Pre-Season Team Report (09/08/2025): Hype Train FC vs. Bracknell Aces
Welcome aboard the home of Hype Train Football Club. Here, you can read the match reports from the Train's outings across Saturday League action throughout the 2025/26 season, with the team competing in the Thames Valley Premier League (TVPL). All aboard.
Match Report: Hype Train FC
Date: Saturday 9th August 2025
Competition: Pre-Season Friendly
Opposition: Bracknell Aces FC
Location: Waingels College, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4RF
Final Score: Hype Train FC 2-2 Bracknell Aces
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
The Train's encounter against Westwood Wanderers was our 3rd pre-season fixture of the 2025/26 season, ahead of our maiden season in the Thames Valley Premier League (TVPL), where the team will compete in TVPL Division One. This was our third encounter against Bracknell Aces, having played the Aces twice in EBFL Division One during the 2024/25 season.
On a hot day on home soil, the game took a while to warm up between the two sides, with Bracknell's best chances coming from several half chances from outside the penalty area, whilst for The Train in gold, we had a goal ruled out when Conall Gorman squared the ball back for Yacine Darsouni to convert into the net during the 32nd minute, though the linesman believed Darsouni to be ahead of the ball.
The second-half saw a close game to get into gear, with the opening goal arriving during the 47th minute, and in some style. Starting when Aces played the ball to their right back, the defensive player slept on the pass and was intercepted by Eme Boateng, who pinched the ball and then immediately played a through ball to Luke Follington in attack. Shaping his body up for a first-time finish, Follington saw the keeper's position and side-footed a lovely finish to the far-post to open the scoring - a top goal by the forward to take the game to 1-0!
An equalising effort for the visitors arrived just a minute after the opener, and happened when a ball that was passed out to the Aces left flank was then moved forward to an attacking player, who wriggled away from the defensive marker - the ball was then cut back towards the edge of the penalty area, where their Number 24 stabbed home the ball on his left foot to bring the score to 1-1 with 48 minutes on the clock.
The Train regained the lead in the 63rd minute, with a well worked attack that started from back to front. Anwar Mmanga did well to cut out a through ball before passing back to Robert Austin in goal, who fainted away from an attacker to find space to pass into the feet of Alex Anyiam-Osigwe. Turning on the ball, Anyiam-Osigwe fizzed a pass into Mitchell Saunders, who spun on the ball well before delivering a low cross - charging in was Boateng was cause chaos for the defenders, which eventually saw the loose ball converted home by Kaao Ka after Boateng fought for the ball during the initial cross.
The 4th and final goal of the afternoon was for the visiting Aces, though was a Hype Train player who got the goal. Aces broke down the right side, with Manny Cudjoe, running out for Bracknell, playing a one-two just inside the penalty area, finding space, before converting with a calm finish to drag the game back to 2-2. Despite more pressure and intent by The Train, we couldn't find the decisive third goal, in what was a good game between the two sides.
Next up, The Train are back in pre-season action on Saturday 16th August 2025, with the squad currently set to host Harchester Hawks at Waingels College.
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Manager: Robert Austin
Starting 11:
GK: Robert Austin
DEF: Anwar Mmanga
DEF: Mark Bush (Darsouni 78')
DEF: Leo Pereira (Abas 46')
DEF: Daniel Mace (Pereira 53')
MID: Conall Gorman (Anyiam-Osigwe 59')
MID: Aiden Iqbal
MID: Ahmed Osman (Akasha 46')
MID: Mitchell Saunders (Follington 70')
MID: Yacine Darsouni (Boateng 46')
FOR: Luke Follington (Ka 55')
Substitutes:
SUB: Abdul Abas
SUB: Muddi Akasha
SUB: Alex Anyiam-Osigwe
SUB: Kaao Ka
SUB: Emmanuel Boateng
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Follington (goal), Boateng (assist)
Goal 2: Kao (goal), Boateng (assist)
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That pre-season battle between Hype Train FC and Bracknell Aces was such an entertaining 2-2 draw! It's always great reading grassroots match reports—Luke Follington’s tidy far-post opener after Eme Boateng pressed high and pounced on that defensive lapse was clinical. I actually came across this match report while taking a brief break from looking into RMIT University Assignment Help Australia resources, and it was such a fun read to break up the study routine.
Pre-season games are always so crucial for blowing off the cobwebs, ironing out defensive mishaps, and getting fitness up before the Thames Valley Premier League campaign starts. For anyone following local grassroots football, how do you think the team's shape and squad depth are looking ahead…