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Rangers' reserves ran out 3-1
winners against their Millwall
counterparts at Chestnut Avenue this
evening. The game saw the return of
Gareth Ainsworth from injury as well
as one of the most bizarre goals I
have ever had the privilege to see.
Chris Day made a competitive return
between the sticks for Rangers and
Ainsworth played wide on the right.
Steve Palmer partnered young Stefan
Bailey in the centre of midfield
whilst teenage prodigy Scott
Donnelly played just off of lone
striker Richard Pacquette.
There was little to report from the
first half of the game other than a
nasty looking clash between
Ainsworth and young Millwall winger
Abou Fofana. The two had clashed
earlier in the game and they came
together with an almighty crack as
they challenged for a high ball. I
am not suggesting that Ainsworth was
seeking any sort of retribution but
he is, shall we say an experienced
pro. Rangers took the lead on the
stroke of half time courtesy of
Donnelly. Finding himself thirty
five yards from goal he spotted Tony
Warner off of his line and attempted
the lob. The giant Warner got hands
to the ball but the power was
sufficient to carry it into the net.
The second half saw Millwall bring
more pressure to bear and Fletcher
and Ifura at the heart of the R's
defence had to be alert to counter
the threat of former Brentford man
Mark McCammon and Chris Sutton's
brother, John. Day was strong when
the line was broken though and it
was slightly against the run of play
when Rangers added a second.
A corner from the right was swung in
by Donnelly and the ball pinged
around as everybody took a hack at
it. Palmer eventually headed the
ball back into the danger area and
Ifura was on hand to scramble the
ball home from six yards. The two
goal advantage lasted about two
minutes before Millwall replied
through McCammon.
The big striker got the better of
R's sub Jack Perry on the right and
seemed to weave his way unopposed
through the defence before firing a
low shot past Day. It was a moment
of sloppy defending from Rangers and
certainly was not typical of their
work for most of the evening.
Rangers were now trying to kill time
and Farr knocked a poor corner into
the box that Warner gathered with
ease. He looked to throw the ball
out as Pacquette hung about making a
general nuisance of himself and as
he was about to release the ball he
seemed to change his mind. The ball
fell comically to the floor and
Pacquette had the simple chance of
rolling it into an empty net. The
keeper was furious as the cry of
"Taxi for Warner" echoed about the
ground. The full time whistle went
almost immediately and Warner
skulked off, I am told that he put
his head in his hands but managed to
drop that as well!
This was a pretty good showing from
Rangers. Day looked comfortable and
made a couple of decent saves,
whilst Ifura and Fletcher were solid
all night. A youngster called Lewis
Hamilton played at both right and
left back and looked good before he
was taken off with ten to play.
In midfield Bailey and Palmer both
worked hard without impacting
proceedings greatly. Sonny Farr
impressed again and Ainsworth turned
in a solid shift after a couple of
months on the sidelines. I would
think it unlikely he will come in
for McLeod despite persistent calls
from some quarters. Pacquette and
Donnelly were both bright and the
latter took his goal very well.
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