PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: Singh Sabha Slough FC 6-0 Hype Train FC
Hype Train Football Club were back in action this past Saturday as we travelled to EBFL Premier Division outfit, Singh Sabha Slough FC, for pre-season action. The match was our first away trip to the East Berkshire region as we look to build on our success with one final pre-season games still on the horizon. All Aboard.
Match Report: Singh Sabha Slough FC vs. Hype Train FC
In stifling hot conditions in the heart of Slough, we kicked off against a very good Sabha side at 2pm and we found ourselves behind after 5 minutes after Sam Arnup was skipped past on the right-side, with the eventual cross being turned home for the opening goal.
Sabha were the more confident starters and had plenty of chances to double their lead, but HTFC grew in to the half and missed several chances, with Leon Mannion and Noah Hodge both going close on several occasions. The squad battled well and should have gone in to the half-time period 1-1, but we just couldn't find that breakthrough in hot conditions.
With the team chopping and changing due to injuries, we couldn't keep up our momentum and found ourselves conceding a second - courtesy of another wonder-strike against us. Sabha then added a third after a counter-attack from a corner-kick, before converting nicely from a free-kick. The home side added a fifth and sixth from close range in a score-line that slightly flatters Sabha's effort.
Hodge and Mannion both went close in the second-half, with the pair drawing great saves from Sabha's keeper to preserve a clean sheet.
Good work on the win, regardless Singh, your experience showed in the latter stages of the game and good luck this season!
HTFC Man of the Match:
Sammy Seville played on the right of midfield and always looked to get involved in the play. Seville worked hard to limit the impact of Sabha's left-side for large periods of the match and linked well with the attack.
Thoughts from General Secretary, Robert Austin:
"In football, you can plan the perfect game all week, then the actual day is so far removed from what you could have ever imagined. It was thirty degree heat and we had both of our full-backs forced off through injury within the opening thirty minutes.
I actually thought we played some good football and were very competitive for most of the match, just a combination of tired legs in the heat, and our opponents experienced, really punished us in the the second-half. Had we gone in at half-time with the goal we deserved, it may have changed the game.
After we couldn't provide a home pitch due to Reading Festival, with the general lack of grassroots pitch availability in Reading (at a reasonable price), Sabha reached out and were very accommodating hosts on the day, though we were packed in to the smallest changing room in England. I wanted the challenge of playing another experienced team, and we have come away with some vital points to build upon the start of the season next weekend against Langley Hornets.
The score doesn't matter here, though I am pleased with our general growth as a team throughout pre-season. We should in in very good shape for our first competitive game."
Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad
Date: Saturday 24th August 2019
Opposition: Singh Sabha Slough FC
Starting 11:
GK: Martin King
DEF: Sam Arnup (Denton '15)
DEF: Alex O'Keeffe - (C)
DEF: Robert Austin
DEF: James Carter (Paddon '28)
MID: Tommy Payne
MID: Sebastian Barton (Harris '70)
MID: Elliott Simson (Scott '45)
FOR: James Harris (Seville '30)
FOR: Leon Mannion (Simson '85)
FOR: Noah Hodge
Substitutes:
SUB: Sam Seville
SUB: Ashley Scott
SUB: Jack Denton
SUB: Sam Paddon
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.
