Hype Train FC played our sixth competitive game of the 2020/21 as we continue life in East Berkshire Football League's Division One, with the team travelling to Hounslow Wanderers in London. Read the match report from our visit to Old Isleworthians Memorial Ground. All aboard.
Match Report: Hounslow Wanderers vs. Hype Train FC:
Date: Saturday 10th April 2021
Competition: East Berkshire Football League, Division One (Game 4)
Opposition: Hounslow Wanderers
Location: Old Isleworthians Memorial Ground, 22a Wood Lane, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 5ED
Final Score: Hounslow Wanderers 1-1 Hype Train FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
The squad made the long travel to Isleworth, London to take on Hounslow in what will be our longest away trip of the season, for a 1pm kick-off.
The travelling side in our new orange and black Kitlocker PowerUp strip started strong and it didn't take long before we were awarded our first penalty kick of the season after Phil Newport was dragged down whilst running with the ball on the by-line. Callum Fox-Spence stepped up but the penalty was saved well by the Hounslow shot-stopper.
With the game turning, Hounslow's pacey attacker went through on goal and squeezed a shot somehow past Jack Roche in goal to give the hosts the lead. Pressure from the away team was slowly building and it was via the penalty spot again that we found joy when Callum Fox-Spence was fouled just inside the area. Handing over set-piece duties to debutant Jack Reddings, the central midfielder buried the spot-kick for a goal on his first outing!
With the hosts probing, but limited in their chances, it was the orange and black who seized the best remaining changes in the first-half, first when a spinning ball edged away from Reddings inside the penalty area with the goal gaping, before Newport worked the ball well in the penalty area and shot inches wide with his left-foot, meaning both teams went in level at the break.
Going against the wind in the second-half, Hounslow's best chance came when their central defender rifled the bar from a long-range effort, whilst an opposing central midfielder could only shoot straight at Roche from distance, with the home team limited to set-pieces as they put pressure on the team.
Our best chance to take the lead in the second-half came when Newport found space and fired down the middle - the Hounslow keeper made a good first save, then saved brilliantly from Sam Bolwell's follow-up for a few yards out, before completing a triple save when Bolwell's rebound was headed into the palms of the Hounslow custodian.
The game ground out to a score draw, meaning we pick up our first draw of the season and sit in 3rd in EBFL Division One with four points from four games.
Next up for the team, we travelled locally to Berks County Sports Club to take on Woodley Saints in our maiden Sunday competitive game in the Reading Sunday Social League (RSSL), the league we co-created with Caversham United. Our next Saturday League outing is against Stoke Poges Saints FC on 24th April 2021.
Man of the Match: Vincent van Lembergen (CB)
Our Man of the Match against Hounslow was our new Belgian central defender, Vince van Lembergen, who made his competitive debut for the club. VVL led the line expertly in what was a solid defensive performance from the squad, with the Belgian the standout performer, whilst also wearing the captain's armband on the occasion too.
Thoughts from Player Manager, Robert Austin:
"Five months out of commission and then thrown straight into league action, this is where we're at in grassroots football. We faced a good team on our biggest away trip of the season, all with a limited squad and all things considered it was a good first outing in nearly half a year.
Of the two sides, we'll feel like it was a wasted opportunity to win the game as we missed a couple of golden chances to either take the lead or extend it, though both teams did well throughout in what was a combative outing by two sides that showed each other respect.
As for the performance I will not to too harsh on my players as they showed a lot of potential, but there are small niggles that we need to work on in order to advance and develop further - all growing pains of a new team trying to figure out its identity.
Hounslow are also a credit to the East Berks Football League. They've a good group of players and a friendly management staff too that made everyone feel welcome and were sporting over the course of the game - we can't wait to host them in July's return fixture in Reading!
It was also refreshing having a referee in charge in Tom Davey who controlled the game well from beginning to the end. Tom's a credit to his role as ref and both teams glowed about his individual performance in the middle."
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Starting 11:
GK: Jack Roche
DEF: Rod Stevens
DEF: Vincent van Lembergen (C)
DEF: Stefan Sukara
DEF: Robert Austin
MID: Callum Fox-Spence (Paddon, 80')
MID: Sam Bolwell (Akemche 50')
MID: Jack Reddings (Bolwell 65')
MID: Chris Marshall
MID: Sam Paddon (Sawyer 60')
FOR: Phil Newport
Substitutes:
SUB: Joe Sawyer
SUB: Colins Akemche
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Reddings (goal), Fox-Spence (assist)
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in Fantasy sports reporting, starting with Fantasy Premier League (FPL), before expanding to MLS Fantasy coverage in 2018.
We pride ourselves in providing beautiful graphics, statistics, in-depth analytical reporting and free weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb rankings tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review games, live sport, and professional wrestling.
In 2019, Hype Train Football Club was formed, becoming the first Fantasy Football website to take to the field. HTFC is a socially active team across social and web channels, providing regular match highlights, match reports, comprehensive player statistics and unique player profiles.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog' in 2016 by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), and were again shortlisted as a finalist in 2019 in the 'Best Fantasy Football Blog' category.
You can follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, follow Hype Train FC on Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
All aboard.
