Hype Train FC played our 9th competitive game of the 2020/21 as we continue life in East Berkshire Football League's Division One, with the team hosting Stoke Poges Saints FC. Read the match report from our fixture at Calcot Recreation Ground. All aboard.
Match Report: Hype Train FC vs. Stoke Poges Saints FC:
Date: Saturday 24th April 2021
Competition: East Berkshire Football League, Division One (Game 5)
Opposition: Stoke Poges Saints FC
Location: Calcot Recreation Ground, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 4XD
Final Score: Hype Train FC 0-0 Stoke Poges Saints FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
Our home encounter against our EBFL YouTube rivals, Stoke Poges Saints, was our fifth outing of the season and our reverse fixture of the campaign after the Saints won in dramatic fashion in a 3-2 loss for the team last October - unfortunately this game didn't have the same drama as this game fizzled out to a goalless draw.
The first half saw the squad, playing in our red Kitlocker PowerUp strip, started the strong of the two sides and had several maybe-moments - first when Stefan Sukara flashed a low free-kick towards goal only to be cleared, before Callum Fox-Spence back himself from range with a looping shot that went inches over the bar.
Stoke Poges best effort in the first-half came when a set-piece dropped to their Number 9 in the penalty area, with their player hitting a sweetly connected overhead kick that went fractionally over the bar. Besides these few moments, the first-half represented more a sparring session with the referee having to control the game on several occasions after Poges players contested multiple decisions across the game.
In the heat, the second-half swung after a good half for the team, with Poges edging the latter 45 minutes. Sukara hit wide from another set-piece and another shot from range, whilst we had a few set-pieces that couldn't be capitalised on.
Poges had their share of dead-balls, mainly corners that threatened, with their best chance falling to attacker, Sam Manton, who raced onto to a ball over the top and looped a shot just over the bar with Jack Roche and his defence breathing a sigh of relief.
The game fizzled down and the game ended goalless, with both sides slightly disappointed that they didn't make the most of their opportunities to win the gritty, hard-fought contest.
Next up for the team, we continue our Reading Sunday Social League campaign by taking on Rose & Thistle FC at the Ibis Club in Reading on 25th April 2021, whilst we are back in action in the EBFL next weekend on May 1st 2021 when we visit Hambleden FC.
Man of the Match: Colins Akemche (RM)
Thoughts from Player Manager, Robert Austin:
"This was the start of a big weekend of fixtures for the team and the last thing I considered heading into game was a 0-0 draw, especially as this is a like-minded social team that bring the cameras to the big games. Our three competitive fixtures against Poges have yielded 15 goals and we've usually had open, end-to-end games, and I have my players to thank for understanding my approach and tactics so we could try and negate their best qualities as a squad.
Today was a tactical battle, broken up by large breaks in play due to the large open field when the ball was kicked out, with both teams not getting out of a low gear. Poges are an in-your-face team that love a long ball and quick free kicks to surprise sleeping opponents, and I felt we largely managed this over the ninety minutes.
We thought the referee, Leslie Langham, had a good day at the office and had a difficult game to manage. There were a few incidents off the ball involving their players and the official did a good job at calming and controlling both teams. I can't change the attitude of teams around us, nor do I want too, but the opposition were more concerned with a screaming contest than a game of football for large parts and I think it had a big outcome on what felt like a dead rubber between two teams that are supposed rivals.
Overall, I think a point is fair and justified for both teams. Poges didn't going in the first-half, whilst we powered down in the second. The conditions, windy and in the heat, didn't help the tempo of the game, with both teams hanging on at times.
Good luck to Stoke Poges for the rest of the season and see you later down the line!"
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Starting 11:
GK: Jack Roche
DEF: Rod Stevens
DEF: Martin King
DEF: Chris Marshall
DEF: Robert Austin
MID: Colins Akemche (Sawyer 70')
MID: Callum Fox-Spence (Paddon 78')
MID: Stefan Sukara
MID: Sam Bolwell
MID: Jon Watkins (Carter 60')
FOR: Sam Paddon (Newport 46')
Substitutes:
SUB: Joe Sawyer
SUB: Phil Newport
SUB: Jamie Carter
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.
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All aboard.
