1-1: Pellicori for QPR
QPR Official Site
IN RESERVE: SPOILS SHARED
Posted on: Tue 08 Sep 2009
QPR Reserves played out their second draw in as many matches in front of the on-looking management duo of Jim Magilton and John Gorman as they drew 1-1 with Brentford Reserves.
Alessandro Pellicori (pictured) opened the scoring early in the second half, only for Charlie McDonald to earn the Bees a point with a well taken goal.
Keith Ryan picked a strong line-up, including a number of First Team players, with Gavin Mahon, Matteo Alberti, Patrick Agyemang and Pellicori all lining up at Griffin Park.
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As the teams took to the pitch under sweltering conditions, it was the visitors who started brightest, with some neat interplay down the right between Agyemang and Alberti providing youngster Joe Oastler with a chance to put the R's one up, but he blazed his effort over the bar from the edge of the area.
Nikki Bull's Brentford goal was peppered once again soon after, as Alberti lofted a ball across goal from the right, but Pellicori couldn't keep his header down.
Quick feet from Antonio German won his side a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Rangers didn't capitalise on their good position as Oastler's ball in failed to beat the first man and the Brentford defence calmly cleared the ball away from danger.
Moments later, the hosts went close after a clever one-two between Steve Kabba and Lewis Ferrell on the edge of the Rangers box provided James McCluskey with the chance to fire the hosts into the lead, but Tom Heaton was more than equal to his effort, despite the fact it took a deflection on route to goal.
Rangers went close to taking the lead themselves after 35 minutes, as Alberti floated a corner into the danger area, but Pellicori's header flew past the right-hand post.
As the first-half drew to a close, the hosts almost went into the break with a one goal advantage, as Mahon was caught in possession by Marcus Bean. The former Rangers man broke clear and fired a shot at Heaton's goal from the edge of the area, but the ball whistled past the left-hand post, much to the relief of skipper Mahon.
Much like the first half, it was Rangers who started the second half the brightest, eventually taking the lead after 51 minutes.
A corner in from the right was only half cleared by the Brentford defence. Under pressure from Agyemang and Oastler, Bull dropped the resulting cross at the feet of Pellicori, who lashed it into the net from no more than six-yards out.
The R's almost doubled their advantage after a powerful run by German. The tricky wide player cut inside from the right, but the Brentford defence stood firm as his shot was well blocked by Blake.
The visitors were very much in the ascendency now, and they went close once again as Oastler had another attempt at goal, this time from the edge of the area. His strike seemed destined to nestle in the bottom corner, but Bull pulled off a fine stop, tipping the ball past the post and out for a corner.
Against the run of play, however, the Bees drew level. A slip from Romone Rose allowed Kabba to pick out MacDonald inside the Rangers penalty area. The forward took his opportunity, firing the ball into the top corner, giving Heaton no chance.
The equaliser seemed to spark the hosts into life, and they almost took the lead via another MacDonald effort. A strong surge down the left by Blake presented MacDonald with a shooting opportunity, and he smashed a powerful effort low and hard, but his strike failed to find the target clipping the post on its way wide.
With just 10 minutes remaining, QPR went close to regaining their advantage after a mazy run from German. The attacking midfielder carried the ball past two defenders before cutting in from the right and hitting a left-footed curler, but the ball flew agonisingly past the right-hand post.
With the match drawing to a close, German had a half-chance to snatch a late winner as the ball was whipped in from the right by substitute Michael Harriman. However, he was unable to control his header, and the ball flew harmlessly over the bar.
QPR Reserves: Heaton, Rose, Brown, Mahon (Bewick 76), Parmenter, Harris, Alberti, Oastler, Agyemang (Harriman 76), German, Pellicori (Ehmer 82).
Subs: Waters, Bulmer.
www.qpr.co.uk/page/ReserveNews/0,,10373~1790775,00.html