Post by Nik *QPR* on Nov 5, 2006 0:05:50 GMT -1
I would like to get into journalism when i am older(Only 14 now) so i wrote this piece...
Queens Park Rangers finally won their first game in 6 after sweeping aside Crystal Palace at Loftus Road in a performance which Manager John Gregory called "Inspirational".
Rangers started brightly, encouraged by their loud support in the P,Q and R blocks of Loftus Road and had the first effort on goal on 3 minutes when Gareth Ainsworth shot high and wide. Palace were always a threat though, and their first shot on goal came when Tom Soares fired over from 18 yards after some good link up play involving Shefki Kuqi. Palace seemed to gain momentum from that chance and Jobi Mc Anuff forced Royce into a smart save at his near post.
This was a typical London Derby and was full of exciting end to end stuff, and Rangers then enjoyed a good spell with Blackstock being denied twice, and Captain for the day Steve Lomas having his shot blocked. The impressive Blackstock was again denied when Scott Flinders made a good save after good work from Kevin Gallen. A typical mazy run from the fabulous Lee Cook forced Flinders into another save and the R's must have felt a goal was only round the corner, and how right they were, but unfortunately for the vast majority of the 14,000 strong crowd, the goal went against them. Tom Soares got in front of his man to bundle in from 6 yards after a smart pull back from the left wing to send the travelling Palace fans into raptures!
Going behind seemed to spur Rangers on and 4 minutes later, they deservedly equalised thanks to a stunning strike from the brilliant Jimmy Smith. Smith's stunning volley gave Flinders absolutely no chance and was a goal well and truly from the top draw. Despite looking to have the momentum well and truly back, QPR fell behind again two minutes before half time, Clinton Morrison poking the ball in from 2 yards following leon Cort's knockdown, despite there looking like a foul from the Eagles front man on Simon Royce, Rangers Keeper.
Palace, somewhat undeservedly so went into the break ahead, but only after Flinders made another good save from Blackstock when in reality, the R's frontman will feel he should have scored.
QPR came out a different team in the second half, and Cook sent a shot inches wide of Flinders post after 47 minutes.
QPR looked to have had a great shout for a penalty, when Danny Butterfield was seen to bundle over Gareth Ainsworth in the penalty area, but Referee Phil Down waved away the vocal cries from the R's faithful.
Kuqi then had a great chance after going one on one with Royce but fluffed his lines somewhat.
Rangers eventually drew level just before the hour, when Captain Steve Lomas got smashed home his first goal for the club from 8 yards leaving Flinders with no chance.
That goal seemed to really give Rangers a lot of confidence, but Royce again had to be on his toes to thwart Mc Anuff, easily Palace's best player, from 12 yards.
The R's were beginning to enjoy a great spell of possesion, and the unlikely figure of Marcus Bignot nearly gave them the lead when his shot from fully 30 yards flew wide of Flinders' goal.
The R's finally took the lead on 65 minutes, when Cook, after a fantastic run which had seen him beat 3 players, was sent crashing to the ground by a clumsy challenge by Butterfield, who was lucky to stay on the pitch, and Kevin Gallen stepped up to send Flinders the wrong way from the spot and send the R's fans Wild!
Rangers then sealed the game only 4 minutes later, when after a corner from Cook was flicked on by Gallen, Smith pounced to drive home his second, and Rangers fourth of the game. If the third goal sent Rangers fans wild, the fourth had them deliriously happy.
Despite Rangers being two goals to the good, their shaky defence didn't stop giving Palace chances to get back into the game, but Clinton Morrison fired straight at Royce from only 12 yards, when he surely should have done better.
Rangers had a chance to add salt into Palace's wounds, and after some excellent individual skill, only the impressive Flinders denied Blackstock a goal he so richly deserved!
By the time the Final Whistle had gone, The few Palace fans who had stayed till the end booed their team off, in contrast to Rangers who were given a standing ovation off the pitch by their fans!
Queens Park Rangers finally won their first game in 6 after sweeping aside Crystal Palace at Loftus Road in a performance which Manager John Gregory called "Inspirational".
Rangers started brightly, encouraged by their loud support in the P,Q and R blocks of Loftus Road and had the first effort on goal on 3 minutes when Gareth Ainsworth shot high and wide. Palace were always a threat though, and their first shot on goal came when Tom Soares fired over from 18 yards after some good link up play involving Shefki Kuqi. Palace seemed to gain momentum from that chance and Jobi Mc Anuff forced Royce into a smart save at his near post.
This was a typical London Derby and was full of exciting end to end stuff, and Rangers then enjoyed a good spell with Blackstock being denied twice, and Captain for the day Steve Lomas having his shot blocked. The impressive Blackstock was again denied when Scott Flinders made a good save after good work from Kevin Gallen. A typical mazy run from the fabulous Lee Cook forced Flinders into another save and the R's must have felt a goal was only round the corner, and how right they were, but unfortunately for the vast majority of the 14,000 strong crowd, the goal went against them. Tom Soares got in front of his man to bundle in from 6 yards after a smart pull back from the left wing to send the travelling Palace fans into raptures!
Going behind seemed to spur Rangers on and 4 minutes later, they deservedly equalised thanks to a stunning strike from the brilliant Jimmy Smith. Smith's stunning volley gave Flinders absolutely no chance and was a goal well and truly from the top draw. Despite looking to have the momentum well and truly back, QPR fell behind again two minutes before half time, Clinton Morrison poking the ball in from 2 yards following leon Cort's knockdown, despite there looking like a foul from the Eagles front man on Simon Royce, Rangers Keeper.
Palace, somewhat undeservedly so went into the break ahead, but only after Flinders made another good save from Blackstock when in reality, the R's frontman will feel he should have scored.
QPR came out a different team in the second half, and Cook sent a shot inches wide of Flinders post after 47 minutes.
QPR looked to have had a great shout for a penalty, when Danny Butterfield was seen to bundle over Gareth Ainsworth in the penalty area, but Referee Phil Down waved away the vocal cries from the R's faithful.
Kuqi then had a great chance after going one on one with Royce but fluffed his lines somewhat.
Rangers eventually drew level just before the hour, when Captain Steve Lomas got smashed home his first goal for the club from 8 yards leaving Flinders with no chance.
That goal seemed to really give Rangers a lot of confidence, but Royce again had to be on his toes to thwart Mc Anuff, easily Palace's best player, from 12 yards.
The R's were beginning to enjoy a great spell of possesion, and the unlikely figure of Marcus Bignot nearly gave them the lead when his shot from fully 30 yards flew wide of Flinders' goal.
The R's finally took the lead on 65 minutes, when Cook, after a fantastic run which had seen him beat 3 players, was sent crashing to the ground by a clumsy challenge by Butterfield, who was lucky to stay on the pitch, and Kevin Gallen stepped up to send Flinders the wrong way from the spot and send the R's fans Wild!
Rangers then sealed the game only 4 minutes later, when after a corner from Cook was flicked on by Gallen, Smith pounced to drive home his second, and Rangers fourth of the game. If the third goal sent Rangers fans wild, the fourth had them deliriously happy.
Despite Rangers being two goals to the good, their shaky defence didn't stop giving Palace chances to get back into the game, but Clinton Morrison fired straight at Royce from only 12 yards, when he surely should have done better.
Rangers had a chance to add salt into Palace's wounds, and after some excellent individual skill, only the impressive Flinders denied Blackstock a goal he so richly deserved!
By the time the Final Whistle had gone, The few Palace fans who had stayed till the end booed their team off, in contrast to Rangers who were given a standing ovation off the pitch by their fans!
