rangers reserves bag four against rotating saints

Leon Clarke was the sharpest shooter on display at the Clarence Park ground in St Albans last night, as an efficient QPR XI scored four goals without reply. Rangers' margin of victory could have been wider still - a first half effort was ruled offside, apparently without justification.

The first half action was notable for the ball being kept on the ground for much of the time, with the visitors passing it about comfortably and feeling very little pressure from the red-shirted home side. Martin Rowlands was employed as the holding midfielder, playing a little in front of the back four. Another former first team stalwart, Lee Cook, played higher up the pitch, spending much of his time in familiar territory, hugging the left flank. Also on display last night were Angelo Balanta, Antonio German, Gary Borrowdale, Bruno Andrade and young Michael Doughty, with the latter seeing a lot of the ball and seeming to be have been instructed to play in the famous 'hole' just behind the front line.

Supporters of both clubs will be adjusting to league competitions from which their sides have been absent for a good number of years. While travelling QPR supporters become reacquainted with Anfield, Old Trafford and White Hart Lane, Saints followers will be heading for Southern League Premier Division venues for the first time in a while, having spent most of the last few years playing at Conference South level. This summer has also seen a change of manager for the Clarence Park side, with David Howell hired from Harrow Borough by the two directors who took control of the Saints in May.

The half-time mark heralded another kind of change, with St Albans substituting their entire team for a second set of lads, this time wearing the more traditional yellow and blue kit. The new arrivals fared no better than the team they had replaced, with three of the QPR goals coming after the break. Clarke's second was followed by a decent strike from German. A 75th minute headed goal from the slow-moving substitute Alessandro Pellicori rounded off the scoring.

Leon Clarke (no. 8): terrifying the Saints' defence

 What any of this means for QPR remains to be seen. This easy victory is surely unlikely to do much in terms of elevating any of these players into the Rangers first team. The game, though watchable, was played at a leisurely pace. This was the summer's first friendly for the home team and it looked safe to assume that there is some work to do in terms of the Saints' fitness. So the test was not a stern one for the QPR players on show last night, although in the second half the fresher replacement St Albans side found it marginally easier to disrupt the visitors' passing game than their first half predecessors had done. 

Some seasoned QPR watchers may have felt saddened to see Messrs. Rowlands and Cook turning out in this match rather than joining the first teamers for their short series of friendlies in the southwest. If this is a signal that neither is likely to feature in the Rangers' Premier League squad, one wonders what the future holds for the pair, both of whom, of course, have been so important in past campaigns.

This was an enjoyable evening. It was pleasant to roam the compact ground freely, watching the first half from the little wooden grandstand and the second half from behind the goal  which QPR were attacking to good effect. St Albans City club staff always offer a warm welcome and despite the club's recent financial worries, points deduction and relegation, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Notwithstanding the quality of the play and the fact that only QPR's makeweights and wannabes were on display, it was also refreshing to be asked to part with just eight pounds to watch ninety minutes of football. As we look forward to the announcement about Loftus Road match ticket prices this week, I am assuming that the seat for which I was paying thirty quid last season will now routinely cost nearly double that.