TVPL Division One Match Report (15/11/2025): Hype Train FC vs. Rotherfield United

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 15th November 2025

Competition: TVPL Division One (Game 8)

Opposition: Rotherfield United

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

Final Score: Hype Train FC 3-2 Rotherfield United

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against Rotherfield United was our 10th 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 Rotherfield outfit in competition action, with our opposition winning TVPL Division 4 last season.

The first 20 minutes of the game allowed for several chances from both teams, with the visitors hitting the post after their right winger cut in and was only a fraction away from scoring when his left-footed attempt clipped off the outside of the bar, whilst after a controversial indirect free-kick was awarded for Rotherfield 8-yards-out from goal in the 13th minute after pinball in the penalty area led to Callum Gibbons collecting the ball, the resulting set-piece was well blocked by the host of defensive players on the line.

The opening goal of the game would arrive in the 21st minute following some good work between Daniel Plummer and Anwar Mmanga on the right side of the pitch. Plummer freed Mmanga who overlapped the winger, allowing Mmanga to cross, though when trying to clear the ball away, a Rotherfield CB's clearance was turned towards goal by Leon Mannion's outstretched leg whilst attempting to block the ball - what followed was a goalkeeping error that provided a gift of an opening goal, when the tame ball back towards the shot stopper somehow creeped until his legs and in - which was Mannion's 100th competitive goal for the club, and only the second player after Phil Newport to reach this milestone!

Next, on the stroke of the 30th minute of the game, Sam Rodriguez did well to rob the Rotherfield right winger of the ball when cutting in and wasted no time in freeing Mannion on the counter with a lovely ball forward. The excellent ball by Rodriguez led the Number 9 to the byline, where he turned away from not one, but two, chasing defenders, before calmly finishing with his right foot to double the lead.

Having just gone 2-0 up, The Train offered an immediate lifeline to Rotherfield when a penalty kick was awarded in the 31st minute when a long ball directly from the restart saw Gibbons and Mmanga get caught between the visiting left winger, resulting in the player checking body checked. The penalty was then dispatched coolly by the Rotherfield forward, to reduce the game to 2-1.

An equalising goal arrived for Rotherfield in the 44th minute just before the half-time interval, and was the result of good work from their Number 85 in midfield, who was a top performer for the team in yellow and back, did well to move the ball to a fellow midfielder on the left, who then picked out their penalty scorer with an inch-perfect through ball, with a composed finish in the bottom corner to follow, meaning the scored were level 2-2 at half-time.

The start of the second-half saw a renewed energy by The Train and we were on the offensive straight away, winning a penalty in the 49th minute after a stray arm by a Rotherfield central defender tried to block a curved pass forward by Rodriguez. The penalty by Connor Anderson was then well saved by the Rotherfield shot stopper, who redeemed his error in the first-half with a very good diving save to his left - not a bad penalty by any measure, just a top save to keep the game level.

The eventual winner would arrive in the 53rd minute, and all came from a throw in on Rotherfield's left saw the ball end up loose, with Mannion closing down the ball, pinching the ball off a sleeping defender, before taking a touch to set himself before a good finish past the goalkeeper.

Rotherfield did have several chances from free-kicks just outside the penalty area, but couldn't beat Gibbons in goal on several occasions, whilst in the 69th minute Jabal Hassanali was mightily unlucky to not have a first goal for the team when his shot at the edge of the box was narrowly wide of the top corner. Conall Gorman also saw a shot well blocked on the line, whilst the team defended well from set-pieces and managed the game well, to secure the points against a good Rotherfield outfit.

The win for The Train in TVPL Division One this weekend moves the team up to 3rd place in the league table on 17 points, with our 5th win in the division moving us 2 points behind Caversham United.

Next up, The Train change tracks on 22nd November 2025, travelling to Aldermaston FC 'B', in the first round of the Thames Valley Premier League's FA Cup, a new competition featuring all TVPL clubs.

Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:

"Saturday's home game against Rotherfield was hard fought for both teams and at times the game could have gone either way, though I believe that the team did just enough to get over the line. We started well and took command of the game early but then took the foot off the gas prior to half-time, which allowed the visitors to come in level at the break. The half-time interval was exactly what was needed though to reassess and reset, and we came out with a positive attitude and had enough of the decisive chances, including a missed penalty - whilst we limited Rotherfield to a few set-piece opportunities, whilst they'll be lamenting a few key errors at the back which allowed us to get our goals on the day.

Rotherfield are arguably the best team we have faced this season, they had a midfielder who was tough to contain and a forward who knows where the goal is, they call for everything across the pitch and were organised, so the boys know this win was crucial as we look to keep building momentum in the division. This was a proper squad performance from all 16 of the team, and we're happy to get over the line ahead of a few key league games before the Xmas break."

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Robert Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Callum Gibbons

DEF: Anwar Mmanga (Bush 62')

DEF: Aiden Iqbal

DEF: Ashley Rockall

DEF: Jamie Carter (Maulaz 54')

MID: Daniel Plummer (Anyiam-Osigwe 81')

MID: Nadim Gharabli (Rodriguez 85')

MID: Connor Anderson

MID: Sam Rodriguez (Hassanali 65')

MID: Conall Gorman (Follington 69')

FOR: Leon Mannion

Substitutes:

SUB: Jabal Hassanali

SUB: Luke Follington

SUB: Rafael Maulaz

SUB: Mark Bush

SUB: Alex Anyiam-Osigwe

Goals & Assists:

Goal 1: Mannion (goal), no assist

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

Goal 3: Mannion (goal), no assist

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