TVPL Division One Match Report (20/09/2025): Bramley United vs. Hype Train 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 20th September 2025

Competition: TVPL Division One (Game 4)

Opposition: Bramley United

Location: Post Office Field, Bramley, Tadley, RG26 5BN

Final Score: Bramley United 1-4 Hype Train FC

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against Bramley United was our 4th competitive fixture of the 2025/26 season, with the team competing in Thames Valley Premier League (TVPL) Division One. This was our first encounter against Bramley's Saturday team, having previously played Bramley's Sunday's team in the Reading & District Sunday League during the 2023/24 season.

The team found themselves defending and working into the game in the opening 20 minutes, with Jamie Halsall making a crucial save to tip a shot over the bar in the 12th minute, whilst Bramley's Number 9 missed a golden opportunity in the penalty area, before the follow up shot was somehow turned wide of the mark to keep the game goalless.

Riding the wave of the storm, the team would make the most of several counter attacks to change the game in the favour of The Train, beginning in the 31st minute when the deadlock was broken. Initially defending a set-piece, the ball was eventually cleared out left to Jamie Carter, who drove forward before playing in Conall Gorman, who waited for Leon Mannion to overlap before freeing our Number 9 to take one touch to compose himself, before finding the far-right corner well to open the scoring!

Bramley were then hit for double in the 37th minute, with another counterattack proving crucial. The team were patiently defending as Bramley moved the ball in midfield, but in the middle of the pitch a slight hesitation and slipped allowed Sam Rodriguez to intercept the ball and with his lone touch freed Mannion one-on-one against the Bramley shot stopper, with the Forward not fluffing his lines when he buried the shot with a low drive at the near-post to double the lead.

The game was 2-0 heading into the second-half, though a brace of goals within 5 minutes of the second period allowed the game to open further. In the 49th minute after Mannion won a corner, Kaao Ka's flighted delivery at the six-yard-line was headed across goal by Aiden Iqbal, bouncing awkwardly for the opposition goalkeeper, going under the keeper and in - with Iqbal scoring his first goal for the club!

With a 3-0 lead established, we immediately conceded a free-kick, and in a joking manner allowed, Ashley Rockall to make an instant impact in the game when he headed the Bramley set-piece back towards our own goal, with the unfortunate touch evading everyone and looping into the net, to give Bramley their lone goal in the game.

With the game poised for the remainder of the game, the cherry on top was delivered in the 89th minute of the game in The Train's favour, and this time was courtesy of an own goal by Bramley. Connor Anderson, who was fantastic in midfield, won a free-kick deep in our attacking third, which set up Ka to play a quick free-kick down the right wing to Jabal Hassanali on his debut - Hassanali battled for the ball, and eventually cleared by the Bramley left back, but only in the path of Anderson. Taking one touch to control the ball, Anderson's second was a powerful low cross that forced the Bramley central defender to throw himself at the ball, with a decisive touch taking the ball past the home goalkeeper - a brilliant cross and attack to seal the points for Hype Train to secure back-to-back wins in TVPL Division One.

Next up, The Train continue the 2025/26 season on 27th September 2025, travelling to Wraysbury FC, in Thames Valley Premier League's Division One.

Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:

"Reflecting on the game, we came up against a strong, persistent and young team who have started the season well, so we are thrilled to get the win. Bramley made things difficult for us, particularly in the opening 25 minutes of the game, as they went long and direct and were really putting the team under pressure. Credit to the team though for really sticking together and working through some tough moments in the game, allowing us to hit the hosts on the counter to take the sting out of the game.

We grew into the game well and by half-time we were the team playing and moving the ball well, and looked composed in most areas of the pitch, making it more difficult as the game went on for the hosts to have much of an impact in their attacking third. So, the win was big for us as we came away with the points for the second time against a team that was faultless to start the season - I'm ecstatic for the team, who to a man, were excellent and fully deserving of the result on the day.

There's a lot of mentions I can make for the squad, but most notably it was Anwar Mmanga's 100th appearance for Hype Train today. Anwar's grown up with the team both on and off the field, has been super consistent and his efforts to help move the team in the right direction have been much appreciated - well done to Anwar and here's to the next 100!"

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Robert Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Jamie Halsall

DEF: Anwar Mmanga

DEF: Aiden Iqbal

DEF: Nadim Gharabli

DEF: Jamie Carter (Rockall 49')

MID: Daniel Plummer (Hassanali 68')

MID: Sam Rodriguez (Anyiam-Osigwe 66')

MID: Connor Anderson

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

MID: Conall Gorman

FOR: Leon Mannion (Gorman 89')

Substitutes:

SUB: Ashley Rockall

SUB: Luke Follington

SUB: Alex Anyiam-Osigwe

SUB: Jabal Hassanali

Goals & Assists:

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

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

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

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

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