Hobgoblin FC 2 vs 3 Ovingdean II

<p>Another opportunity lost as 3 points fell by the wayside.&nbsp; <p>Hobgoblin lost their first home game of the season in what was to be a dismal first 45mins for the purple and whites. Too often the home team were overun through the middle of the park as the time and space they created had us at sixes and sevens. Were in not for the last ditch tackles from Georgie Ball, we could have been down by 3 goals. Having kept them at bay for quarter of an hour, the barriers couldn't hold strong anymore. It took a 20yd bullet to beat our last line of defence as the opposition went deservedly 1-up. <p>Thorpey, so often the hero, was being left exposed and run ragged by their winger. For the second game in a row, poor communication had left holes over the park.&nbsp; <p>In what was a damp squib of a first half, a ray of light came down and shone temporarily for our first goal. Some excellent movement (that we're so capable of) down the middle from Dale, then lifted a ball with his left foot over the retreating defence, for Charlie Bingham to bring down, cut back inside and tee up Sonny Ball, who moved the ball from right to left like he had chewing gum on his boots, creating space, and shot into the bottom corner. 32mins gone, 1-1. <p>Perhaps thinking that we had done enough to take it into half time, we completely switched off for their second. Almost on the stroke of half time, their player picked up the ball and skipped through challenges that wouldn't have brushed the fluff off a dandelion, to slot the ball low past the 'keeper. 1-2. <p>&nbsp; <p>A change at half time moved Joyce to the left and replaced Thorpedo at left back for the more experienced Razavi. A better second 45mins ensued and some rare opportunities came our way with some good crosses from Joyce. A more positive attitude was obvious from the sidelines, until in the 57th minute, a trailing leg from Paul Cooper was spotted by their player who tucked a napkin into his collar and said 'thank you very much'. Penalty. Not even the sight of Wes's bloodstained glove would put the player off as he dispatched the penalty at the second offering. <p>The last 25mins were all Hobgoblin. The pressure was relentless and at another corner (all of ours were brilliantly delivered by Henry and Joyce) the ball was knocked over the line. Everyone but the referee thought it was a goal, but it was judged to have been pushed in by a hand.&nbsp; <p>It took until the 80th minute for Georgie Ball to get his hands on a free kick within shooting range. As he lined it up Ronaldo style-ee, an excellent connection took it over the wall to the 'keepers right hand side. Their goalkeeper's feet didn't even move. Textbook. <p>&nbsp; <p>Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. <p>&nbsp; <p>Better defending from set pieces would have been the only positive taken from this game. Time to draw a line under it.&nbsp; <p>Next week a big game versus TMG. Everyone needs their 'on' button for this one.