Sammy Youssouf bagged a fine first half goal for the SuperHoops 

Rangers and Reading shared the spoils in an entertaining Reserve fixture at Loftus Road.

Sammy Youssouf's first half strike was cancelled out by a Shane Long wonder-goal, as a small home crowd were treated to a free flowing, end-to-end spectacle between two decent footballing sides.

Marc Bircham passed a late fitness test to take his place in the heart of the Hoops midfield.

The Rangers team also included Georges Santos, Shabazz Baidoo and Youssouf.

Royals boss Brian McDermott also named an experienced line up.

First team squad regulars John Halls, Stephen Hunt, Chris Makin and Graham Stack were all named in the starting XI.

Under the watchful eye of first team boss Steve Coppell, the Royals should've taken the lead as early as the second minute.

Simon Cox evaded the Hoops offside trap with ease, only to be denied by an excellent save from the advancing Sean Thomas.

Rangers overcame that early scare and when Baidoo was sent tumbling to ground in the fourth minute, Bircham stung the hands of Stack with a ferocious 25 yard free kick.

Moments later Baidoo escaped the attentions of his marker, only to scuff his shot wide from the edge of the penalty box.

Rangers were ahead on 15 minutes when a fine free flowing move down the left flank involving Luke Townsend and Andrew Howell, saw the latter deliver a sublime cross for Youssouf. The Dane, having took one touch to control, curled a delightful left footed strike past Stack and into the top corner of the net.

The finish would have no doubt impressed the watching Gary Waddock, taking the rare opportunity of a free afternoon to run the rule over Joe Gallen's squad.

Reading were by no means down and out and on 18 minutes Johnny Hayes fired wide from the edge of the penalty box.

As the light rain made way for driving sleet, neither side were able to string together any chances of note, despite the best efforts of Baidoo, whose pace and directness kept the experienced Makin on his toes.

With the half drawing to a close, the impressive Howell saw his cross cum shot from a right sided free kick fall just wide of the post with Stack seemingly beaten.

At the other end Thomas' fine display continued, with the young shot stopper on hand to deny Hayes yet again, after the winger had cut in from the left flank.

Youssouf almost doubled his account on the stroke of half time, but after Baidoo's impromptu flick from Bailey's shot was palmed clear by Stack, the Dane's follow up ricocheted over.

Kus made way for Ugo Ukah at the break, but it was Youssouf who yet again missed another decent opportunity on the resumption, ghosting clear of the last line of defence before shooting straight at the advancing Stack.

And his second chance in as many minutes again saw him fail to add to his tally, when having nicked the ball from the daydreaming Stack, his first time effort from an acute angle sailed just the wrong side of the post.

Ryan Crockford's 20 yard volley failed to test Thomas, while at the other end Townsend and Baidoo linked up nicely, only for the latter to be denied by a last ditch tackle.

Reading were on terms on 61 minutes and what a goal it was too.

Long seized on a loose ball and let fly from fully 25 yards, giving Thomas absolutely no chance as the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced in.

Undeterred, Rangers were on the attack almost immediately, with Youssouf shooting narrowly wide after Santos' reaching through ball had caught the Reading back four flat footed.

Reading had strong appeals for a penalty turned down on 66 minutes when Cox went to ground under Thomas' uncharacteristic lunge. But referee Mr Scott, who to his credit was perfectly placed, allowed play to continue.

Thomas produced the save of the match on 69 minutes, flinging himself to his right to tip over Cox's fearsome drive, just when it seemed as though the ball was destined to nestle in the back of the net.

And that was the closest either side came to breaking the stalemate, on an afternoon when both Waddock and Coppell would've been suitably impressed by the performances of a number of players pushing for a first team recall.


QPR: Thomas, Kus, Howell, Bailey, Johnson, Santos, Bernard, Bircham, Baidoo, Youssouf, Townsend.
Subs: Cole, Ukah, O'Connell, Yelland.

Reading: Stack, Halls, Golbourne, Makin, Osano, Crockford, Dobson, Hayes, Hunt, Cox, Long.
Subs: Hamor, Pearce, Davies, Church, Rendell.

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