Bray Wanderers v QPR EDS (U21) A day out by the sea they said. A day in the sunshine they said. After all, the countrys been awash with sunshine all week hasnt it. So as referee Paula Brady signalled for kick off in the Carlisle Grounds in Bray, Co Wicklow, at 2.20pm we were all sitting in the covered main stand in our coats as the rain lashed down. I collected my match programmes and team sheet and joined the QPR fans in the main stand. I met some old friends - Paul Connolly and his dad John, and Kevin Brennan who I met earlier in the week at the Limerick game and Geo. I also met some new friends who I only knew through the Irish Rs facebook page; Graeme McDermott from Belfast via Telford, and Jan Age Pettersen and his son Elliott. There were other QPR fans scattered throughout the main stand too. In a crowd of approximately 200 there were 40 QPR supporters. I told the lads to keep an eye on our No 9 Reece Grego Cox, as hes an Ireland U17 international and sub Aaron Mitchell. I had only seen Mitchell play twice before for the U18s 2 seasons ago at the Harlington training ground and he really impressed me with his tenacious tackling and overall attitude. The first time I saw Grego Cox was in Limerick 4 days ago. He came on as sub for the second half and he too impressed me. He harried the defence at every opportunity and wasnt afraid to get stuck in and could stand his ground not like a lot of players you see now who would rather go over all to easily instead of staying on their feet. And he wasnt afraid to shoot from every angle. Other names I mentioned - as had been mentioned to me by manager Steve Gallen in Limerick - were defenders Darnell Furlong - Pauls son, who made me feel old as I had watched Paul come through the ranks at QPR back in the 80s! and Harley Wise, Dennis Wises cousins son - I hope Ive got that bit of family history right! Olamide Shodipo was another one to watch, a young Dublin born player on the left wing. Also, Brad Spencer, son of John, formerly of QPR and that team that play in blue in SW6. Paul Connolly told me to keep an eye on George Butler, who was named on the bench, as he had met his mum and dad before the game; they were over on a day trip to see there son. Back to the game, and the lashing rain did not deter QPR who got off to a lively start as on 5 minutes. Sphati Ismajil and Brandon Comley combined well in the penalty area, Ismajil rounded the keeper but was too wide to shoot himself so he pulled the ball back for Comley to shoot but his shot was just wide of the far post. On 18 minutes Harley Wise gave away a free kick 20 yards out but luckily the Bray players shot was just wide of the near post. Two minutes later QPR goalkeeper Aaron Lennox was called in to action as he pushed a shot around the far post for a corner. The corner was cleared. During half time and in typical fashion, the only woman in the group had to organise the new setting of the Telford QPR flag on the far side of the ground. It was all too much for Paul Connolly to walk around the ground to help Graeme McDermott relocate the flag. After the break a QPR corner was cleared which resulted in the opening goal on 48 minutes. Young Ryan Coombes, a well known name in a young Bray team this afternoon, ran with the ball from midfield and unleashed an almighty shot from 25 yards that flew in to the top right hand corner of the net. Lennox had no chance of stopping that one. Not long after Reece Grego Cox - who was being watched by Ireland Under 17 manager Paul Doolin (who I tipped off during the week would be playing in Bray today) - had a shot from outside the 18 yard area which the keeper pushed over the bar. From the resultant corner Cole Kpenawa saw his header go just wide of the near post on the hour mark. Ten minutes later Greco Cox sized up the keeper and took his time in teeing up his shot which the keeper did well to tip over the bar. Within a minute sub Ben Pattie had a shot from outside the area pushed around the post for a corner. His effort from the corner was disallowed by the assistant referee. QPR were piling on the pressure and two minutes later sub Aaron Mitchell equalised; I would love to tell you what a beautiful goal it was but I missed it! As Mitchell, and his team mates celebrated on the pitch the band of QPR fans sitting in the main stand broke in to song as if we were at Loftus Road. You all know the words - da da da da HOOPS da da da da!!! My QPR friends around me informed me that it was a shot from 20 yards. The reason I missed the goal is that the PA announcer chose this moment to announce the winner of a signed Bray shirt and the winner was sitting beside me, young Elliott Age Pettersen. It finished 1-1and it was a good game played in the right manner. It was a lovely gesture of the young QPR players to come over to the fans to applaud us at the end if the game. Both sides were without their favoured selections as Brays first team have a re-arranged league fixture to fulfil tomorrow and many of the players Gallen would have taken on this trip were in Germany with the QPR first team squad. So any though this was billed as an under 21 squad it was mainly 17 to 19 year olds and they did themselves proud. We all hope they we see more of this squad over in Ireland again and one day hopefully in the first team. Its been too long since one of our own has made it through to the first team and really been given a chance. I had a chat with Reece Grego Cox, Aaron Mitchell and Darnell Furlong as they boarded the team bus and a grabbed a photo with Mitchell and Grego Cox. I had to hang around as the bus was blocking my car and I was hardly going to ask the bus driver to move just so I could get out. Though Steve Gallen did take his time getting on the bus once he realised I was blocked in...! The Irish Rs are now looking forward to welcoming the first team squad next week, who knows, Harry might take one or two of these lads back over after the results in Germany this week ..... You just never know! QPR: Aaron Lennox; Darnell Furlong, Osman Kakay, Brad Spencer, Harley Wise; Cole Kpenapa, Brandon Comley, Josh Hunt-Laurent (captain), Olamide Shodipo; Reece Grego-Cox, Sphati Ismajil. Subs: Aaron Mitchell, David Raise, James Harron, George Butler, Ben Pattie
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 22:23:08 +0000
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