Shots 0 - 3 QPR

Last updated : 19 July 2005 By Stray Shots Team

Adam Miller's return to The Recreation Ground saw his side run out comfortable 3-0 winners, but yet another game has given Shots boss Terry Brown a chance to see how his trialists faired against superior opposition.

Sekani Simpson and Tobi Jinadu both managed to have good games, Dave Lee showed why he was picked and Jon Challinor was released and both Nick Stavrukos and Dave Winfield looked fairly solid at the back.

Second choice keeper Andy Glasspool had a fantastic game - which hopefully went to calm supporters fears that the club do have a strong alternative for Nikki Bull should he be injured.

One notable absence was Ray Warburton, to the disappointment of the fans.

Warburton was expected to make his final bow in front of his adoring Rec following but failed to turn up.

The match was another chance for the boss to run the rule over new triallists, and take another look at those who have already featured.

Introduced to the Rec for the first time was keeper Andy Antweed, Peterborough defender Simon Rea and striker Karl Wilson-Dennis.

Alsop led a corp of players given another run-out with Bertie Brayley, Sekani Simpson and Aussie midfielder Nick Stavarus all handed starts.

The boss surmised: “I felt we gained a lot today, I thought Julian Alsop was a real handful for the back four. Everything about his game is what we need so that was pleasing. Stavarus was brilliant, he almost made himself a crowd favourite in an afternoon.

“We kept it down to three, after giving away some of the worst goals I've ever seen at the Rec in my life. One or two people who were given the opportunity today are not quite what we're looking for,” added Brown.

After just four minutes Aaron Brown opened the scoring for Rangers — lobbing Antweed.

They then doubled the lead soon after when Rea tried to clear a shot, but pulled it back into the path of ex-Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore, who slotted home into an empty net.

At the other end, Alsop saw his header rebound off the crossbar before firing inches over a few minutes later.

A defensive mix-up led to the third goal — Tarkan Mustafa trailing the ball back towards the box for Antweed to collect, only for Aaron Brown cheekily steal in, nip past the bewildered keeper and roll the ball into another empty net.

The second half saw Andy Glasspool replace Antweed between the sticks, while Rangers made seven changes.

Glasspool was forced into a busy half and did himself plenty of favours with the manager, saving well from Marcus Bignot, Stefan Bailey and Lee Cook to keep the score down.

Brown added: “We're missing a real dynamic forward, although the result doesn't bother me an iota. The boys showed good character.

“I can't be happy with the pre-season so far, I like to win games and we've more or less lost every one.”

SHOTS: Antweed; Mustafa, Jinadu, Rea, Simpson, Crittenden, Lee, Stavarus, Alsop, Wilson-Dennis, Brayley. Subs (all used): Glasspool; McNamara, Nurse, Ruggles, Winfield, Scott.

RANGERS: Cole; Shimmin, Hislop, Evatt, Shittu, Doherty, Miller, Bean, Furlong, Moore, Brown. Subs: Gallen; Sturridge, Santos, Hugo, Bignot, Bailey, Cook.

Ref: S Tomlinson. Att: 1,620

With thanks to the Aldershot News.