RANGERS OFF THE TOP

The under 18’s slipped off the top of the table this past weekend with a 3-1 defeat at title rivals Gillingham.

Joe Gallen named a fairly settled starting eleven for this one. Chris Goodchild was in goal behind a back four of Josh Ford, Aaron Goode, Lee Brown and Andrew Howell. The midfield was made up of Romone Rose, Billy Coyne, Matt O’Brien and Chris Arthur with Danny Maguire and Keiron St. Aimie paired up front.

The R’s fell behind after only seven minutes when a Gills corner was headed home by centre back Tom Bryant, the home side then doubled their advantage just after the half hour mark. Gills front man Andy Pugh sprang the offside trap, side stepped the keeper and slotted home.

Things went from bad to worse for Gallen’s boys seconds before the break when winger Chris Arthur saw red after kicking out at his full back.  

However Rangers started the second half looking stronger and after a ten minute spell of pressure finally found a way back into the game through substitute James Folkes who bagged his sixth of the season.  

The R’s were then denied an equaliser thanks to a coat of paint and good work from the Gills keeper but the comeback wasn’t to be as Gillingham wrapped up the victory, and took top spot in the process, thanks to Pugh’s second of the game after 77 minutes.  

The defeat was our first in eleven games, a run stretching back to October and sees the youngsters drop to second in the Youth Alliance table. We still have a game in hand on Gillingham though and are just a point behind the new leaders.  

Next week Gallen’s side are back at fortress Harlington where they face Luton Town, we’ll have a report from that game online on Monday evening.  

QPR: Goodchild, Ford, Goode, Howell, Brown, Rose (Folkes), O’Brien, Coyne, Arthur, St. Aimie (trialist), Maguire.