Reserves Crush Lewes...QPR Open Day....Perspective re QPR Youth Players Released

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QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: BALANTA BAGS BRACE
An Angelo Balanta-inspired QPR Reserves cruised to a 6-0 victory over their Lewes counterparts at a wet and windy Loftus Road.
The Colombian bagged a brace and made the second for Romone Rose who tapped into an empty net. Reserve Manager Gareth Ainsworth added a third before Balanta's brilliance led to his second and Rangers' fourth.
With the game well and truly safe there was just time for Chris Flood to cap off a fine personal performance with a fifth and fine sixth.
For the visit of Lewes, Ainsworth selected himself at right back, whilst also handing starts to first teamers Adam Bolder, Balanta and Samuel Di Carmine.
Jake Cole, returning from injury, was preferred to Lee Camp in goal.
Under the watchful eye of First Team coach Iain Dowie in the stands, the R's started brightly despite the overcast conditions and nearly took an early lead but Romone Rose could only drag his shot wide.
Rangers next shot was on target this time and it was striker Balanta who tested visiting keeper Seb Barton from 20 yards.
Balanta tried again seconds later when, after picking up Rose's infield pass, he jinked his way into the area before firing a left foot shot that needed another smart stop from Barton. From the resultant corner, Ed Harris headed over.
With constant Rangers pressure the deadlock was finally broken just before the hour mark. Rose escaped down the right, left the Lewes full back for dead, cut back a pass for Balanta who took a touch to steady and switch to his left foot before firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
The game settled and began to simmer after the goal with the R's dominating possession, but could only fabricate a few half chances for first Chris Arthur, and then Captain Joe Oastler, to show for their efforts.
However, in first half injury time, rangers added second. Lewes won a free-kick on the edge of the R's penalty area and, in clearing the danger, substitute Flood was set free down the right. His brilliant early cross found an unmarked Balanta who took the ball into the box, rounded keeper Barton who managed to get a touch to the ball and knock it away from the forward. Unfortunately for him, he knocked it into the path of Rose who tapped into an empty net.
The second half opened with a bang and it was the gaffer himself who got the third. Good trickery from Femi Ilesanmi to get out of danger allowed the left back to feed Flood who turned and sent a searching ball out to Ainsworth on the right. The winger cut inside, jinked past another defender before accurately firing past Barton.
Flood, who'd been impressing since coming on, was almost rewarded for his efforts but his overhead kick landed on top of the net instead of inside it.
Minutes later, the moment of the match. Brilliant build up play all over the park, in particular involving Bolder and Balanta, saw the former send an excellent ball into the feet of the latter on the edge of the six-yard box, who dragged the ball away from the despairing dive of the defender, swivelled round towards goal and picked his spot into the roof of the net.
Rangers were strolling towards the finishing line and a one-two between Flood and Damiano Tommasi in the area, saw the former Italy international curl an effort wide of the left and post.
With quarter of an hour left to play, Balanta should've sealed his hat-trick. A wonderful cross-field pass from Arthur found him in space and as he set himself he forced the keeper to commit one way but couldn't squeeze his shot through the retreating Lewes defence. His follow up was even worse, flying high over the bar.
Rangers did add a fifth and it was the hardworking Flood who held off a defender after picking up Bolder's through ball before sliding a shot under the onrushing Barton to score a well-deserved goal.
Not content with just one, Flood then let rip from the edge of the box to make the score 6-0 and see the R's well and truly high and dry.
QPR Reserves: Cole, Ainsworth, Oastler, Ilesamni, Harris, Bolder, Balanta, Rose (Maguire), Arthur, Di Carmine (Flood), Tommasi. Subs: Crowther.
Lewes Reserves: Barton, Hall, Storrie, Beda, Sappleton, Sackey, Wheeler, Elliott (Foreman), Koroma (Rivers), Fenelon, Bell. Subs: Essam, Osborn. QPR


QPR Official Site -FESTIVE FUN AT OUR FAMILY OPEN DAY
The Club will be holding a Family Open Day at Loftus Road on Tuesday 23rd December - and we want you to be part of it!
Have you ever wondered what a First Team training session entails?
Do you want to see Akos Buzsaky and co strutting their stuff on the hallowed Loftus Road turf during a series of small-sided games?
Have you got a question you'd like to ask a player in a post-training press conference in the R's newly refurbished press room?
Well now is your chance to get closer to the action, as the Club opens its doors to its Season Ticket holders and Members at the Family Open Day.
Starting at 10.00am, the R's players will be put through their paces by Iain Dowie and co, as the preparations for our Boxing Day clash against local rivals Charlton Athletic continue apace.
Supporters will have the chance to watch the entire hour-long training session, before the R's boss and a couple of his players make their way up to the press room for a brief Q and A session with a select group of fans. All those supporters who book their place will have the opportunity of being picked at random prior to the event, to ask a question to their QPR heroes.
The players will also be on hand to sign autographs and pose for photos, so don't forget to bring you camera along to savour every minute of this truly unique day.
Our popular mascot - Spark - will also be in attendance, while a special Santa's grotto will be set up in the Superstore for our younger fans, who will be rewarded with a complimentary festive gift.
Face painting and balloon modelling will also be on offer in and around the ground, while the adults can get into the festive spirit by sampling some of our special mulled wine, which will be available in the kiosks.
Entrance is FREE for all Season Ticket holders and members, but tickets are limited, so book early! To secure your FREE ticket, e-mail boxoffice@qpr.co.uk with the subject header FAMILY FUN DAY.
Please ensure you include your full name and client reference number. QPR


South London/Richard Cawley - Tooting winger lands Reading trial
TOOTING & Mitcham winger Michael Antonio is training with Reading this week... Tooting boss Billy Smith said: "I don’t mind...
Tooting’s victory at Hastings means they have now won eight and drawn one of their last 10 matches - pushing them up to second in the table. And they went on that run after being thumped 7-0 by Ashford Town (Middx) at the end of August....
"I have changed the team a bit since then and the boys who have come in have done really well," said Smith. "The two lads we signed from QPR - Aaron Goode and Andrew Howell - are really useful. I was lucky enough to get them when the new owners went in there and let most of the really good youth team players go...."
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