PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: Hype Train FC 2-6 Slough Heating Reserves

Hype Train Football Club were back in action this weekend as we welcomed the current EBFL Division 1 Champions, Slough Heating Reserves, who will be playing in the Premier Division next season. For the second weekend, we played at the Reading Ibis, this time posing as the home team as we continued our pre-season schedule against difficult opposition. All Aboard.

Match Report: Hype Train FC vs. Slough Heating Reserves

With a midday kick-off in cool temperatures (compared to the rest of the week in the UK) and an overcast sky, Hype Train FC faced a game of two-halves as our slow start was punished by a well organised and ruthless Slough Reserves side.

Slough largely dominated the first-half, first scoring via a heavy deflection, before a quick one-two combination on their right channel led to a fine low cross and strike. Slough then caught our first-half Goalkeeper, Callum Parr-Jones, with a dipping lob from 30 yards to make the score 3-0, before they scored shortly afterwards due to a header from a corner.

With the score 4-0 at half-time, our team brought on all 4 substitutes, and altering our shape from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation. We moved Parr-Jones into the attacking midfield position, and brought on Noah Hodge and James Harris on either flank, with both causing Slough's defenders lots of problems as we came back into the game.

Hodge scored our first goal after being teed up by Harris on the right-flank, slotting calmly into the bottom-right corner, to bring the score back up to 5-1 (the team had gone 5-0 down after a low cross and finish from their right-hand side). Hodge was then brought down for a penalty, with Callum Fox-Spence slamming his penalty into the roof of the net to make it 5-2.

A defensive error from stand-in central defender, Tommy Payne, was capitalised by Slough's attacker, who clinically finished past second-half shot-stopper, Chris Marshall.

The blue and gold finished the game strong as we drew the second-half 2-2. Congratulations to Slough for the victory, and best of luck for your season in the EBFL Premier Division.

HTFC Man of the Match:

Noah Hodge came off the bench to play on the left-wing and in 45 minutes, not only scored our first goal, but then was fouled for a penalty, which was converted by Callum Fox-Spence. It was an industrious and effective first 45 minutes for Hodge.

Thoughts from General Secretary, Robert Austin:

"Today was a tough lesson for the team. As we're still figuring out team chemistry with a large group of new players, figuring out the best fit and positioning we came up against seasoned opposition that battled hard.

The first-half was a baptism of fire as we were largely on the defensive, but in the second, once we settled and made some changes, we were well in the game and posed Slough a few threats once they began to tire.

We've now scored our first goals and had our first heavy defeat, so today should calm the team down, and motivate the squad equally, as we look to get our first win on the board as we face Calcot next Sunday.

We have nothing but good things to say about our EBFL compatriots. Their management and team were friendly, chatty, and played a fair game without any dangerous Sunday league style tackles. They're a good outfit that has opened our eyes about the challenge at hand for the upcoming season, so their visit only leaves us with talking points and positives. If you're looking for a good team to shape you up for the season, get in touch with Slough.

In pre-season the results don't matter, but it was good to get a measure of our progress as a team in its infancy. Personally, I wish we could come up against this standard every week, you can only get better by playing better teams."

Hype Train FC: Matchday Squad

Date: Saturday 27th July 2019

Opposition: Slough Heating Reserves (H)

Starting 11:

GK: Callum Parr-Jones

DEF: Jack Denton (Sawyer '45)

DEF: Chris Marshall

DEF: Tommy Payne

DEF: Robert Austin - (C)

MID: Rod Stevens (Scott '85)

MID: Sebastian Barton

MID: Ashley Scott (Carter '45)

FOR: Sam Paddon (Hodge '45)

FOR: Callum Fox-Spence (Harris '45)

FOR: Leon Mannion (Fox-Spence '80)

Subsistutes:

SUB: James Harris

SUB: Noah Hodge

SUB: Jamie Carter

SUB: Joseph Sawyer

Goals & Assists:

Goal 1: Hodge (goal), Harris (assist)

Goal 2: Fox-Spence (goal, pen), Hodge (assist)

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.