In the middle of the park, there were unofficial third debuts for dynamic duo Jack Wadham and Ricky Aguiar, with the pair gracing the Woodside pitch once again after signing permanent deals during the week.
Elsewhere Harrison Foulkes retained his starting spot in between the sticks, while two trialists featured in the backline.
The Reds commenced the match brightly and crafted two decent chances within the opening 10 minutes. Left-back Trialist B had a clear pathway to dash towards the back post and was picked out by Razzaq Coleman De-Graft following an incisive interchange between the winger and Brad Dolaghan. However, the defender couldn’t halt his momentum in time to steer the effort under the crossbar from 12 yards out.
Minutes later, it was his turn to provide as he teed up Teddy Jenks, who dragged a drilled attempt comfortably wide from the edge of the box.
Unfortunately, the majority of the first period was marred by a serious injury sustained by opposing captain Kaleb Dyke, who received treatment on what appeared to be an issue with his arm. The youngster was down for approximately 10 minutes before being stretchered off the field.
Once play recommenced, QPR registered their only shot of the half towards Foulkes’ goal through the lively full-back Cory Adjety-Brew. After dispossessing Coleman De-Graft, the teenager galloped forward and fashioned a strike into the side-netting, with Foulkes having his angles covered.
Just before the interval, the National League South Golden Boot winner came closest to breaking the deadlock as he was denied by the crossbar. Just after Joel Colbran’s cross was tipped over by goalkeeper Charlie Warren, the subsequent corner saw a routine straight off the training ground executed to perfection. Corner taker Aguiar received a backheel from Coleman De-Graft before firing a delivery into a sea of players which was attacked by Brad Dolaghan, whose sweetly-connected volley had the beating of Warren, but not the frame of the goal.
There was still time for the visitors’ shot-stopper to be called into action again, as he was required to parry Aguiar’s rasping half-volley away from dagner.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half was largely uneventful, with the plethora of substitutes for both sides naturally disrupting the rhythm of proceedings.
For Worthing, Ransom was introduced almost immediately after the restart, before the likes of George Cox, Sam Beard and Wiktor Makowski all entered the fold on the hour mark.
A large portion of the supporters congregating in the North Stand thought one of the other changes – Sam Packham – had broken the deadlock from a set-piece situation midway through the second half. However, in what turned out to be an optical illusion, the ball had in fact travelled over Warren and rebounded off the inside of the post.
It didn’t take long for the Worthing fans to have an actual goal to celebrate, as forward Ollie Godziemski nodded a looping header into the corner. Young defender Callum Beck was the architect behind the solitary goal of the night, as he bypassed his marker and clipped a perfect cross onto the imposing striker’s head.
QPR pressed forward in the latter stages of the match in an attempt to equalise, but a combination of astute defending from Ransom and some wayward finishing from the Hoops frontline ensured Foulkes kept a clean sheet on his home debut.
The Reds are back in action on Friday night, as they visit seventh tier Enfield Town for their final away outing of pre-season.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗