Hype Train FC played our 17th competitive game of the 2020/21 as continued our Sunday League journey with a 7th outing in the Reading Sunday Social League - the league that we co-created with Caversham United - with the team making the short trip to play Caversham United. Read the match report from our game at the Ibis Club in Reading. All aboard.
Match Report: Caversham United vs. Hype Train FC:
Date: Sunday 6th June 2021
Competition: Reading Sunday Social League (Game 7)
Opposition: Caversham United
Location: Rivers Ibis Health Club, Scours Lane, Reading RG30 6AY
Final Score: Caversham United 3-5 Hype Train FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
Our 10:30am kick-off against Caversham was our seventh and final regular season match in the RSSL, and the first time we have gone up against our local training neighbours, with both teams training at the same time and place each week at JMA Academy!
In a tense opening with the team in red defending against Caversham for the opening periods, we snatched a lead in the 13th minute when a ball pumped down the left channel by Robert Austin was cleared, but only to the path of Phil Newport who collected and drove with the ball, eventually firing a shot from range that gets a deflection to beat the opposing keeper.
The team's lead would only last four minutes when Caversham found an equalising goal, with a cross from their right catching out our defenders, only half-cleared for Sam Foster to strike a brilliant effort past Jon Norris in goal for the equaliser.
A frantic first-half continued when we were able to retake the lead in the 22nd minute just a minute later when Colins Akemche returned a Rod Stevens throw in, with Stevens putting the ball in a dangerous area. Newport, with a goal to his name already, fought the Caversham keeper for the ball, won the duel and was eventually able to turn a header into the net after some vintage Sunday league defending.
With the game at a knife edge, Caversham returned the favour in the 38th minute when they were able to squeeze home another equaliser when a cut-back evaded our central defenders, with Bradley Pembrooke unable to miss from a yard out.
This game of football ping-pong continued up until half-time when a well worked move down the right wing saw Leon Mannion and Jon Watkins combining to set-up Stefan Sukara to find space in the penalty area, before the midfielder was taken down for a penalty. Sam Bolwell then stepped up to calmly slot home the resulting spot-kick to give us the lead going into the second-half.
The second period of play did eventually settle after an entertaining first-half, with the game's crucial moment arriving in the 81st minute when another flowing move down the right saw Sukara freed again in the penalty area - this time the Number 14 squared back to Callum Fox-Spence, whose first touch flicked the ball past Caversham's right wing-back, and his second a rifle of a left-footed strike that powered into the net for a 4-2 lead.
With the team celebrating the lead, one of football's oldest tricks reared its head as immediately after scoring the team would concede when a long throw by Sam Foster was flicked on, eventually finding the head of Pembrooke to score his second goal of the game with a close-range header.
The last minute of the game saw Caversham look for a last-gasp equaliser to deny ourselves a place in the final, with Cav's keeper coming up for a corner. The right-sided corner was flashed in, cleared away, with the return ball intercepted by Sukara initially, before Bolwell pumped the ball into the opposing half, with Mannion running on and calmly slotting home the team's fifth goal, sealing our place in the final of the Reading Sunday Social League!
Next up for the team, we have the little matter of the RSSL final against Woodley Saints, with our opposition qualifying in top position after rounding out their own campaign with a resounding 7-1 win over 6th placed New England.
Man of the Match: Colins Akemche (CM)
Eight goals, memorable moments and a place in the final - no player deserved his place in the final more than Colins Akemche, with the central midfielder playing the game of his life (so far) as he denied Caversham's quick, mobile midfielders times and time again.
Akemche's tackling, fight and hunger throughout the game set the tempo for the team in a fantastic performance for Colins and the team as we booked our place in a first final.
Thoughts from Player Manager, Robert Austin:
"A day removed from the game against Caversham and it is only just sinking in. As a club owner this is the pinnacle of any football at this level, only bettered by winning the big one at the end of the season - it's a fantastic achievement to be in this position and I have a lot to be grateful for, regardless of the outcome in the final.
To all the volunteers, clubs involved, the players, sponsors, and referees, have played a big part in bringing this league to life and making it a success. This has been such a boost to local football in the Reading area and I hope the football for the hundreds of players has provided a welcome boost as the UK slowly regains itself amidst the pandemic.
The game against Caversham itself just tops off what this league has been about - competitive games, lots of goals, fun and incredible moments involving teams that showed each other respect. Caversham played very well and have a strong squad, but were ultimately undone by a few errors - they seem to crumble when the cameras are on them in big moments - we're glad to have been able to capitalise and end the campaign as the top scorers in the RSSL!
I know the squad is buzzing for the final next weekend against Woodley and we can't wait to attempt to win our first every trophy!"
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Starting 11:
GK: Jon Norris
DEF: Rod Stevens
DEF: Martin King
DEF: Federico Martorell (Holloway 26')
DEF: Robert Austin
MID: Jon Watkins (Fox-Spence 65')
MID: Sam Bolwell
MID: Stefan Sukara (Parr-Jones 51')
MID: Colins Akemche (Sukara 70')
MID: Phil Newport
FOR: Leon Mannion (Zaky 89')
Substitutes:
SUB: Walid Zaky
SUB: Callum Parr-Jones
SUB: Clayton Holloway
SUB: Callum Fox-Spence
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Newport (goal), no assist
Goal 1: Newport (goal), no assist
Goal 1: Bolwell (goal, pen), Sukara (assist)
Goal 1: Fox-Spence (goal), Sukara (assist)
Goal 1: Mannion (goal), Bolwell (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.
