Rangers under 18’s ran out 4-2 winners over Brentford on a Saturday. This Youth Association Cup match proved to be an entertaining affair that saw our lads come from 2-0 down to run out convincing winners

Joe Gallen made three changes from the side the beat Southend in the league last week, Sean Thomas replaced Tim Sandercombe in goal, defender Sheldon Hussey was missing so Stefan Bailey dropped back to central defence for the second time this season. Scott Donnelly returned to the side in midfield in place of Andrew Howell and Ricky Sappleton moved into central midfield in place of Bailey to allow Shabazz Baidoo a start upfront.

Following an encouraging opening ten minutes from Rangers that saw Giant Ray Jones hit the post, Brentford took the lead from the spot after Jonathan Munday conceded a clear cut penalty. Soon after that Brentford doubled their lead and Rangers looked somewhat shell shocked at the turn of events. For a side that is normally so full of running and enthusiasm it was a little surprising to see such a stilted display for most of the first half.

Things would be very different in the second half after Gallen sent his young charges out with all guns blazing and Rangers were back in the game almost immediately. An early corner from Scott Donnelly was bundled home by Ricky Sappleton to make it 2-1.

The scores were level soon after, another Rangers corner cleared through the box but Donnelly was on hand again to send the ball back into the danger zone and onto the head of Jonathan Munday who powerfully headed home his third goal of the season to tie things up.

Rangers went on to take the lead and again it was Donnelly in the thick of it, a run into the box saw him brought down and a penalty was awarded, he picked himself up and slotted it in to put the R’s 3-2 up.

Shabazz Baidoo seemed to particularly enjoy this moment, something must have been said to him by the watching Brentford fans as tore back towards the centre screaming “3-2” at the crowd with a big smile on his face. He was booked by the referee for this and it seemed a little out of character for the usually quiet Shabba.

What ever was said seemed to spark him into life as he set about terrorising the Brentford rearguard for the remainder of the game and he was soon to put the game beyond doubt. Shabba set off on a rampaging run down the right, cut into the box and coolly finished to wrap things up, he celebrated enthusiastically again, but the referee let it go this time.

After a sluggish opening half it was good to see the lads show such character and fight their way back into the game, by the end of it Brentford were well beaten and they simply had no answer to the class of Scotty and Shabba, Rangers’ very own SAS. Donnelly was involved in everything, setting up the first two goals then winning and scoring the penalty for the third whilst The Bee’s struggled to deal with Shabba’s blistering pace once he got going.

A Brentford fan turned to me near the end and said “that Donnelly is class, how is he not in your first team”. How indeed…. 

QPR: Thomas, Yelland, Munday, Bailey, Sethi, Donnelly, Smart, Sappleton, Bernard (Luz), Jones, Baidoo

Next match is another Cup group game, away to Leyton Orient on Saturday 29th October.