Bolton Wanderers Under-23s took all three points with their Queens Park Rangers counterparts, as goals from Eddie Brown and Joe Muscatt took the victory at the University of Bolton Stadium on Wednesday evening.
First Half
The Whites started the game in fine fashion, with Joe Muscatt and Olowale Tanimowo combining numerous times throughout the first half to cause chaos for the Rangers backline.
Eddie Brown worked his way down the flank with ten minutes gone, before firing across a pinpoint delivery to Tanimowo to simply tap in, but his striking partner could not find the finishing touch as it finished agonizingly wide.
Muscatt continued to be a pest for the R’s defence, getting away from his marker before testing his keeper with dipping effort that the keeper could only spill and collect at the second chance.
Full back Chiori Johnson got in on the act soon after, joining the attacking line and hitting a shot at goal that was inadvertently blocked by striker Brown from going in.
QPR had shouts of a penalty on the half hour mark, but Yohan Zouma’s tackle was judged to not be a foul by referee Benjamin Speedie.
The visitors began to get a foot hold on the game, as a curling effort from distance had James Aspinall’s gloves stung, but the goalkeeper was more than capable of dealing with the attempt.
Two minutes from the break and Wanderers had the breakthrough via Brown.
After a cluster of bodies fought for the ball in the Hoops area, the ball fell to Brown who shot instantly at goal, having his effort deflected off Nathan Carlyle and looping over R’s goalkeeper Myles Bowman.
Second Half
QPR came out with a vengeance, levelling up proceedings four minutes after the restart.
Aidan Mesias created some room 20 yards away, before producing a super strike that left James Aspinall no chance of saving it.
Wanderers responded with a chance of their own, as skipper Harry Brockbank hammered a shot from a speculative distance that produced a save out of Bowman.
On the hour mark, Wanderers regained the lead through a magnificient effort from Joe Muscatt.
Capping off a great game for the midfielder, he hit a fantastic curling effort from distance, that sailed into the top corner and left Bowman a mere bystander.
QPR weren’t going down without a fight, as Mesias ran through on goal with 15 minutes to spare and firing a shot low at goal.
Aspinall stood firm to the effort, diverting the danger away from the target with his feet.
Harry Brockbank nearly put the game to bed with eight minutes left of regular time, as an acrobatic effort from the skipper cannoned off the crossbar.
QPR tried desperately to find an equaliser, but Wanderers didn’t budge as David Lee’s men earned the victory in this Professional Development League clash.
Full Time
Wanderers XI: Aspinall, Harsthorne, Johnson, Zouma, Boon, Brockbank, Muscatt, Earing, Brown, Tanimowo, Tipote.
Substitutes: Jones-Griffiths, B. Williams, Navarro, Rodrigues, Senior.