Hype Train FC played our 8th competitive game of the 2020/21 as continued our Sunday League journey with a second outing in the Reading Sunday Social League - the league that we co-created with Caversham United - with the team hosting Southbank FC. Read the match report from our game at the Ibis Club in Reading. All aboard.
Match Report: Hype Train FC vs. Southbank FC:
Date: Sunday 18th April 2021
Competition: Reading Sunday Social League (Game 2)
Opposition: Southbank FC
Location: Rivers Ibis Health Club, Scours Ln, Reading RG30 6AY
Final Score: Hype Train FC 4-1 Southbank FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
On the back of an opening day defeat to Woodley Saints, we took on a Southbank side that surprised a few faces with a comeback win over fellow tournament organisers, Caversham United. There was a delayed kick-off to the game as the referee didn't turn up, with Southbank's Manager, Alan Levey, stepping up as the emergency match official.
It was The Bank that started the quicker of the sides on a hot morning in Berkshire. After a few probing runs down both channels, the breakthrough eventually arrived in the 14th minute when their main forward was freed din a central position. Standing his ground, a clearance by covering defenders bobbled in the attackers favour and he was able to cut back for teammate Louis Elford to rifle home from eight-yards-out to open the scoring.
Southbank's lead would only last a matter of minutes after some nice play involving Callum Fox-Spence saw the midfielder bundled down twenty yards from goal. On the stroke of the 17th minute, Stefan Sukara stepped up to expertly slot home the free-kick into the bottom-right corner to level the scores.
With the tide of the game slowly shifting in our favour we were able to seize a lead in the 29th minute when Phil Newport flicked on a long ball by Jake Holloway in goal, with debutant Graham High chasing the flick and lobbing the Southbank keeper at the edge of the box, the first of two debut goals for the club on the morning.
With the score 2-1 at the break, both teams looked for that crucial next goal and after a few nearly moments from both sides, the all-important third goal for the team arrived in the 65th minute when Fox-Spence and Sukara combined down the left, with Sukara driving in to the penalty area and unleashing a low driven shot that the Southbank goalkeeper could only parry, with substitute Joe Sawyer at hand to tap home from a couple of yards out - with this being Sawyer's first goal for the club!
Southbank tired in the second-half and allowed the game to become stretched, with Newport going close to adding to the goal tally, with Sawyer also unlucky not to add a second on the day when Rod Stevens flashed in a corner that was again flicked on by Newport into Sawyer's feet. The shot by the substitute, a stabbed effort, was cleared off the line to deny Sawyer a double.
On a day with three new players making their first starts for the club, substitute Tae Eom added the killer 4th goal in the 82nd minute after Newport flicked on another Holloway ball, with the South Korean running on and calmly sliding the ball into the net as the opposing keeper came out to close down the space, meaning like High, Eom scored on his debut for the club.
Southbank did have a few long range efforts and a header that was comfortably saved by Holloway in the Hype Train net, though in a crucial game the team were ale to see out a big 4-1 win to put us on the board in the Reading Sunday Social League.
Next up, the squad return to a week of double-duty action as we take on Stoke Poges Saints in EBFL Division One on Saturday 24th April, before we round out April with our third RSSL match of the season as we take on Rose & Thistle FC on Sunday 25th April.
Man of the Match: Stefan Sukara (DM)
In a good team performance there were several players that were exceptional across the park. Phil Newport adapted like a fish to water playing as a winger and was heavily involved in our goal contributions all morning, whilst Callum Fox-Spence had an energetic, combative performance in the middle of the park.
Our Man of the Match though went to Stefan Sukara, with the holding man dictating and running the game for the team. Southbank struggled to control the Number 14 and could only watch as Sukara fired in a beautiful free-kick into the net for the equalising goal. Sukara also assisted the crucial third goal and was worth the MOTM accolade on a great showing for the club.
Thoughts from Player Manager, Robert Austin:
"After we lost our opening game, it was imperative that that squad bounced back with a win against Southbank and we had the benefit of not having played on Saturday so we could solely focus on this fixture and based on the week of planning the script came together nicely in what was a good day at the office for the club.
On the whole, there were patches where Southbank came into their own, especially in the first-half as they looked to stretch our legs with pacey wingers and attackers, but the longer the game went on the more we controlled the affair and were worth winners in the end. I was also happy to se the team get the ball down and play with the ball - we've been quite rusty at doing some of the basics as of late but this morning we played some nice football and linked up well across the pitch.
I am over the moon for the scorers on the day too. Not only did Stefan score our first-ever free-kick in a competitive game, long-serving player Joe Sawyer got his first and there were two debut goals to revel in as well. What's most important is that we got our first win of the year and we can build on the many positives of a good performance.
I'd just like to thank Southbank for being another top club at Sunday League level - just like the guys at Woodley last week - they were a good bunch of lads and had a good management set-up. Southbank also reffed the game and their Manager, Alan, did a superb job in the middle and was right down the middle for most of his decision which was good to see.
We have a big week ahead of us now as we take on Stoke Poges on Saturday and have Rose & Thistle on the Sunday. Hopefully we are in a position where we have learnt from our experiences from the last few weekends and can push ahead with the momentum from Sunday's win."
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Starting 11:
GK: Jake Holloway
DEF: Rod Stevens
DEF: Vincent van Lembergen (C)
DEF: Federico Martorell
DEF: Robert Austin
MID: Jon Watkins (Sawyer 56')
MID: Sam Bolwell
MID: Stefan Sukara
MID: Callum Fox-Spence
MID: Phil Newport (Zaky 82')
FOR: Graham High (Zaky 30', Eom 71')
Substitutes:
SUB: Walid Zaky
SUB: Taehyeon Eom
SUB: Joe Sawyer
Goals & Assists:
Goal 1: Sukara (goal), Fox-Spence (assist)
Goal 2: High (goal), Newport (assist)
Goal 3: Sawyer (goal), Sukara (assist)
Goal 4: Eom (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.
