EBFL Division One Team Report (22/03/2025): Hype Train FC vs. HKRG 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 2024/25 season, with the team competing in the East Berkshire Football League (EBFL). All aboard.

Match Report: Hype Train FC

Date: Saturday 22nd March 2025

Competition: EBFL Division One (Game 15)

Opposition: HKRG United

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

Final Score: Hype Train FC 8-1 HKRG United

Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk

Match Report:

The Train's encounter against HKRG United was our 25th fixture of the 2024/25 season in the East Berkshire Football League, with the team competing in EBFL's Division One. This was the reversal of the league encounter in February, with The Train running out 9-0 winners at Cantley Park in Wokingham.

The game didn't take long for the first goal of the day to arrive, with The Train taking the lead just after the 7-minute mark of the game. With the ball down our left flank, Conall Gorman was attempting to wriggle free past several markers, and was eventually feed to the byline by Ilyas Abdulwahab who won the ball back, with Gorman then cutting the ball back for Mark Bush to sweep the ball home from close range to open the scoring.

Less than 2 minutes later the lead was doubled in the 9th minute, starting when Bush won the ball on the right and drove forward before releasing a through ball to Obeydah Abdulwahab, who had all the time in the world to run into the penalty area, before cutting the ball back to his brother Ilyas, to sweep the ball home.

The team had to be patient for the third goal, but patience with passing in the 38th minute was key to a 3-0 lead. The team's midfield was moving the ball around well the edge of the penalty area, with the final pass seeing I. Abdulwahab pass back to Rockall, and just as the seas parted for Moses, so did the HKRG defence, allowing Rockall to calmly cushion a curling shot over the opposing shot stopper high into the net for a 3-goal lead!

The final goal of the half was in added time at the end of the half, with Rockall on the scoresheet again, and assisted by I. Abdulwahab yet again, this time when Rockall controlled down a corner kick before rifling in a half volley into the onion bag for a 4-0 lead at the break.

With all five available substitutes on at half-time, it took over 10 minutes for the game to re-establish itself, though it only took until the 62nd minute for the 5th goal. Josh Robertson played a midfield-splitting pass forward to Manny Cudjoe, who controlled the pass well and beat a Hong Kong defender in the process, before driving a low shot towards the bottom right corner - the HKRG goalkeeper made a top save, though was only able to parry the shot - allowing Luke Follington to follow up to fire into the roof of the net on the line.

The visitors managed to register a goal, taking advantage of a loss of possession at the back in the 64th minute, with a simple through ball played through to their Forward, who finished well with a deft finish when one-on-one with stand-in goalkeeper, Nadim Gharabli.

The 7th goal of the game was awarded by way of the penalty spot after Alan Higgs, who had an easy day at the office with two well-mannered teams on display, awarding The Train a penalty in the 68th minute after Cudjoe was fouled in the penalty area when barged whilst jumping to win a header. Stepping up to complete his hat-trick was Rockall, who shot straight down the middle and beat the HKRG goalkeeper to become the first Hype Train defender to net a hat-trick for the club!

The final 10 minutes of the game were also fruitful for the team as we added a 7th goal in the 84th minute. Again, another dangerous set-piece by I. Abdulwahab ghosted through a body of players inside the penalty area and to Rockall, who moved the ball forward to Brad Burles-Nash to shoot on the six-yard-line, drawing a top save from the HKRG goalkeeper yet again - though the ball fell invitingly to Tom Dalgarno to smash home his second goal for the team with his right foot - Dalgarno's first goal in nearly 2 years since Sunday 7th May 2023 in a 5-1 home win over Woodley Lowfield in RDSL Division 3!

The final goal of the afternoon to lock in an 8-1 scoreline was a familiar sight on the day, with I. Abdulwahab again delivering another peach of a corner set-piece, this time floated deep towards the back post, allowing Rockall to head home for a 4th goal on the day.

Next up, The Train host Eton Wick FC in EBFL Division One at Waingels College in Reading on Saturday 29th March 2025.

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Manager: Robert Austin

Starting 11:

GK: Luke Follington

DEF: Jon Watkins (Mmanga 46')

DEF: Josh Robertson (Bush 67')

DEF: Ashley Rockall

DEF: Leo Pereira (Watkins 80')

MID: Mark Bush (Burles-Nash 46')

MID: Ilyas Abdulwahab (Dalgarno 46')

MID: Nadim Gharabli

MID: Mitchell Saunders (I. Abdulwahab 80')

MID: Conall Gorman (Boateng 46', O. Abdulwahab 48', Gorman 67')

FOR: Obeydah Abdulwahab (Cudjoe 46')

Substitutes:

SUB: Anwar Mmanga

SUB: Tom Dalgarno

SUB: Brad Burles-Nash

SUB: Emmanuel Cudjoe

SUB: Emmanuel Boateng

Goals & Assists:

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

Goal 2: I. Abdulwahab (goal), O. Abdulwahab (assist)

Goal 3: Rockall (goal), I. Abdulwahab (assist)

Goal 4: Rockall (goal), I. Abdulwahab (assist)

Goal 5: Follington (goal), Cudjoe (assist)

Goal 6: Rockall (goal), Cudjoe (assist)

Goal 7: Dalgarno (goal), Burles-Nash (assist)

Goal 8: Rockall (goal), I. Abdulwahab (assist)

nt to know more about The Hype Train?

The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in general football and Fantasy sports reporting, starting with Fantasy Premier League (FPL), before expanding to MLS Fantasy coverage in 2018.

We pride ourselves in providing beautiful graphics, statistics, in-depth analytical reporting and free weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb rankings tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review games, live sport, and professional wrestling.

In 2019, Hype Train Football Club was formed, becoming the first Fantasy Football website to take to the field. HTFC is a socially active team across social and web channels, providing regular match highlights, match reports, comprehensive player statistics and unique player profiles. We won both Goal of the Season Awards in the Berkshire and County FA regions, with Callum Parr-Jones winning the Berks & Bucks FA award, whilst Martin King won the PlaySport UK award.

In 2021, we formed the Reading Sunday Social League (RSSL), a competitive Sunday League involving 8 teams in its debut season. During the 2021/22 season, we won our first-ever trophy, lifting the East Berkshire Football League's Presidents Cup!

The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog' in 2016 by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), and were again shortlisted as a finalist in 2019 in the 'Best Fantasy Football Blog' category.

You can follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, follow Hype Train FC on Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content, visit our club's dedicate website, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk

Believe The Hype!