REPORT | WEALDSTONE 6-2 QUEENS PARK RANGERS U21s

Wealdstone thrash QPR U21’s in their penultimate pre-season fixture, thanks to four goals from Sean Adarkwa.

A dominant first-half paid dividends when Adarkwa was picked out in the area to finish well into the QPR goal.

The visitors hit back instantly, levelling the score, one minute later, before Adarkwa taped home once more to put the Stones ahead with three minutes to go until the break.

The Stones striker sealed his hattrick just after the restart, before finishing calmly one-on-one to make it four for the Stones and four for himself.

Two Trialist’s sealed the deal for the Stones late on before a QPR smashed home for a late consolation.

Sam Cox made two changes to the side that started in the 1-0 defeat to St Albans City at the weekend with Dom Hutchinson and Enzio Boldewijn coming into the XI.

A fast start for the Stones saw them trying to take the lead within one minute. With Dylan Kadji arriving on the edge of the area ready to strike, his goal-bound effort could only fly into the back of a defending QPR body.

Cox’s side looked determined to go ahead early, Max Kretzschmar came close to opening the scoring, 11 minutes in, heading just over from Jack Cook’s cross.

Despite the Stones general dominance within the half, the visitors looked dangerous on the break. A sloppy back-pass from Cook saw the visitors striker through on goal, forcing Dante Baptiste into action, who got down quickly to nullify the threat.

Wealdstone’s pressure continued and eventually paid off, 36 minutes in, when Obiero squared into the path of Sean Adarkwa, who finished calmly to put his side ahead and score his first goal of pre-season.

The visitors rallied to instantly hit back, getting the ball into the box for a clever outstretched leg of a QPR forward to poke into the back of the net and level the score.

With the game now in full flow, Cox’s side looked to instantly regain their lead. Enzio Boldewijn, who was causing problems down the right-flank, drove inside onto his left-foot and curled an effort off the post.

It wouldn’t take long for the Stones to lead once more, an incisive pass from Baptiste found the run of Kretzschmar, who drove into the area and squared into the path of Adarkwa, who finished calmly once more to score his second of the game.

Sak Hassan, who came on at the break, instantly got in on the action, driving down the left and squaring into the box, where a scramble saw Adarkwa manage to squeeze a shot away, which the R’s keeper could only parry into the side netting as the Stones striker sealed his hattrick.

On a day where everything he touched turned to gold, Adarkwa hadn’t finished his rout just yet. A loose back-pass set the striker through on goal once more, 55 minutes in. A calm finish into the bottom corner had Adarkwa four goals up on the day.

With the Stones smelling blood and visitors looking leggy, a flurry of trialists came on for Sam Cox. A scramble in the area fell perfectly into the path of Trialist E to tap home and make it five.

Once more, the Stones looked to race down the flanks and square into the area to cause havoc. Another whipped ball fell perfectly to Trialist F, who finished into the corner.

Despite looking out for the count, QPR were able to rally once more, in the 83^rd minute, racing through into the Stones area and smashing into the back of the net for a late consolation goal.

Next up for the Stones, the final pre-season test when Slough Town visit Grosvenor Vale on Saturday at 3pm.

WEALDSTONE XI: Baptiste (Trialist A 46’), Cook, Woodman, Tiensia (Trialist D 60’), Boldewijn (Trialist F 75’), Kadji, Mussa (Trialist C 60’), Hutchinson (Hassan 46’), Kretzschmar, Obiero (Trialist B 60’), Adarkwa (Trialist E 70’). Attendance: 615