Hype Train FC played our fourth competitive game of the 2020/21 as we began our Legea Ultimate XI Challenge Cup in Group C, with the team travelling to Wokingham & Emmbrook FC's Development outfit. Read the match report from our visit to The Emmbrook School. All aboard.
Match Report: Wokingham &Emmbrook FC vs. Hype Train FC:
Date: 24th October 2020
Competition: Legea Ultimate X1 Challenge Cup (group stage, game one)
Opposition: Wokingham & Emmbrook FC Development
Location: The Emmbrook School, Emmbrook Road, Wokingham, RG41 1JP
Final Score: Wokingham & Emmbrook FC Development 0-1 Hype Train FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
Our 20th competitive match as a club saw the team travel out to EBFL Development Division side, Wokingham & Emmbrook FC, which saw the first time the club has played on an artificial surface in competitive action.
The home side, full of young and spirited players, started the brighter of the two sides and they threatened from a couple of low crosses, though neither pass found an attacking outlet to convert. Growing in to the match, we carved our first real chances twenty minutes in, with Jamie Carter going close twice in quick succession from range, before Callum Fox-Spence and Phil Newport tried their chances from range.
The turning point of the game was in the 32nd minute when the team were able to play out from the back, before Jon Watkins and Rod Stevens combined to eventually free Newport down the right-channel. Squaring up against a Wokingham central defender, Newport controlled and turned the ball and was able to flash across a low cross which evaded everyone - apart from Sam Bolwell who was alive to the situation and was able to squeeze a left-footed effort past Wokingham's goalkeeper and in the net to opening the scoring for the travelling Blue and Gold. This is Bolwell's second goal of the season and follows up his headed strike against Stoke Poges last week.
A couple of minutes after going ahead, Wokingham rattled the crossbar on two occasions before the half-time interval, the second of which was tipped to safety from Chris Marshall in goal, with Marshall in for our injured custodian, Jack Roche.
The second-half saw the team against the wind and adopting a defensive shape as we weathered several Wokingham periods of pressure, with Marshall called in to action just the once, making a good diving save to his left after an effort from range.
The squad's best chances in the second-half to add to Bolwell's lone goal, came from the left when Dom Clarke flashed several crosses goalward, though we were unable to get a toe at the end of Clarke's efforts. Bolwell also headed over from a Stevens corner from a couple of yards out.
With the home side pushing for an equaliser, the squad defended well and managed the occasion to leave with our second clean sheet of the season, meaning we start our Legea Challenge Cup with a win in Group C and sit in second place after Chalfont St Peter's Development side beat AFC Winkfield's Reserve team 6-1 away from home.
Next up for the team on Halloween, we take on the Phoenix Old Boys 4th team at home in the first round of the Maidenhead Norfolkian Cup.
Man of the Match: Martin King (CB)
Our captain, Martin King, led the team by example in a strong, committed defensive performance in a good game against a young, spirited Wokingham side. King led the line, was vocal all afternoon and denied their attackers many sniffs at goal as we locked in our second clean sheet of the season.
Thoughts from Player Manager, Robert Austin:
"After opening the season with three league games, it was a welcome change of pace as we turned our eyes to cup competition and we couldn't look more forward to our opening Legea Challenge Cup game.
This year, the EBFL added a new Development Division and we were drawn against the two sides that entered from the division. It turns out that both Chalfont and Wokingham are wonderful additions to the league. After speaking with Wokingham's management team on the day, and playing against a well-mannered and organised team, I can't heap enough praise on them as a team - arguably the nicest and likeable team we have encountered in our time in the league. They also changed the game to be played on a lush artificial surface, which doesn't come cheap, so it was a good afternoon for football.
As for the game itself, we weathered a few storms against a team that liked to play out from the back when they could, and even though we rode our luck at times, our team were defensive strict and limited them to only a few real chances at goal. Playing in perfect conditions meant we could also get the ball down ourselves and play, so most the players felt heavily involved in what was a good tactical game from everyone involved.
We could have added a few more ourselves, but I think 1-0 was a fair reflection of the game and we're buzzing to start this group stage with a win. We have Winkfield next up in the group in November and will look to book our place in one of the two semi-finals on offer.
Good luck to Wokingham for the rest of the season, hopefully this isn't the last time we square up!"
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Starting 11:
GK: Chris Marshall
DEF: Rod Stevens
DEF: Martin King
DEF: Marin Pendov
DEF: Robert Austin
MID: Jon Watkins (Seville 53')
MID: Sam Bolwell
MID: Colins Akemche (Jones 78')
MID: Callum Fox-Spence
MID: Jamie Carter (Clarke 50')
FOR: Phil Newport (Setiawan 62')
Substitutes:
SUB: Sam Seville
SUB: Dany Setiawan
SUB: Dominic Clarke
SUB: Owen Jones
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Bolwell (goal), Newport (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.
