Soccer: U's a differert team

So it proved - with U's running out convincing 3-1 winners.

Kevin Rapley (right) is congratulated by his teammate after scoring for the U's on Saturday

Gone were the shambles that saw them sunk without trace by Barry Fry's men to be replaced by a thoroughly workmanlike U's unit that snapped up their chances superbly and worked very hard for one another.

It was great to watch goal poachers Kevin Rapley and Scott McGleish the double-pronged strike machine that had played havoc with opposing defenders in the early weeks of the season back at their best.

And it was great to see Australian international new boy and former Derby County central defender Con Blatsis signed 24 hours earlier on a non-contract basis produce a man-of-the-match display in a U's reaguard marshalled so superby by skipper Scott Fitzgerald.

Throw in a sterling performance from diminutive midfielder Kemal Izzet who had a big hand in two of the goals.

And a good first game at right back for the experienced and ever-present Micky Stockwell plus a safe-handed, confident and assured display from goalkeeper Simon Brown and you have a winning formula.

All this from an under-fire U's squad that was severely ravaged by a flu bug and injury during the week that eventually forced manager Steve Whitton to make four changes.

Blatsis, Rapley, David Gregory and Joe Keith were all included in a starting line-up that was minus Karl Duguid, Alan White, Ross Johnson and Bobby Bowry from the team that had fared so badly at Peterborough.

It took the lively Rapley without a goal since netting the late winner at Cambridge seven games earlier just 12 minutes to repay his manager's faith in him.

Seizing on the ball on the edge of the QPR penalty area, the former Notts County goal-getter let rip a right-footed shot which deflected off visiting defender Danny Murphy and looped over keeper Rhys Evans into the net.

It was Rapley's ninth goal of the season and only his second since scoring in the 2-2 home draw with Wycombe Wanderers in mid-October.

Stung by this setback, Rangers, who desperately needed to win to stay in the promotion hunt on the fringes of the play-offs, put their foot on the gas and only a timely save by the alert Brown kept the scores level after Danny Shittu completely missed his kick from point-blank range.

Blatsis and Fitzgerald stood tall as the visitors continued to mount more pressure and Kevin Gallen and Andy Thomson both had shots blocked.

Gallen fired another two efforts over the bar as the west Londoners pressed for an equaliser and the stylish Blatsis was superby placed to head the ball off the line after Richard Langley had chipped a shot over the advancing Brown.

McGleish should have done a lot better at the other end seconds later after Shittu and his keeper got in a muddle on the edge of their own area. But the U's leading scorer's feeble header towards an open goal was easily dealt with.

Brown saved well again from Gallen as Rangers started the second half strongly, but McGleish made amends by stealing in to bury a great 53rd minute header against the run of play following a super build-up from Keith and Izzet.

It was McGleish's 13th goal of the season and his first since netting against Huddersfield 17 matches earlier.

Rapley applied the coup de grace in some style six minutes from full-time, lashing in a left-footed volley that simply flew in past startled keeper Evans after another great ball from Izzet.

Rapley was unlucky not to have scored with another vicious shot which was brilliantly saved by Evans at the foot of a post minutes earlier, while QPR appeals for a penalty went unheeded after Langley went down in the area under a challenge from Fitzgerald.

Rangers did net a consolation goal via substitute Doudou in time added on with a shot that deflected off Blatsis and wrong-footed the unlucky Brown.

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Published Monday, March 18, 2002