Rangers’ under 18’s side ran out 2-0 winners over their counterparts from Portsmouth on Saturday morning at Harlington.

A goal in each half did for a tetchy Pompey team who seemed more concerned with moaning at anyone and everyone than trying to give the young R’s a game.

Rangers took the lead in the first half when Harry Smart (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Jermaine Jenas) sent a through ball over the Pompey centre backs and into the path of Ricky Sappleton. The burly striker made no mistake as he steadied himself before crashing the ball home.

Rangers were having the better of the game but Tim Sandercombe still had a chance to show off his keeping ability. A Pompey shot seemed destined for the top corner before the big keeper pulled off a Hollywood save! He must have been gutted at the lack of camera equipment to hand!

In the second half the advantage was doubled when Scott Donnelly struck. A ball into the box was not cleared properly and when it came to Donnelly there seemed little danger. The little midfield dynamo somehow managed to swivel and send a steepling lob over the keeper from no more than twelve yards. The keeper had been absolutely kippered by it and it sailed into the net. Donnelly’s team mates mobbed him and rightly so, it was a brilliant finish.

Rangers probably should have scored more as the massive front two of Ricky Sappleton and Giant Ray Jones bullied the Portsmouth centre backs all morning. They are both very physical but they are also gifted and find themselves equally at home on the deck or in the air.

There were some very good displays all over the pitch. Jon Munday and Stefan Bailey looked solid at the back, and when you consider that Bailey is a midfielder this is no mean feat. In midfield Donnelly and Smart made probing runs and intelligent passes time and again and the front two of Jones and Sappleton gave Pompey plenty to worry about. Once again Joe Gallen seems to have put together a determined yet entertaining side and come the end of the season they will be there or thereabouts.

QPR: Sandercombe, Yelland, Munday, Bailey, Sethi, Donnelly, Howell, Smart, Bernard, Jones, Sappleton.

Next match is a league fixture, away to Southend on Saturday 15th October