Hobgoblin FC 3 vs 4 George & Dragon

<p>A chance for a cup run escapes the 'Goblins as strong beginning and end prop up miserable middle. <p>Another new line up and change of starting eleven, as three new squad members are signed last minute, adding much needed numbers. <p>The game got underway with a debut from Ata Dogramaci, and a much more focussed start to the game was rewarded with an early goal that was crafted from the best materials. The tireless Jack Joyce dispossessed their winger and moved the ball quickly to Dieter, with an exquisite first touch to knock it into the path of Hobbie, rifling it into the bottom corner with 5 mins on the clock. Great team goal. 1-0 <p>The chance of building on our strong start didn't come, and we were punished for our inexperience as a long ball split our defence leaving a 2-on-2 situation, with their forward able to take it past Wes and slot it into the empty net. 1-1 <p>Almost a carbon copy goal followed, as their intelligent front two spread our centre halves wide, only for another long ball to land in between them. The ball again found it's way into the net as Jay Mitchell was only just unable to keep it out. 1-2 <p>The poor middle part of the game continued, but was broken by another neat move from the home side. Matt Watts peppered a long ball out wide, dropping to Sonny Ball, clipping it to Dale who cut it back for Hobbie to claim his second of the game. 2-2 <p>Just before half time, George &amp; Dragon managed to take the lead with yet another goal that didn't show much creativity, but found it's way over the line. 2-3 <p>The home team never really managed to get out of third gear. Play was being broken up by the opposition too easily, and their long balls were finding red shirts every time. Asking two offensive players to cover in wide defensive positions was always going to be a difficult task, made harder by the man in black, whose decision making was poor at best, and showed endless favours to the away side. <p>An angry team talk ensued at half time, but the players understood the reasons, and went out with a fighting spirit for the second 45. <p>Another good start to a half followed. More opportunities were beginning to be created by our offensive play, but the final ball was either delayed by a fraction too long, or misplaced by millimetres. The Hobgoblins were starting to find their voices. <p>Completely against the run of play, the Worthing team found their fourth. Their wide man was allowed to drift inside and past no fewer than five of our players, chipping a ball to a free man on the back post to again slot it past Wes. How on earth he was allowed to get through so many challenges God only knows. Players need to take ownership of their decisions, and that was a display of poor decision making. 2-4 <p>The changes were made. Another debutant, Bemi Okutubo, came on for Ata, and we went to a 4-4-2 formation with Dieter alongside Dale. The referee, playing his part in our downfall, booked Fraser after a meaty - but not illegal - challenge. 15mins later, another card popped out for Sonny Ball. Another firm yet fair challenge. Two fines for two good tackles. Sonny obviously took heart from the wrong-doing, and stayed up top to charge down a clearance. A few ricochets off his thigh (definitely not his arm - definitely) and the ball came loose. Sonny's size 11 boots reaching before the defenders girly size 8's. The 'Goblins were back in the game. 3-4 <p>The last 15mins were all Hobgoblin, and justice yet again did not prevail, as the referee failed to penalise a goal bound shot that blatantly struck their defenders arm in the box. You couldn't get a more obvious penalty. <p>Not even one added minute for their horrendous time-wasting.&nbsp; <p>The referee blew at the stroke of 90. <p>&nbsp; <p>A short lived cup run that brought up points which we will take to the training ground. Effort was there, but yet again it was too little too late.&nbsp; <p>This is a winning team with a winning squad. We will get our run of luck, and we will make sure that we put the goal difference beyond anything that a crap ref can do. <p>To next week. <p>&nbsp; <p>Up the 'Gob!