Hype Train FC will be playing across both Saturday and Sunday next season, with the team competing in the East Berkshire Football League and the Reading & District Sunday League. You can follow all of the team's season coverage right here as we provide match reports and photo galleries from our third season as a club! All aboard.
Match Report: Britwell FC vs. Hype Train FC
Date: Wednesday 18th May 2022
Competition: EBFL Premier Division (Game 13)
Opposition: Britwell FC
Location: 1878 Stadium, Burnham FC, Wymers Wood Rd, SL1 8JG
Final Score: Britwell FC 4-2 Hype Train FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
Our encounter against Britwell FC was the first time we have ever faced Britwell, and was an EBFL Showcase game at Burnham FC's 1878 Stadium. The game was in memory of the late EBFL President, Robin Woolman, with both teams doing a minutes applause before kick-off.
The first-half of the game saw goalkeeper, Jamie Halsall, in inspired form as the shot-stopper made half a dozen truly incredible saves as Britwell looked to open the mark in the first-half, with the pick of Halsall's saves coming when a Britwell's right winger picked out the top right of the goal when at an angle, with Halsall acrobatically diving to pluck the ball out of the air - with several close range saves also drawing the breath out of the spectators at the 1878 Stadium.
With Britwell unable to break through our defensive wall, it was ourselves that took the lead in the 22nd minute when a Jamie Carter corner was swung into the penalty area, with Phil Newport competing for the ball with an opposing defender, which fell to Ryan Knott who put the ball in an area to be cleared by a defender. The ball only fell out to Paul Hatfield outside the penalty area, who took one touch to set, finding the top corner superbly with an incredible strike to give the team a 1-0 lead heading into half-time!
Britwell came out for the second-half filled with passion and we were able to win a free-kick in the 52nd minute to their attacking right, around 20-yards-out from goal. The left-footed attempt by Britwell's Alfie Keeler was sweetly struck as it was able to beat the impressive Halsall to level the game.
With the game level, the tide turned in our favour again in the 55th minute with a classic counter attack, as we were able to clear our lines through Cosmin Huhulea, who hit a forward pass out to Hatfield with time and space. Runners left and right, Hatfield picked out Mannion's overlapping run to Britwell's left, with Mannion winning the race before slotting past the keeper brilliantly to the far-post with his right foot to restore our lead.
An open second-half saw a huge moment of controversy for the team as Britwell drew level in the 66th minute. It all started when a long kick by the Britwell keeper was hit up-field, but only cleared away, with some ping-pong going on between the teams, until their Number 12 found the ball at his feet and fed their Number 2 with a through ball. The pass forward was offside and not given by the league appointed linesman, and then the eventual cross was cut-back and fired in low by Dan Molloy - the effort took a slight deflection, hit the post and rolled across the line, recovered by Halsall. The referee, 25-yards-out from goal, made the call to award Britwell a goal for the ball crossing the line, despite protests from players right on the scene who were absolutely adamant (even now) that the ball did not fully cross the line and we done enough to recover.
With the game turned, Britwell seized on their momentum to go ahead in the game for the first-time less than 2 minutes later, when a cross to the left saw the ball cut back across our penalty area, with Kane Jones on hand to put the ball into the roof of the net for the hosts - with some of our players questioning a potential offside (it wasn't, the left midfielder was played just onside).
The game was then sealed for the hosts in the 77th minute when the ball was in the air, flicked on twice towards Kane Jones, who had no defenders around him as he rounded Halsall and walked the ball into the net - again, our VEO footage shows this as a very tight potential offside call - though their player has done well score a double and the game.
The team did press on though in the game, with chances from Hatfield, Mannion, Bolwell, and Newport, all causing Britwell some issue as the hosts had the legs to see out the second-half and secure a win as they chase the EBFL Premier Division crown.
The loss keeps the team on 19 points from 14 games in EBFL's Premier Division, moving down to 6th place after Iver Heath's victory over Pundit FC. The squad have 4 league fixtures over the next 10 days as we finish our EBFL Premier Division campaign by the end of May.
Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:
"Back at Burnham for our first EBFL Showcase game, I believe that even in defeat the team can keep our heads held high as we put a good account for ourselves out, for what was a much changed squad from our recent cup final.
We went into half-time with the game 1-0 to us, and largely I felt we were comfortable and frustrated Britwell greatly. Jamie in goal was in inspired form and made some amazing saves, whilst at the other end we troubled their defensive line and should have scored a couple more on the break as it was largely a counter attack game for us. What we did well was get the ball down at times and play through their lines, scoring a couple of amazing goals on the day.
The game changed in the second-half and I'm sure that Britwell's depth on the bench made a big difference. We just didn't have the legs, were getting tired and only had a couple to bring on, whilst they could change up their tactics and formation - which to John Brennan's credit, Britwell did very well. They were intense and committed when sending men forward and it paid off in a good way for them, and scored some good goals to get the win.
We're annoyed about one instance in particular, their second goal shouldn't have stood and it was a big turning point in the game. We're not suggesting that they weren't going to get a second, but that goal at that moment just shouldn't have been given. We've checked the tape on VEO and initially they are offside in the build-up, and then the eventual shot rolls across the line and there is no indication that it crosses the line fully. We think based on the angles of footage, and in the moment, that the keeper has done enough and I even heard the linesman that that post was in the way of the ball and he wasn't sure he could see clear daylight, so for the referee to give it whilst standing 35-yards-out from goal is quite astonishing - his eyesight must be incredible as we he assured in his decision, despite our team's reaction.
Besides that though, we'd like to congratulate Britwell on the win. It was a competitive game played in the right spirit, largely, and we're looking forward to the return fixture next week."
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Manager: Robert Austin
Starting 11:
GK: Jamie Halsall
DEF: George Fradgley
DEF: Joe Sawyer
DEF: Ryan Knott (Carter 72')
DEF: Robert Austin
MID: Phil Newport
MID: Paul Hatfield
MID: Cosmin Huhulea
MID: Callum Parr-Jones (Bolwell 52')
MID: Jamie Carter (Ali 55')
FOR: Leon Mannion
Substitutes:
SUB: Ash Ali
SUB: Sam Bolwell
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Hatfield (goal), no assist
Goal 2: Mannion (goal), Hatfield (assist)
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in general football and 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. We won both Goal of the Season Awards in the Berkshire and County FA regions, with Callum Parr-Jones winning the Berks & Bucks FA award, whilst Martin King won the PlaySport UK award. In 2021, we formed the Reading Sunday Social League (RSSL), a competitive Sunday League involving 8 teams in its debut season.
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, visit our club's dedicate website, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
Believe The Hype!
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