Charlie Kelman's second-half strike earned Queens Park Rangers Under-23s a big three points and sent Rovers Under-23s home with nothing in the third game of the Premier League Cup campaign.

Kelman fired home with just 18 minutes remaining, latching onto a header forward, rounding Jordan Eastham and tucking into an empty net.

That was to be the only moment of quality in a game where chances came the way for both sides at Grosvenor Vale as Rangers moved top of the Group B standings with the win.

Rovers did have their opportunities in the game, with Connor McBride slamming a strike off the bar following Dan Pike's low cross in from the right just after the half-hour mark in Ruislip.

In what was an even first 45 minutes in west London, Rafferty Pedder tested Jordan Eastham from range, with the Rovers goalkeeper producing a stunning save to tip the drive away.

With the interval looming, Joe Nolan saw Joe Walsh in his way after fine work down the left by Jake Garrett and the returning Sam Burns.

The theme continued after the break with Walsh doing well to push away Jared Harlock's effort before Pedder missed a glorious chance with 22 minutes remaining when the trialist from Tottenham Hotspur somehow fired over from six yards out.

However, four minutes later and the deadlock was broken, with USA Under-20 international Kelman continuing his fine run of form in front of goal.

The young attacker, who spent a part of this season on loan at Gillingham, bagged a hat-trick in the last Under-23s outing against Ipswich Town, and showed calmness to drift around Eastham and smash home, despite George Pratt's attempts to block on the goal line.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Rovers, who struggled to test Walsh in the home goal during the final stages. In fact, it could have got worse for Mike Sheron's side in the final minute, but substitute Franklin Domi hit a shot just past Eastham's left-hand post.

Next up for Rovers in the competition is a home game against Nottingham Forest at Leyland on Monday 13th December, kick-off 7pm.

Teams that finish in the top two places in their respective groups will progress to the knockout phase.

Report: Queens Park Rangers Under-23s 1-0 Rovers Under-23s