The U21s avenged their only defeat so far this season to stay top of the Professional Development League with another terrific performance at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, writes Pete Oliver.
Rangers beat the Whites on the opening night in a Premier League Cup tie but couldn’t stop Julian Darby’s side from extending their 100 per cent league record with a fifth successive win.
Wanderers were tested as the Londoners – who started with former Wycombe striker Richard Kone in attack before he was injured half an hour in – claimed only the second goal the Whites have conceded in the league this season.
But another strike from top scorer Daeshon Lawrence and a Conor Lewis effort before half-time gave Wanderers’ control before Toby Ritchie made it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go to provide the breathing space to bank another three points.
Rangers missed from the penalty spot through another first-teamer in Justin Obikwu – who last season helped Lincoln City win League One during a loan spell at Sincil Bank – just before Ritchie’s effort and did get a goal back through the impressive Rayan Kolli with 10 minutes to go.
But Wanderers also had chances to add further to their goal tally on the break as they continued their impressive start to the campaign to stay clear at top of the table.
“Listen, they're a good team,” said a delighted Darby as his good start as U21s’ head coach also continues. “We played against them in the first game of the season in the cup game and they thumped us 4-1.
“They passed the ball around well and middle to front they were a really, really good team, so we had to be at it today. They’re at our park and at the minute we're sat at the top of the table, so it was up to us to try and take it to them.
“I thought they had most of the possession but I thought on the counter-attack we were electric. We were really good on the counter-attack and we managed to get three up.
“We've got some energy and we've got some pace up front and when we nick that ball in midfield or at the back it's always on to go ‘bang’ and hopefully within five, 10 seconds you're in their box. That's the plan anyway and at the minute, it's working.
“I was a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded because it just puts a little pressure on you for the last 15 minutes or so. But at the end of the day, it's another three points and it's a great learning curve for the boys against a team with some really, really good players. To go toe-to-toe with them was really good and I'm pleased with the way they fought it out.”
The opening goal after just 10 minutes underlined Wanderers’ threat as winger Max Lott produced the first of a number of superb runs to carry the ball up the pitch and into the visitors’ penalty area before picking out Lawrence to locate the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the season. It was then 2-0 when another decent passing move saw Harry Leigh feed Lewis to cut inside and steer home another tidy finish.
Right-back Finn Wilkinson also kept driving Wanderers forward before his challenge ended Kone’s afternoon early and his replacement, Joshua Wright, went closest to a goal for Rangers before the break when he fired over in stoppage time.
The Hoops spent much of the second half in Wanderers’ territory but were frequently caught out on the counter as Lott, in particular, stretched them out wide and Ritchie popped up in the middle.
Ritchie should have made it three following some neat footwork but shot straight at keeper Matteo Salamon and the Whites then had a let-off when Emile Oliver fouled Obikwu to concede the penalty the striker dragged wide with an hour gone.
Kolli – who has made over 50 Championship appearances for the Hoops – then nearly snapped the Wanderers’ crossbar with a fierce strike before Ritchie got his goal when he calmly tucked the ball away following more magic from Lott with 20 minutes to go.
Charlie Paye, again forming a formidable central defensive partnership alongside Sam O’Neill, headed against a post as the Whites almost got a fourth before Kolli did get his goal after Luke Lomax had initially saved well to put only a small dent in Wanderers’ impressive goal difference at the head of affairs.
Wanderers: Lomax; Wilkinson, Paye, O'Neill, Oliver; Lott (Coyne 86), Leigh (Kirkpatrick 83), Irwin, Lewis (Clement 83); Ritchie, Lawrence (Trialist 77). Substitutes: Shillinglaw, Evans, Quirk.
Booked: Wilkinson, Kirkpatrick.
QPR: Salamon; Tang, Morrison (Street 72), Akindileni, Friel; Brunson (O’Brien 72), Alemayehu; Sanghrajka (Neill 61); Sutton; Kone (Wright 29), Obikwu (Kolli 61). Substitutes: Warren, Trujillo.
Booked: Morrison
Images: Will Lambert