RUSHDEN ROUTED

Joe Gallen's under 18's side made it five straight wins this weekend with a 6-0 humbling of Rushden and Diamonds at Harlington.

Gallen tinkered with the side once again as Rangers returned to Harlington for their first home match in a month. Chris Goodchild returned in goal behind a back four of Karl Yelland, Josh Ford, Aaron Goode and Andrew Howell.

After his scoring debut last week, Keiron Murtagh was given another chance to show what he could do in midfield, he was paired with Billy Coyne, whilst Matt O'Connell and Chris Arthur worked the wings. Up front Romone Rose was partnered by James Folkes.

Rangers came straight out of the blocks and scored, perhaps, their fastest ever goal. Just ten seconds were on the clock when Rose struck home O’Connell’s cross to take the lead.

The lads didn’t stop there though, three minutes later O’Connell chalked up another assist, this time putting in Arthur for the second and he made it something of a set up hatrick when he won a penalty on the ten minute mark which Yelland converted.

Things quietened down a little then after this and it took until early in the second half for Rangers to extend their lead further. Five minutes after the break Arthur’s cross was deflected in off a Rushden defender to make it 4-0, Ricky The Hitman bagged the fifth on the hour mark before Coyne completed the scoring when he headed home Arthur’s cross.

The fantastic result pushes Rangers right back in the title mix, we are now second to Colchester only on goal difference and are due to travel to face the Essex boys in our next league fixture this Saturday morning.

For now though attention turns to the FA Youth Cup as Rangers travel to face Swindon Town in the third round this Tuesday.

QPR: Goodchild, Yelland, Ford, Goode, Howell (Brown), O’Connell (Sappleton), Coyne, Murtagh (O’Brien), Arthur, Rose, Folkes. Subs not used: Maguire, Sethi