenage almost replied but Nurse could only pick out Jones with a close range header. If he had put it anywhere other than straight down Jones’ throat then it would have certainly gone in such was the range.

Waddock made four more changes and withdrew Jones, Stewart, Rowlands and Czerkas and threw on Cole, Rose, Ray Jones and Baidoo. Gallen moved back into the middle of midfield to accommodate the two young strikers. Shabba and Giant Ray were linking up almost immediately and their neat one two saw Shabba nip in front of the keeper before chipping the ball against the face of the bar.

At the other end Thorpe rattled the R’s woodwork when he turned brilliantly on the edge of the box and lashed in a shot that Cole could only stand and watch go past in both directions.

Gallen grabbed Rangers fourth with just under twenty minutes left to go. Shabba showed great tenacity to work an opening and Julian did well to parry his deflected rising drive. A defensive mix up then saw the ball come to Gallen and he slotted it away with the minimum of fuss.

Baidoo, Donnelly and Jones had chances to increase the lead late in the game. A good run saw Baidoo through on goal but he chose to shoot rather than square a simple ball to Jones for a tap in and missed the target. Donnelly brought down a bouncing ball in midfield before cracking a volley just over the bar. Jones had Julian flying through the air for a fierce shot that cleared the bar by inches.

This was a good display from Rangers and the four goals were well taken. They also created plenty of chances and on another day the scoreline could have been greater. The young lads did well and showed that they all want to be a part of Waddo’s plans for the coming season. Donnelly took his goal brilliantly and Baidoo looked sharp and bright when he came on.

In terms of the new lads Stewart looked a bit ponderous and could use a few more miles in the legs before the season starts. Oliseh didn’t really get a chance to get into the game but showed a couple of neat touches before injury forced him off. Czerkas looked lively and seems to be a good athlete. Looks like a bit of a simulator at the moment though so they will have to try and get that out of him.

All of the experienced players did well and it was great to see Rowly and Rose back on the pitch after spending so much of the season on the treatment table. Rose even took a heavy challenge as he went up for a header and managed to get up and walk away!

This was good progress from the Aldershot game and they should look to go on again against Gillingham and it would be nice to see Mauro, Nygaard and Ward get a trot out against them. I am assuming that we won’t see Dan again…

simon@qprnet.com