Harriers suffered their first-ever First Round exit in the LDV Vans Trophy after being outclassed by a slick
Queens Park Rangers side who played well within themselves and with the confidence of a team second in their
league.
Hampered by the loss of Bo Henriksen to an achilles injury before the game, Ian Britton had his attacking
options even more limited than usual and changed formation to a 4-4-1-1 with loanee JJ Meligan playing in the
space between the midfiel and lone striker John Williams. Craig Hinton also made a return to the side
in place of captain Adam Willis and took over the captain's armband from him.
In an eerie, deserted, stadium Rangers started in lively fashion making quick, incisive attacks using the
pace of their two front men to good advantage. After nine minutes Dennis Oli was the first to threaten
Stuart Brock's goal, receiving the ball from the right and sweeping a shot across the face of goal and just
wide of the far post. Harriers were not overawed, however, and showed a little promise in their build
up play, Scott Stamps amde a good attack bringing the ball forward out of defence but instead of shooting
when he had a sight of goal he fed the ball to Melligan who dragged the ball wide. After 20 minutes
Harriers had another good opportunity when QPR debutant Warren Barton made a weak backpass toward his goalkeeper
Nick Culkin that Melligan pounced on but before he could get a shot in he was denied by a good tackle from
Terrel Forbes.
The speed of Rangers' attack was evident again just before the half hour mark when Harriers had a free kick
in a good attacking position, the kick was cleared to Oli who outpaced the Harriers defence but shot weakly
at Brock. The opening goal came shortly before the interval, and once more it was the pace of the home
team that was key, Eric Sabin made a break on the right evading a challenge from Hinton that would have been
successful against a Division Three player and pulled the ball back to Richard Pacquette who steered it across
Brock and inside the far post. In the last minute of the half Harriers made another incursion into home
territory when Matt Gadsby brought the ball out of midfield and set up Melligan but again he was quickly
stopped by a good tackle from Arthur Gnohere.
Harriers best chance of the game came ten mintes after the interval, Melligan had the ball on the right and
whipped a good early cross into the danger area but Sam Shilton making a late arrival couldn't quite connect
with it. QPR took control of the game, playing well within themselves and holding down any possible
Harriers comeback and it was not until midway through the half that the visitors threatened again. A
deep free kick from Graham Ward almost picked out an unmarked Gadsby in the penalty area but the midfielder
failed to make a connection with tha ball and the danger went away.
To emphasise the gap in class Rangers made a doulble substitution takning off the impressive Oli and Pacquette
and replacing them with their first choice strikeforce of Kevin Gallen and Tony Thorpe. It was a defender,
however, who finished the game off; Gino Padula's corner from the right swung across the face of the six yard
box with the Harriers defence watching like statues and Gnohere rose unchallenged at the far post to head
home. The lively Martin Rowlands created another chance eight minutes from the end passing through
the Harriers backline to Gallen who shot straight at Brock. In the last minute Harriers managed their
first shot of the half, Sean Parrish curled a shot from the corner of the penalty area just wide of the far
post. In stoppage time there was one final chance for the visitors to get a consolation goal, Padula
made a rare slip allowing Dean Bennett to get past him but once in the penalty area he fell just as he
was about to pull the ball across the goalmouth towards Matt Lewis. |