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- On This Day, Forty-Five Years Ago: The Jim Gregory Revolution Truly Began
QPR Official Site - EQUIPE ROMAGNA 1, QPR 4
Hogan Ephraim's sixth pre-season strike set the tone, as the R's coasted to another comfortable victory against Equipe Romagna in Italy.
Ephraim - playing in a three-man attack - opened the scoring on 44 minutes, before further second half strikes from Leon Clarke (2) and Josh Parker sealed the rout.
Equipe Romagna - a side made up entirely of former Serie A players, who are all on the look-out for new Clubs before the start of the new domestic season in Italy - bagged a late consolation courtesy of Andrea Agostinelli, but even that failed to take the gloss off a straightforward Rangers win.
Gaffer Neil Warnock selected possibly one of the smallest front-lines in QPR history for the R's fourth pre-season outing.
The diminutive Parker joined Ephraim and Jamie Mackie in attack, ahead of a midfield trio of Shaun Derry, Ali Faurlin and Akos Buzsaky.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's, whilst the back four consisted of skipper Mikele Leigertwood, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill.
In a lively opening, Enrico Fantini came closest to opening the scoring, only to fluff his lines when faced one-on-one with Cerny from an acute angle.
At the other end, Parker's pace sparked an opening, but his drag back from the byline narrowly evaded the onrushing Buzsaky.
It was Cerny who had the first shot to save though on seven minutes, when he gathered Nicola Mazzotti's six yard effort with ease.
Rangers were by no means second best, however, and Faurlin went close to opening the scoring moments later, firing narrowly over from fully 25-yards with a searching effort from distance.
Ephraim was a constant threat for the R's, popping up in pockets of space all across the park.
It was from one such foray that the former West Ham ace centred for Parker, but his far post header failed to test Michele Taridoli in the Equipe goal.
Cerny had to be alert to save Frasimir Chamakou's 33rd minute free-kick, but for the large part a midfield battle ensued, with both sides jostling for possession in the middle third of the pitch.
With Hill leading by example at left back and linking up nicely with the effervescent Parker, Rangers finished the half in the ascendancy and they were rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half-time.
Derry's inch-perfect through ball freed Ephraim and the in-form attacker did the rest, calmly stroking the ball home from 12 yards with some aplomb.
The second period was only 30 seconds old when the R's fashioned a chance.
Parker's electrifying pace again caused problems and when his cross was only parried as far as Faurlin some 12 yards out, the Argentine playmaker fired over.
A minute later, half-time substitute Clarke squared for Heidar Helguson, but his stinging half-volley again flew over the bar.
The goal the R's fast start to the second half deserved duly arrived on 57 minutes.
Parker inevitably played provider, centring for Clarke, who - despite being grounded as he bore down on goal - bundled the ball into the roof of the net.
It could - and perhaps should - have been three on 65 minutes, but Helguson was denied by Eros Corradini after another sublime Derry through ball.
Undeterred, the R's made their dominance count 60 seconds later, as Parker evaded the offside trap, beat Corradini to the through ball and tapped into an empty net.
Rangers were in total control by now and Clarke added a fourth when he cut in from the left flank and curled an expert finish into the far corner.
It was a magical finish from the former Sheffield Wednesday front-man, who had earlier squandered a far easier chance just eight yards out.
Despite Helguson's failure to hit the target from just six yards out late on, Rangers continued to dominate the closing stages.
However, it was the hosts who had the final say, when Agostinelli fired past Cerny from 20 yards to reduce the deficit.
QPR: Cerny, Leigertwood, Connolly, Gorkss (Ramage 46), Hill, Derry (German 70), Faurlin, Buzsaky (Clarke 46), Mackie (Helguson 46), Ephraim, Parker. Subs: Borrowdale. QPR
QPR Official Site - QPR LINE-UP v EQUIPE ROMAGNA
QPR: Cerny, Leigertwood, Connolly, Gorkss, Hill, Derry, Faurlin, Buzsaky, Mackie, Ephraim, Parker.
Subs: Ramage, Clarke, Borrowdale, Helguson, German QPR
QPR Official Site - VINE STARTS FOR RESERVES
Posted on: Wed 21 Jul 2010
Striker Rowan Vine has been named in Ronnie Jepson's starting line-up for this evening's Reserve clash at Taunton.
Vine, who was on the scoresheet in the second-string's 3-2 win over Saltash United on Monday, will start up front alongside Romone Rose, who also netted two days ago.
Meanwhile, Damion Stewart comes in at centre back after arriving in Cornwall earlier this afternoon. The Jamaican international was unable to travel to Italy with the First Team squad on Tuesday owing to visa issues.
QPR: Putnins, Harriman, Stewart, Brown, Waters, Oastler, Ehmer, Hibbert, Mason (trialist), Vine, Rose.
Subs: Andrade, Doughty, Bewick, Bulmer, Fitzsimmons, Johnson (trialist). QPR