TVPL Division One Match Report (04/10/2025): Hype Train FC vs. Mortimer FC

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 4th October 2025

Competition: TVPL Division One (Game 6)

Opposition: Mortimer FC

Location: Waingels College, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4RF

Final Score: Hype Train FC 3-1 Mortimer FC

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against Mortimer FC was our 6th competitive fixture of the 2025/26 season, with the team competing in Thames Valley Premier League (TVPL) Division One. This was our first encounter with any Mortimer outfit in competition action.

The first of 4 goals on the day arrived in the 12th minute of the game, with The Train starting well in the game, on what was an extremely windy day - which saw us defending against the strong winds for the first-half. The opening goal started when Jamie Halsall in goal plucked the ball out of the air well following a dangerous cross from the right of Mortimer's midfield, with the ball falling to Mark Bush to carry the ball forward. Bush would eventually move the ball infield to Connor Anderson, who then fed Conall Gorman on the left wing. Gorman would then take his time before delivering a well-timed flighted ball for Leon Mannion to chest inside the area, with Mannion's second touch burying the effort into the bottom corner off the post!

The half-time interval saw the game go in at 1-0, though before the break Mannion was denied twice when played through one-on-one in goal thanks to good goalkeeping, whilst Mortimer flashed the rebounds from a set-piece over the bar in what was their best chance of the half.

Going into the wind in the second-half, the 48th minute saw the lead doubled for The Train. A throw by Daniel Plummer deep into the opposition half was collected half was collected by Aiden Iqbal, who then turned and played a low ball across the penalty area, with Mannion on hand to turn inside the box to meet the ball and strike a low effort into the back of the net for the Number 9's second goal of the game.

Mortimer's best spell in the game came midway through the second period, with the visitors in green going close after a free-kick right on the edge of our penalty area was deflected into the path of an attacker in the 55th minute, though the follow up was spooned wide. The visitors did get a goal in the 59th minute when the Train in gold cleared the ball, though their Number 4 collected the ball and distributed to their Number 7 in the middle of the park, who quickly fed a ball through to an attacker that just about evaded Kieron White in defence, allowing the Forward to smash home the effort and giving Mortimer hope in the game.

The 4th and final goal in the game to seal with win came in the 65th minute of the game and started with a minute of passing the ball and holding possession well, eventually with Anwar Mmanga picking the ball up at left back and cutting the ball inside to Kaao Ka to collect, who then distributed to Mark Bush at right back. Bush drove with the ball forward, eventually waiting for Ka's run into the penalty area, with the attacking midfielder threaded through perfectly, before calmly slotting home the finish and extending the team's lead to 3-1.

The win for The Train was the only league fixture in TVPL Division One this weekend, with the result solidifying our position in 3rd place in the table, with most other teams in the division competing in the BTC Senior Cup.

Next up, The Train continue the 2025/26 season on 11th October 2025, hosting Chalfont Wasps FC, in Thames Valley Premier League's Division One.

Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:

"Prior to the game we went into Saturday with a particular plan and mindset, with the squad doing well on arrival and in the warm up, though realising that the wind was strong and we were going to be defending one half against the wind, we had to adapt a new game plan to weather the literal storm. On the whole, we did this very well and besides a spell in the second-half after Mortimer scored, we felt in control of the game and dictated the chances - and in truth, on another day we add a few more to our tally, but this was a game to get the points in and to move on from.

The first-half, we were against the wind and had to get to grips with the ball moving sharply back towards Jamie in goal, and on the whole it killed a lot of the forward momentum with our passing and decision making, though we could have gone in at the break with 2 or 3 more goals, though their goalkeeper did well to stop us on numerous occasions.

The second-half was more settled for us, particularly as the game wore on, and our 3rd goal was a nice interplay effort that involved half the team, so we can't be anything but happy with our efforts on the day against an opposition who tried to slow the game down as much as possible.

Well done to the squad on a good overall performance, it is good to keep building with another win at home, and we'll look to keep going and focusing on ourselves to keep momentum going in the right direction!"

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Robert Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Jamie Halsall

DEF: Mark Bush

DEF: Kieron White (Anderson 78')

DEF: Ashley Rockall

DEF: Jamie Carter (Mmanga 46')

MID: Daniel Plummer (Hassanali 67')

MID: Nadim Gharabli

MID: Aiden Iqbal (Anyiam-Osigwe 68')

MID: Connor Anderson (Ka 62')

MID: Conall Gorman (Follington 62')

FOR: Leon Mannion (Gorman 81')

Substitutes:

SUB: Anwar Mmanga

SUB: Luke Follington

SUB: Kaao Ka

SUB: Jabal Hassanali

SUB: Alex Anyiam-Osigwe

Goals & Assists:

Goal 1: Mannion (goal), Gorman (assist)

Goal 2: Mannion (goal), Iqbal (assist)

Goal 3: Ka (goal), Bush (assist)

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