TVPL Division One Match Report (13/09/2025): Hype Train FC vs. Cookham Dean 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 13th September 2025

Competition: TVPL Division One (Game 3)

Opposition: Cookham Dean FC

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

Final Score: Hype Train FC 5-3 Cookham Dean FC

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against Cookham Dean was our 3rd competitive fixture of the 2025/26 season, with the team competing in Thames Valley Premier League (TVPL) Division One. This was our first ever encounter against Cookham Dean, who were in EBFL's Premier Division last season.

The game didn't take long to get going, with the first goal arriving just after the 5th minute. Leon Mannion won a free-kick to the left of the 18-yard-box after being played through on goal, which set up a set-piece in a dangerous area. Connor Anderson stepped up and fired a low free-kick towards goal that was initially saved by the Cookham Dean goalkeeper, with the follow-up converted at the back-post with Daniel Plummer sweeping home the ball into the net after the goalkeeper's palm of the ball - this opening goal for Plummer being his first goal for The Train in what was the winger's first start!

The lead was doubled in the 13th minute just as the rain started to pour at Waingels, and came as a result of Cookham Dean's defensive line moving the ball around, with the ball eventually passed back to the goalkeeper, who with his first touch hurriedly kicked the ball into Mannion, with the touch guiding the ball into the empty net for Mannion's second goal of the season.

With a strong start established, Plummer was constantly threatening the opposing left back, with a 3rd goal arriving in the 31st minute after Plummer's deep cross from the right was palmed away by the Cookham goalkeeper, but only to the path of Mannion, who then moved the ball backwards to Luke Follington - who with his first and second touches of the game after just having come on as a substitute, steadied himself before finishing with a low drive into the back of the net - with the Number 14 scoring his first goal of the season!

The visitors had provided some form of a threat going forward, with Halsall saving well from the visiting Number 10 in the opening stages, though heading into half-time during the 38th minute of the game, a lifeline appeared for Cookham. After winning a free-kick deep in their own half, the goalkeeper launched the ball in the air and their Number 10 brought the ball down well, setting up a second touch which buried the ball past Halsall in goal to bring the game to 3-1.

The second-half provide more action as we restored our 3-goal lead in the 56th minute after Kaao Ka regained possession of the ball in our attacking half, gliding forward before providing a through ball to Mannion that split open the Cookham central defenders, allowing Mannion to round the goalkeeper before tapping the ball home into an empty net.

The 60th minute of the same saw another twist to the game that allowed the visitors a chance back into the contest, when a loose giveaway by Halsall with a pass gifted the Cookham Number 8 the chance to convert a chance into the bottom right corner, with the game at 4-2 with 30 minutes left to play.

Searching for a route to kill the game off, Cookham Dean's goalkeeper had a busy period, which involved several top class saves to deny the team in gold. In the 68th minute, Mannion hit the post from close range, before retrieving the ball. Next in the 74th minute a Ka corner was diverted goal bound by Luke Follington, a headed effort that looked destined for the back of the net, until the Cookham keeper dived dramatically across the line to save the effort. Third, in the 80th minute some good interplay by the squad saw Mannion pass the ball across the pitch to Follington, who set the ball for Anderson to drive towards goal. Anderson beat two men before shooting well towards the back post when freed for a shooting opportunity, though the opposing shot stopper got across the goal from point blank range to deny the team again!

With the squad unable to find the 5th goal, in the 87th minute it led to a grandstand finish as the visitors brought the game to 4-3 after a period of possession with the ball, led to their Number 7 on the right wing become unchecked as he provided a deep cross, and with the wind in the favour of Cookham Dean, the ball kept travelling and dropped perfectly in towards the back post and in.

With the visitors now pressing for an equalising goal, in the 91st minute of the game the team defended a set-piece before quickly freeing Mannion down the left channel. Mannion drove the team forward before crossing the ball across the field towards Ashley Rockall who had advanced, touching the ball down, before Ka then sped away with the ball towards the byline, and then supplying a cut back to Alex Anyiam-Osigwe to finish the game off with a calm finish pass the goalkeeper - another first-time goal scorer on what is Anyiam-Osigwe's competitive debut for the team.

The 5-3 victory secured our first win in the Thames Valley Premier League and means lift-off for Hype Train as we now have 4 points after the opening 3 games of the season in TVPL Division One, having played some top opposition already to start the 2025/26 campaign.

Next up, The Train continue the 2025/26 season on 20th September 2025, travelling to Bramley United, in Thames Valley Premier League's Division One.

Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:

"Saturday's game against Cookham Dean was a big occasion for us as we were desperate to get our season up and running properly, and in hindsight the squad were at it from minute one and really didn't give the visiting team much in the game. The goals we conceded were largely gifts, or fortunate due to the wind carrying a good cross, whilst at the other end of the pitch we could have scored double digits on another day - we were much improved and offered a lot of threat going forward, which was brilliant to see.

We're happy to get our first win on the board as it takes the pressure off us and can hopefully settle the team moving forward as we look set for more good league outings later this month. I'd also like to just thank the visitors for the kind comments on their Instagram account about our performance, it's refreshing to read honesty after a game - we enjoyed the contest, and your goalkeeper had one hell of a game in goal making some terrific saves in the second-half."

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Robert Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Jamie Halsall

DEF: Mark Bush

DEF: Chris Marshall (Watkins 79')

DEF: Ashley Rockall

DEF: Anwar Mmanga

MID: Daniel Plummer (Anyiam-Osigwe 74')

MID: Sam Rodriguez (Follington 30', Burles-Nash 82')

MID: Aiden Iqbal

MID: Kaao Ka (Rodriguez (90+1')

MID: Connor Anderson

FOR: Leon Mannion (Follington 90+1')

Substitutes:

SUB: Brad Burles-Nash

SUB: Luke Follington

SUB: Alex Anyiam-Osigwe

SUB: John Watkins

Goals & Assists:

Goal 1: Plummer (goal), Anderson (assist)

Goal 2: Mannion (goal), no assist

Goal 3: Follington (goal), Mannion (assist)

Goal 4: Mannion (goal), Ka (assist)

Goal 5: Anyiam-Osigwe (goal), Ka (assist)

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