TVPL Division One Match Report (11/10/2025): Hype Train FC vs. Chalfont Wasps 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 11th October 2025

Competition: TVPL Division One (Game 7)

Opposition: Chalfont Wasps FC

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

Final Score: Hype Train FC 5-1 Chalfont Wasps FC

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against Mortimer FC was our 7th 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 Chalfont Wasps outfit in competition action, with our opposition moving across from the Hellenic League.

Starting quickly in the game, the first goal of the game arrived just after the 4th minute of the game, starting when a trio of our defensive line won the ball back well against the Chalfont Number 10, before Ashley Rockall fed the ball out to Leo Pereira at left back. Leo drove forward with the ball, then lofting a perfect pass over the opposing defenders, who stepped forward in unison, allowing Leon Mannion to run through on goal before powering a fierce strike past the Chalfont stop stopper for the lead.

The lead didn't last long, however, as Chalfont found themselves level within 2 minutes when the visiting in yellow would win a corner after some confusion at the back. The following in-swinging corner was well delivered and their Number 9 headed home well - a good headed goal to put the game in parity after 6 minutes played.

Chances went begging for both teams prior to half-time, with Daniel Plummer twice going close, with one effort going over the bar after Chalfont gave the ball away on their byline, whilst their goalkeeper also saved when after Plummer was played through by Connor Anderson. Chalfont also had two chances when they missed guilt-edged chances from six-yard-out, with all these chances a precursor to a controversial goal.

In the 43rd minute of the game the team had won a corner after Mannion drew a top punching save from the Chalfont goalkeeper, with Lucas Coe stood over the resulting corner. Coe's corner went to the near-post and was flicked on towards the back post by Nadim Gharabli - at the back post Plummer was on hand to volley an effort at goal - and what followed is certainly unclear. Plummer's shot was stopped on the line by a Chalfont defender and then pinballed across (or over) the line, with several Wasps players attempting to clear the ball, eventually leading to a clearance that hit a handball. The referee blew the whistle, stating that Plummer's initial shot had crossed the line, and a goal was awarded to take the game to 2-1. After the award of the goal, the visitors rightly protested and ended up with a defender in the sin bin, to which was feel some sympathy as in all honestly, we're not sure the ball went across the line.

The second-half saw both teams locked in a tight contest, with several chances for both teams, though the decisive goals to kill off the game all occurred inside the final 10 minutes of the game. First, during the 85th minute, after Mannion won a free-kick, Anderson delivered a flighted set-piece into the penalty area that was attacked well by captain, Ashley Rockall, with the defender touching the ball off of his shoulder and into the net, extending The Train's lead to 3-1!

Next, in the 88th minute, Conall Gorman was fouled on the left wing, allowing for another Anderson cross to be attacked, and this time it was left back Daniel Mace, that won the header and slotted the headed effort into the top corner - some goal to crown his first for the club in Mace's second competitive appearance!

The cherry on top was the 6th and final goal in the game in the 91st minute, which saw Kaao Ka on as a substitute, drive the team forward in a rapid counter attack, with Ka waiting for Mannion to provide a decoy run, which allowed Ka to tee up a pass forward to Gorman, who with his first touch, buried a low placed shot into the bottom right corner - with our 5th goal being Gorman's first of the season, and the winger's first goal since the EBFL Presidents Cup final in April!

The win for The Train in TVPL Division One this weekend moves the team up to 2nd place in the league table, behind pace setters Caversham United at the top of the table.

Next up, The Train change tracks on 18th October 2025, travelling to Hanney FC, in the first round of the Berks & Bucks FA's David Grainge Trophy.

Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:

"After several games of playing teams that are suited to playing longball, our opposition today were a good ball playing unit, offering us something different to consider in the game. We had to work hard and fight for everything against a team that played very narrow, whilst for large periods of the game we were slightly sloppy and not in proper gear, though on the run of play we had most shots and chances and were good value for the win.

The changing point of the game was our 2nd goal, which the referee said crossed the line, and allowed us to help dictate the pace of the game in the second-half, and to counter Chalfont well as they probed our defensive line for an equaliser. To a man though, the team have been putting in top work at games to extend our unbeaten run to 5 matches, so they deserve all the credit for putting in the work against a series of top opposition in our division.

We must give a lot of credit to Chalfont on the day; they had a lot of veteran players in their team and really knew how to move and play with the ball effectively. It was great to have a proper game of football and of all the teams we have played so far, you can tell Chalfont have a long history in the Hellenic League as they applied themselves well. They'll argue that it wasn't a 5-1 game, and overall, we would agree with them, it was a close fought game, that ultimately, we ground out and exploited late chances in the game with a deep bench, which was crucial to the win. We wish Chalfont nothing but the best for the rest of the season!"

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Robert Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Jamie Halsall

DEF: Anwar Mmanga (Gibbons 85')

DEF: Mark Bush

DEF: Ashley Rockall

DEF: Leo Pereira (Mace 61')

MID: Daniel Plummer (Gorman 64')

MID: Nadim Gharabli (Coe 85')

MID: Aiden Iqbal (Follington 80')

MID: Lucas Coe (Ka 58')

MID: Connor Anderson

FOR: Leon Mannion (Gorman 81')

Substitutes:

SUB: Conall Gorman

SUB: Luke Follington

SUB: Kaao Ka

SUB: Callum Gibbons

SUB: Daniel Mace

Goals & Assists:

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

Goal 2: Plummer (goal), Gharabli (assist)

Goal 3: Rockall (goal), Anderson (assist)

Goal 4: Mace (goal), Anderson (assist)

Goal 5: Gorman (goal), Ka (assist)

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