RHODES TO THE OCCASION
Wednesday 5th December 2007
by Ron Norris

The under 18's had one foot in the FA Youth Cup fourth round draw after finding themselves 3-1 up against Ipswich but crashed to an uncharacteristic defeat, conceding four goals in the last ten minutes of play.

The R's had taken the lead through a stunning, 25 yard, Chris Arthur free kick and doubled the advantage through Romone Rose just after the half hour mark.

Ipswich struck back to half the deficit through the highly rated Jordan Rhodes who saw his header crash off the bar and go in and count despite R's claims that it didn't cross the line.

The score remained the same thanks to some good goalkeeping at either end until the 75 minute mark with Rose struck his second of the game, and thirteenth of the season, to surely seal Rangers' passage into the next round.

However it wasn't to be, as the clock ticked past the 80 minute mark Ipswich made it 3-2 through Ed Upson and then, with just four minutes to play, they levelled the scores through a Jai Reason header.

Then Rhodes stepped up to the plate, and the young striker secured his hatrick with 89th and 90th minute goals to send the Suffolk side into the fourth round and leave Steve Brown's boys cursing their luck in this competition once again.

QPR: Goodchild, Coyne, Ford (Harris), Lawrence, Brown, Arthur (Sylvan-Vanterpol), O'Brien M, Davenport, Parker (Morgan-Cummings), Balanta, Rose. Subs not used: O'Brien L, Smith.