Welcome aboard the home of Hype Train Football Club. Here, you can read the match reports from the train's outing across Saturday & Sunday League action throughout the 2023/24 season, with the team competing in the East Berkshire Football League (EBFL) and the Reading & District Sunday League (RDSL). All aboard.
Match Report: Hype Train FC
Date: Sunday 3rd September 2023
Competition: RDSL Division 3 (Game 1)
Opposition: Southbank FC
Location: Burghfield CSA, Reading, RG30 3RS
Final Score: Southbank FC 2-4 Hype Train FC
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
The train's encounter against Southbank FC was our 4th competitive match of the 2023/24 season, with the team kicking off our reason in Reading & District Sunday League's Division 3 with a trip to Burghfield CSA!
Goalkeepers stole the show in the opening stages of the game, with Callum Parr-Jones for the team doing his annual stint in goal and capping his appearance with the gloves with an incredible save after Southbank's attackers got behind our defensive line, only to be smothered on the line in the 3rd minute with a strong save via CPJ's hand. At the other end of the pitch during the 11th minute, good work on the left wing by Padraig Gorman saw the winger cross the ball deep to Taren Langa, who attacked the ball with a first-time shot, only to be denied by a great reactionary save by the Southbank goalkeeper.
The first goal of the game arrived during the 25th minute of action when a throw in down the left by Leo Pereira led to the team playing the ball well through Southbank until Gorman received the ball on the left. Gorman's low flashed cross was collected by Usamah Choudhry who cut-in on his right before poking the ball back towards the edge of the box, allowing Ciaran Carolan to hammer home a first-time strike to score on his competitive debut to give the team a 1-0 lead.
The team's lead was doubled 10 minutes later during the 35th minute, starting when Choudhry intercepted a loose pass in our attacking half, playing Carolan down the left wing. Carolan cut the ball back and to Gorman outside the penalty area. After being closely followed, Gorman scooped the ball back out to Carolan, who then crossed low into the box - Saunders threw a leg at the ball and hit the air, though a touch set Choudhry to collect the ball and use skill to beat two Southbank players in the penalty area before calmly finishing with the outside of his right boot to take the game to 2-0 at half-time.
The team's lead was extended further in the 57th minute when Joe Sawyer won the ball back well at right back to deny their left winger receiving the ball, which set in motion the ball moving from the right to the left of the pitch, before Carolan and Nick Parfitt combined with a one-two with Carolan's return ball flighted over the defence, with Parfitt finishing a fine move with a first-time finish that is floated perfectly over the goalkeeper and into the far-left post - a really good team goal and lovely finish for our third.
The teams hopes for a clean sheet were ended in the 68th minute when Southbank's goalkeeper launched a ball deep for their right winger to chase. We were unable to clear our lines quickly enough, which allowed the ball to be put across to an advanced Southbank attack at the edge of the box, who his a sweet shot that beat the in-form Parr-Jones to take the score to 3-1.
Sealing the game in the 75th minute, the team won the ball at the halfway line from a scuffed clearance, with Parfitt feeding the ball through to Carolan, who then played through Gorman on the left, who then drove into the penalty area and cut the ball back for Carolan to set and finish well for his second of the day and the team's 4th goal.
With the game in its dying minutes, Southbank were awarded a penalty kick when the team were defending a corner kick, with Callum Gibbons controlling the ball, though when pushed into the ball by an opposing player, fell on the players arm for the award. The resulting spot-kick was converted down the middle as Southbank found a second goal.
Last up, in added time an amazing piece of defensive play stopped Carolan completing his hat-trick when Gorman once again cut the ball back after driving into the penalty area, though when Carolan's first-time shot beat the keeper, a Southbank defender got across the goal to heroically head off the line to deny a 5th goal and the treble for our Number 9, as the game ended with a first win in our RDSL campaign.
Next up for the train, the team have another busy weekend at home as we first host Virginia Water FC Reserves in EBFL's Premier Division on Saturday 9th September, before we welcome Bramley United in RDSL Division 3 on Sunday 10th September 2023.
Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:
"I'm thrilled to be starting our Reading Sunday League season with a win this past morning, and it was great to see the team playing good football match a good performance. In particular we moved the ball well in the first-half and expressed ourselves in the second-half. We were patient and clinical when we needed to be.
I'm really happy for the scorers too, Usamah and Nick scored a couple of fantastic goals and Ciaran's been ever so close to opening his account in pre-season, so was great to see them all get their just rewards this morning with some fine finishes.
Ahead of the attacking play, the game was won due to the concentration and organisation from the team's defensive line and our central defenders. They led the game, pushed and organised the team, and let our standards remain high, especially when some offside calls against us were just comical that led to some frustration. The only point of contention that we need to address in the weeks ahead is our gamesmanship to see out games and keep the ball, though with some time at training and games, that will be an easy feet to achieve.
It's been one hell of a week for Hype Train, from winning an EBFL Showcase game on Monday at Burnham FC, to recording a massive win away at Old Windsor yesterday, to winning our Sunday League opener. It's been a busy period, but I feel like the team has turned the right corner and we're on our way for the season, and can't wait for the season ahead on all fronts!"
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Manager: Robert Austin
Starting 11:
GK: Callum Parr-Jones
DEF: Joe Sawyer (Mmanga 62')
DEF: Callum Gibbons
DEF: Kie Longmate
DEF: Leo Pereira (Sawyer 84')
MID: Taren Langa
MID: Cory McManus (Choudhry 60')
MID:Â Mitchell Saunders
MID: Usamah Choudhry (Parfitt 46')
MID: Padraig Gorman
FOR: Ciaran Carolan
Substitutes:
SUB: Anwar Mmanga
SUB: Nick Parfitt
SUB: Robert Austin
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Carolan (goal), Choudhry (assist)
Goal 2: Choudhry (goal), Saunders (assist)
Goal 3: Parfitt (goal), Carolan (assist)
Goal 4: Carolan (goal), Gorman (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. During the 2021/22 season, we won our first-ever trophy, lifting the East Berkshire Football League's Presidents Cup!
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
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