Hype Train FC will be playing in Sunday League for the 2022/23 season, with the team primarily competing in 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 fourth season as a club! All aboard.
Match Report: Hype Train FC
Date: Sunday 12th March 2023
Competition: RDSL Division 3 (10:30am KO)
Opposition: Brothers United
Location: Sol Joel Park, Wokingham Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 7HT
Final Score: Brothers United 4-0 Hype Train FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
The train's encounter against Southcote was the team's 19th competitive outing of the 2022/23 season, with the away from home at Sol Joel Park in RDSL Division 3. This was the club's third competitive outing against Brothers, with our opposition below the train in the table with several games in hand over every team in the division.
With 7 minutes on the clock, this game of football did not take long to get off the mark for the hosts and it started when a corner kick routine was eventually player out to a Brothers winger, who from range, hit a dipping shot that went through the hands of Robert Austin in goal and in to the roof of the net, to give Brothers the lead.
Looking for a response, the train in green missed several set-pieces as the game went into half-time at 1-0. First, Josh Watkins delivered a peach of a free kick towards the back post, though several players were unable to get the decisive touch. In the 30th minute, Brothers goalkeeper then made an incredible reaction save to deny Leon Mannion from close range, before Watkins, Mannion, and Phil Newport, were all unable to steer headers on target in a frustrating first-half which also saw Brothers probe for a second more than we have given them credit for here.
The second goal of the game arrived in the 65th minute following on from a Hype Train set-piece, which saw Tom Dalgarno force an excellent block from a defending Brothers player that would have rifled into the net - which all led to a counter attack which saw Brothers work the ball down the channel and the byline, cutting the ball back for a close range finish.
The 73rd minute wrapped up the game for the hosts from a corner kick, with some static defending allowing Brothers to have a runner unchecked at the edge of the penalty area collect the ball, before finding a free man at the back post with his pass, which again was a close range strike that beat Austin in goal.
Despite the scoreline, the team continued to miss crucial chances from set-piece routines, with Josh Watkins heading inches wide, whilst Owen Bowbrick's free kick from 20-yards-out whistled off the outside of the left post, whilst one final corner kick saw a trio of train players all be prevented to convert a header or shot on goal from close range - it really wasn't our day.
The cherry on top for Brothers arrived in the 90th minute when on the counter again, their right winger drifted into the penalty area, and whilst going for a cross, saw the contact on the ball unsighted everyone in the penalty area as the ball bounced over Austin at the near-post and into the goal, to ensure a strong 4-0 win for a strong Brothers outfit.
The result means that the team have dropped to 5th place in RDSL Division 3 after our recent loss. Next up, the team are back on home soil, hosting Core FC at Calcot Recreation Ground on Sunday 19th March 2023.
Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:
"We've definitely gone through a bit of a bad patch on the pitch since the start of the year, losing a bit of momentum and having some key players injured. It's thrown everyone at the club of their axis and despite our best efforts, we have fallen short and need to regain that competitive bite, as currently it looks as if there is a few missing parts that we as a club need to fix.
Looking inward, despite not playing well, we created a lot of chances from set pieces, but quite honestly it was just one of them days where the ball would just not go in. We needed one to help kickstart the team's belief, but that moment didn't come, whether it be due to a fantastic save from the Brothers keeper or just the team leaving their shooting boots at home, it was just a non-starter for us, and we're hoping to bounce back sooner rather than later. Losing is a part of the sport, and we will look to learn from this blemish.
As for our opponents, Brothers, I can't put enough emphasis on their upturn of form this season. Last season we beat them 5-0 and 2-0 respectively, but this season not only have they qualified for a cup final, they have kicked on in a big way on the pitch and will be challenging for the league title this season for sure. They played with the ball very well, punished our mistakes, and were nothing short of deserving winners on the day. As a team, we were completely humbled on the day, which doesn't happen all too often, so I can't speak highly enough of their players and performance today - good luck for the rest of the season!"
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Manager: Robert Austin
Starting 11:
GK: Robert Austin
DEF: Anwar Mmanga
DEF: Nikhil Garg
DEF: Josh Watkins
DEF: Tom Dalgarno
MID: Owen Bowbrick (Zaky 73')
MID: Liam Bowbrick (Bowbrick 75')
MID: Cosmin Huhulea
MID: Brad Matthews (Watkins 50')
MID: Phil Newport
FOR: Leon Mannion
Substitutes:
SUB: Walid Zaky
SUB: Jon Watkins
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
Believe The Hype!
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