QPR Development Squad (11) – Harefield United (0) 

Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup – Round One 

Team: Warren, Agbude, Putman, Wilkie, Akindileni, Alemayehu, Coomes, Morgan, Dillon, Dyke, Hassan 

Subs: Fittall, McCann, Aoraha, Oluwabusola, O’Brien 

Rangers’ entry in this competition was a bit of a surprise as they hadn’t competed in it for many years. The first appearance resulted in a 2-0 win (Smith 2) over City Ramblers on 24th November1894 

Clapton were the first holders of the trophy when they defeated Phoenix 4-0 in 1889. 

Former R’s striker Richard Pacquette took over as Harefield manager in the summer after a very long-playing career involving around thirty clubs. 

In the 2nd minute, a deep ball into the box was aimed at Jake Coomes, but the R’s winger couldn’t quite reach it. 

Shortly after at the other end, Winston Iworn headed just wide of the target. 

After Jake Coomes had won a corner, Alex Wilkie flicked the ball into the keeper’s gloves. 

Jake Coomes’ side-footed shot put the home side in the lead on seven minutes. 

And the lead was doubled in less than a minute later after Isak Alemayehu let fly from a good 25-yards. 

Rangers went further ahead on 12 minutes, when Jake Coomes took possession of Jaiden Putman’s cross and the R’s winger finished with a strike in the bottom corner. 

Cian Dillon superbly curled the ball in the net after a quarter-of-an-hour, but it was ruled out for offside. 

With the R’s moving the ball crisply at pace, Jake Coomes completed his hat-trick on 26-minutes after smashing the ball into the roof of the net from close range. 

On 33 minutes, after Cian Dillon had been put through, the Rangers striker, off-balance, shot wide of the target. 

The Hares went 5-0 down following Cian Dillon’s back-heel from Jake Coomes’ cross. 

There was still time for a sixth when Kaleb Dyke finished from close range from Jaiden Putman’s assist. Half-time: 6-0. 

The first change of the evening saw Archie O’Brien replace Ridwan Hassan.  

Good movement and precision passing continued after the interval, and on 54 minutes, R’s captain, Kaleb Dyke headed in Kieran Morgan’s cross from the edge of the six-yard box. 

At the other end, a rare attempt from the visitors came when Winston Iworn somehow put the ball wide of the upright. 

Kaleb Dyke’s strike at goal, cleared the bar and hit a vehicle in the car park, which then set-off the alarm.  

On 63 minutes, Noah McCann and Alex Aoraha were introduced at the expense of Alex Wilkie and Kaleb Dyke respectively.  

Three minutes later, Kieran Morgan’s free kick from 20-odd yards, forced a flying save from Jacob Balheimer.Harefield won their first corner a minute or so after that. 

The final change came on 72 minutes when Cian Dillon made way for Gabriel Oluwabusola. 

The home side added an eighth goal after 75 minutes when substitute Archie O’Brien just managed to get his foot to Kieran Morgan’s cross at the far-post. 

It became nine following Archie O’Brien’s low-drive, and he then went on to complete his hat-trick on 84 minutes. 

Mr Tooley booked Louis Bircham following a lunge on a Rangers player. 

Alex Aoraha completed the scoring in the fifth minute of added time, with a strike into the far-corner, from just outside the box.  

Steve Russell