Hype Train FC were back on the road in our green Kitlocker PowerUp kit as we continued our return to the field, continuing our 2020/21 pre-season campaign by visiting EBFL Premier Division outfit, St Peters Iver FC. Read the match report from our third away trip in the off-season as we made the visit to Richings Park Sports Club in Iver. All aboard.
Match Report: St Peters Iver FC vs. Hype Train FC:
Date: 22nd August 2020
Competition: Pre-Season Friendly
Opposition: St Peters Iver FC
Location: Richings Park Sports Club, Iver, SL0 9BN
Final Score: St Peters Iver FC 2-0 Hype Train FC
Photographer: Sam Austin (@HypeTrainSam)
Request Photos: contact@thehypetrain.co.uk
Match Report:
Our trip to Iver was met with an entertaining first-half of action for the few on the sidelines to enjoy. St Peters tested Jack Roche in goal early from range, though the side was able to shield Roche's goal on several occasions before we had our best chances of the game, all of which came in quick succession in a 10-minute period midway through the first-half.
First, Phil Newport glanced a header just over the bar from a Rod Stevens set-piece, before good inter-play down our left-flank saw Dom Clarke get the ball at his post inside the penalty area, though Clarke dragged his effort wide with his second-touch inside the penalty area. Newport went close again when we drove down the left, though an opposing central defender did well to slide and block Newport's goal-bound effort well. Our third major chance saw Chris Marshall flash Dom Clarke's cross just over the bar, with a host of chances leaving us without any reward.
Not being able to take our chances, we werepunished when a giveaway in midfield gave the St Peters Iver left-winger a chance to drive into the penalty area, beating two men in the process, before cutting back with a forwardnamed Mattie Clarke at hand from close range to fire into the roof of the net for the opening goal of the game.
A second goal followed shortly after in the first-half when Roche got a hand on a set-piece delivered near the front-post, but the ball bobbled around off the head of a St Peters Iver forward. The team stopped as a high-foot drove into the box, but the referee didn't see this as Iver's skipper, Dan Seagrove, pounced on the line to poke home the second.
The second-half didn't add to the score, though St Peters Iver flashed a long-range effort off the top of the bar, and drew Roche into a handful of saves, whilst Marshall went close with a second header, this time unable to nod Stevens' cross on target. The game also allowed us to give debuts to Walid Zaky and Omar Saleh, with Zaky having trained with the team for the majority of 2020. The full-time whistle was blown early (around 40 minutes into the second-half), consigning the team to defeat against a strong, organised St Peters unit.
Thoughts from Player Manager, Robert Austin:
"Our ground-hopping experience of the Slough region has been eye-opening. I've been trying to get games against sides we've never come up against and of good quality, so I know exactly what we're in for as we prepare for a more difficult season than last season.
The East Berks league is full of teams that will punish mistakes, filled with physical players in midfield that switch the play as often as they can. We're slowly getting to the sense of urgency we need when combating these sides, but were just shy off the pace today against a team that you can tell have been together a while and know how to play.
I told my boys to never give up the way we play, even when losing, and we persisted for the game to try and play, to do the basics right and play honestly. We did that in periods, and created a host of first-half chances that should have seen us score 2-4 goals. On another day we go in at half-time with the game level, or ahead. The second-half saw a host of chances and we did well to keep compact and limit the scoreline as St Peters looked to extend their lead, but Jack Roche had another good game in the sticks for us.
All the credit goes to St Peters Iver's coaching staff today, they are a well-drilled and organised outfit that out-foxed us, pressed high and decided the game in the first-half when we weren't quite at the races. They'll do well in the EBFL Premier Division next season if they keep their squad together as they have a lot of power in midfield and a few players capable of finding the back of the net. Good luck for the season!"
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Starting 11:
GK: Jack Roche
DEF: Rod Stevens
DEF: Clayton Holloway
DEF: Marin Pendon
DEF: Robert Austin (C)
MID: Jon Watkins (Lanzagorta 45')
MID: Chris Marshall
MID: Colins Akemche (Saleh 65')
MID: Callum Fox-Spence
MID: Dom Clarke (Zaky 75')
FOR: Phil Newport (Lukeman 57')
Substitutes:
SUB: Liam Lukeman
SUB: Inigo Lanzagorta
SUB: Omar Saleh
SUB: Walid Zaky
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in 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.
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, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
All aboard.
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