Ledesma stars for QPR

Hat-trick for QPR loan star

Last updated: 26th August 2008

damion stewart QPR

Stewart: Grabbed the opener

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Emmanuel Ledesma grabbed a hat-trick to help QPR to a 4-1 victory over Carlisle and into the Carling Cup third round.

League One Carlisle stood firm in the first-half and it was goalless at the break.

But the floodgates opened after Damion Stewart opened the scoring just minutes into the second period.

Loan-star Ledesma - who hit his first goal in English football against Doncaster on Saturday - then took over with a brilliant treble.

The first half had been a different story with Michael Bridges and Simon Hackney testing Rangers goalkeeper Radek Cerny with long-range efforts.

Rangers finally forced Carlisle keeper Ben Williams into action on the half

hour, with the ex-Manchester United trainee tipping over Lee Cook's shot.

Williams then pulled off a fine save to deny Cook again just moments later after the on-loan Fulham winger found space inside the area and unleashed a fierce drive.

Neat

Carlisle withstood the pressure from the home side and responded with a shot

from former Sunderland and Leeds striker Bridges, which flew wide.

And in first-half stoppage-time Bridges met Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's free-kick but planted his header the wrong side of Cerny's left-hand post.

However, it took Rangers just two minutes of the restart to break the deadlock when Ledesma swung in a corner which giant centre-half Stewart met with a firm header past Williams.

Cook then warmed Williams' hands with another shot before Rangers doubled their lead, Gavin Mahon playing in Ledesma who darted into the area and beat the visiting keeper with a neat finish.

Just after the hour-mark the hosts got their third, Ledesma this time collecting Samuel Di Carmine's pass before firing past Williams.

To Carlisle's credit they continued to attack and Cerny had to be alert to tip Jeff Smith's shot round the post.

But Ledesma completed a memorable night with another run at a tired defence, latching onto Angelo Balanta's pass and slotted his third past Williams six minutes from time.