TVPL Division One Match Report (30/08/2025): Hype Train FC vs. AFC Reading

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 30th August 2025

Competition: TVPL Division One (Game 1)

Opposition: AFC Reading

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

Final Score: Hype Train FC 3-3 AFC Reading

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against AFC Reading was our 1st competitive fixture of the 2025/26 season, with the team competing in Thames Valley Premier League (TVPL) Division One. This was our 2nd encounter against an AFC Reading outfit, though our first encounter against their Saturday League outfit, who last season competed in EBFL's Premier Division.

The first-half saw a slow start for The Train as the visitors would take an early command due to a couple of errors from ourselves, though in the 3rd minute, Conall Gorman cut inside and forced a save at the near-post after some good team interplay, whilst Callum Parr-Jones called the opposition goalkeeper into a save when CPJ's shot on his left foot from outside the penalty was aiming for the underside of the crossbar.

The first goal of the game arrived in the 9th minute, starting when there was a scramble to clear the ball defensively, with the ball reaching Gorman's feet. Driving into the middle, a forward pass was intercepted well, allowing Reading to play one forward pass into the Reading Number 9, who shot at Jamie Halsall in goal when through one-on-one - Halsall saved the first attempt, though the seconds were converted by Reading's Number 10 into the empty net - it's a bit fortunate for the visitors though, as the scorer was ahead of the ball and play when the shot was taken, but sometimes that's football.

The end of the first-half would see a further 2 goals, with a 3-0 lead for the visitors established for AFC Reading in the 41st minute. A long kick forward by their impressive goalkeeper saw an attacker get into the penalty area though was robbed of the ball. A half clearance by us at the back allowed for the ball to be intercepted, and tidily finished, to further extend the lead.

A lifeline would arrive in the 44th minute of the game, with the returning Leon Mannion winning a foul 20-yards-out from goal when the Forward was shoved in the back after Nadim Gharabli played a forward pass. The resulting free kick was struck by Connor Anderson, taking a heavily deflection in the process, allowing the ball to go find its way past the goalkeeper and into the net, taking the game to 3-1 at the half-time interval.

The second-half saw the rain fall and the impetus change in the game, with Hype Train dominating the ball and chances, with the first big chance arriving in the 49th minute when after Anwar Mmanga was fouled just past the halfway line, Aiden Iqbal's deep free-kick crashed off the crossbar, whilst there were half chances for Luke Follington and Mannion inside the penalty area that were either wide or blocked well.

The comeback attempt was furthered in the 56th minute, when Sam Rodriguez's second corner attempt from our left was flashed across goal and half cleared, with Iqbal and the goalkeeper colliding, with Iqbal's touch falling to Ashley Rockall to turn and shoot on the spin into the back of the net, bringing the score back to 3-2.

As the game dragged on, Mannion and Follington saw several chances dragged wide, whilst crosses from Rodriguez and Mark Bush were agonisingly wide of the mark, whilst Halsall in goal had to come alive twice, saving from point blank range from a cutback pass in the 73rd minute, to give The Train a chance to complete the comeback, though we had to keep fighting with 10-men for 10 minutes as Connor Anderson was harshly put in the sin bin when objecting to the referee calling the ball back for a foul when on the counter.

With Anderson back on the pitch, during the 87th minute the equalising effort finally arrived for Hype Train, with the goal arriving after a well worked effort. After winning the ball back, a long clearance to the left by Halsall would eventually see Rockall win the ball and play Anderson on the left.

Anderson then played a one-two with Follington, freeing Anderson to drive into the penalty area and play a pass to Mannion waiting inside the penalty area - Mannion then took one touch with his right to open up his body, before placing the finish superbly to the bottom corner with his right foot, finally bringing the game level after a lot of effort and fight from the team to comeback from the brink.

AFC Reading ended the game by hitting the bar from range in additional time, whilst a continued push from the team couldn't see a winner for The Train, meaning in our TVPL debut the points were shared against a decent outfit who last season were in the division above the squad.

Next up, The Train continue the 2025/26 season on 6th September 2025, travelling away to Marlow United FC, in Thames Valley Premier League's Division One.

Thoughts from Club Secretary, Robert Austin:

"Overall, the change to the Thames Valley has started with a productive point, against a decent opposition who provided a really good test against us in the first-half. We took a while to get to grips in the game, which can always happen in the first games,, and had to change our defensive shape early on, but ultimately went on to control the majority of chances and momentum in the game. There's a lot to work on, but I am incredibly pleased that we showed tremendous fight and determination to come away with a result.

We're thrilled to be in the TVPL, and our first outing has seen the squad hungry to build on the draw on opening day, and are looking forward to some really challenging tests in the months ahead in a packed Division One."

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Sam Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Jamie Halsall

DEF: Anwar Mmanga

DEF: Callum Gibbons (Rodriguez 26')

DEF: Ashley Rockall

DEF: Mark Bush

MID: Conall Gorman (Plummer 64')

MID: Nadim Gharabli

MID: Aiden Iqbal (Boateng 89')

MID: Callum Parr-Jones (Follington 68')

MID: Connor Anderson

FOR: Leon Mannion

Substitutes:

SUB: Sam Rodriguez

SUB: Luke Follington

SUB: Daniel Plummer

SUB: Emmanuel Boateng

Goals & Assists:

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

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

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

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