YOUNG RESERVES BEATEN BY ORIENT
Tuesday 13th November 2007
by Ron Norris

Rangers’ reserve side lost 1-0 at Leyton Orient this afternoon, however that doesn’t tell the whole story. With Gigi De Canio still running the rule over the first team squad practically the entire starting eleven was made up of youth team players.

The two under 18’s keepers were given a half each with Reece Crowther starting the game and then making way for Chris Goodchild after the break.

The back four was made up of under 18’s stalwarts Billy Coyne, Josh Ford, and Lee Brown with Andrew Howell the only full professional in the squad.

Steve Brown was in charge for this one and he stuck to his preferred 4-3-3 formation with Danny Davenport, Matt O’Brien and Chris Arthur making up the midfield three and the red hot under 18’s strike force of Angelo Balanta, Antonio German and Romone Rose partnered together up top.

Despite the lack of experience the lads did anything but disgrace themselves and were only beaten by a first half penalty scored by Sean Thornton.

More youth team players saw action from the bench as both Cyrus Vanterpool and James Folkes were given a chance to impress but despite creating good chances for Rose and Balanta The R’s couldn’t find the back of the net.

There is a little flurry of activity in the Pontins Holiday’s Combination league over the next few weeks, after playing just five times since the start of the season we can now enjoy a reserve team fixture every Tuesday for next five weeks starting with the visit of Crystal Palace next week.

QPR: Crowther (Goodchild), Coyne, Ford, Howell, Brown, Davenport, O'Brien (Vanterpool), Arthur, Balanta, German (Folkes), Rose. Subs not used: Morgan, Wright.