MATT WALKS OVER COBBLERS
Rangers' under 18's roared back into action after their Christmas break with a thumping 6-3 win over Northampton, helped in no small part by two Matt O'Brien goals.
It's the time of year where Joe Gallen has to start to decide on the young lads future's so there were plenty of changes for this one.
Reece Crowther started in goal behind a back four of Aaron Goode, Josh Ford, Andrew Howell and Lee Brown. In midfield Romone Rose lined up alongside Billy Coyne, Matt O'Brien and Chris Arthur while up front James Folkes was partnered by Danny Maguire.
Rangers raced into a two goal lead, first through Folkes early strike and then a header from Goode resulted in an own goal being conceded. The visitors struck back to cut the lead down to a single goal shortly after and this proved to be a pattern that would continue throughout the game.
South East Conference League Table
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Colchester 11 23
2 QPR 11 23
3 Gillingham 11 20
O'Brien restored the two goal cushion five minutes before the break but just before the whistle Northampton struck back again to make it 3-2 going into half time. Andrew Howell found the back of net for Rangers' fourth fourteen minutes into the second half only for The Cobblers to peg the lead back once again shortly after.
However that would be the last time Northampton kept a foot in the game as a goal from Maguire and a second for O'Brien wrapped up a good start to 2007 for Gallen's boys.
Victory aside the other big news was Keiron St. Aimie coming off the bench for the last twenty five minutes. This lad has had a terrible run of injuries since breaking through to the reserves at the age of just 15 a couple of seasons ago. Hopefully that is all behind him now and he get on with his R's career as he looked to have a lot of potential.
The win leaves Rangers level on points with Colchester at the top of the table and just a single goal worse off in the GD column. Next week Brentford are the visitors to Harlington and Gallen will be looking for another good win to keep up the pressure on the leaders.
QPR: Crowther, Goode, Ford, Howell, Brown, Rose (Parrett) Coyne, O'Brien, Arthur, Folkes (St. Aimie), Maguire.
