QPR Development Squad (7) – Preston North End U21 (1) 

Premier League Cup 

Team: trialist, Friel, McCann, McDowell, Shann, Talla, Sutton, Tarbotton, trialist, Murphy, Kolli 

Subs: Clark, Leahy, Manufor, Aoraha, Petrie 

Apart from Preston North End, Rangers’ other opponents in Group E of the Premier League Cup are Blackburn Rovers and Colchester United.  

Friday night at the SkyEx Community Stadium and it was the Lilywhites who almost took the lead in the opening minutes. Layton’s Stewart’s  initial effort came off the upright and the follow-up was then successfully blocked.  

Rocco Friel responded for the home side with a shot directed straight at the keeper. 

Then, after six minutes, Rayan Kolli picked up a loose ball and continued to fire the ball into the back of the net. 

Rayan Kolli was fouled close to the bye-line, just as he put over a superb cross and the ball went for a corner. 

Despite Rocco Friel having a hand pushed in his face, the referee, in close proximity, wasn’t interested! 

Around the 20-minute mark, Harry Murphy was harshly shown a yellow card. Kian Best stepped up to take the subsequent free kick from the edge of the ‘D’ and the Preston defender fired the ball into the corner.  

Emmerson Sutton’s low strike bounced off the upright. He then got one-on-one with the keeper, who did well to keep the ball out with his legs. 

Rangers took a deserved lead after 23 minutes, when the trialist smashed the ball into net from fully 25-yards. 

Then, Rayan Kolli cut in from the right and his strike whizzed just past the upright.  

Following a foul on Theo Mawene, the Preston No.11 picked the ball up and threw it at Rocco Friel. This didn’t impress the referee who then showed him a yellow card. 

After the Lilywhites were awarded a corner, a header narrowly missed the target.  

This was to be a good 15-minute period for the away side and as their next corner was curled in, Jack McDowell was well-placed to head the ball off the line.  

Then, a dangerous ball into the box was met by McDowell, sliding in front of the six-yard box before it was cleared to safety. 

Rayan Kolli was booked and just before the interval, as a free kick was about to be taken, Theo Mawene continually stood over the ball. This resulted in a second yellow and his marching orders! Half-time: 2-1. 

A third Rangers goal arrived on 68 minutes. Looking as if he had taken too long to pull the trigger, the trialist turned one way and then the other, before belting the ball into the net from close range. 

A fourth goal almost arrived after the initial effort had been blocked, the trialist’s shot came off the post. 

Not surprisingly it arrived after 57 minutes. Good work by Rocco Friel from close to the bye-line, resulted in the trialist’s hat-trick from a free header. 

On 59 minutes, Paul Furlong brought on Alex Aoraha for Teddy Tarbotton.  

Harry Murphy shot into the keeper’s gloves, which was soon followed by Rayan Kolli, Noah McCann and Emmerson Sutton being replaced. 

After 68 minutes, Harry Murphy’s superb free kick from the edge of the box found the top-corner. 

Nine minutes later, it was six when the R’s skipper picked his spot from close range. 

Kieran Petrie was booked and three minutes into added time, Harry Murphy completed his hat-trick.  

The following week it was back to league action as Paul Furlong’s side then took on Burnley. 

Steve Russell