REECE Grego-Cox bagged himself a hat-trick as a QPR youth side beat Sampdoria 4-3 in a friendly at Harlington on Monday afternoon.





Grego-Cox was joined on the scoresheet by Osman Kakay in an entertaining fixture at the R’s training ground.





Rangers made a superb start to the game, taking the lead after just two minutes.





Ryan Manning, playing in an advanced role in the centre of midfield, saw his initial effort blocked, before the energetic Grego-Cox tucked home the rebound from close range.





It wasn’t long before the R’s striker was involved once more, but this time his defected shot from Kakay’s cross fell into the arms of the visiting goalkeeper.





Sampdoria missed the chance to draw level from the penalty spot in the 10th minute.





QPR’s Harly Wise was penalised for a strong challenge in the box, but the resultant spot-kick was put wide of the post.





The Italian side did manage to draw level nine minutes later, however, with a smart finish past Joe Lumley in the QPR goal.





The R’s restored their lead on 26 minutes courtesy of a Kakay strike, as he provided the finishing touch following a neat exchange of passes with right-flank partner Olamide Shodipo.





Shodipo supplied another assist in the 39th minute to give the Hoops a two-goal cushion ahead of the break – his cross picking out Grego-Cox who poked home his second of the afternoon from close range.





Shortly after the re-start, Cole Kpekawa saw his goal-bound header from Brandon Comley’s corner hacked off the line while Manning fizzed a strike just wide of the upright from 20 yards as QPR looked to really take control of proceedings.





But against the run of play, Sampdoria made it 3-2 with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box which Lumley could do little about.





QPR always looked the more lively in attack, however, and Grego-Cox came close to bagging his hat-trick on 68 minutes, but his header from Gianni Crichlow’s centre lopped just over the bar.





Ten minutes later, however, Grego-Cox did net his third of the afternoon. Comley, who put in an excellent shift in the centre of the park, worked some space down the left and produced an inch-perfect cross for Grego-Cox to head home from five yards.





Sampdoria made it 4-3 with seven minutes remaining with a well-struck free-kick from 20 yards, but QPR were able to hang on for the win.





Grego-Cox almost kept his best for last with an excellent bicycle kick, which was well saved by the Sampdoria keeper late on.



