After last week’s break Hobnob came into the game against table topping FC Berksalona knowing that they needed an improved performance. Four defeats in a row told its own story but the break enabled the side to come in refreshed with past results behind them. Daniel Cross was missing on international duty in the USA so Tom Robertson kept his place at right back but elsewhere there were some real selection headaches for the manager. Dan Hare got the nod on the right wing for only his second start of the season ahead of Luke Walker but perhaps the biggest call was Ian Pulfer coming in to start ahead of Dan Robertson.
It was noticeable from the outset that Hobnob were going to approach the game differently. From the moment the warm ups started there was an intensity and focus that has been missing earlier in the season. They needed to be awake as well because, on a big pitch, Berksalona were looking to put the ball in behind the defenders and break the offside trap. The strikers were working the channels but with the wind swirling about they were struggling to time their runs and were consequently offside pretty much every time the ball went forward. Such was the regularity in which this was happening that perhaps some complacency crept into the back four. With the ball played forward the Berksalona player was offside but as he ran back another broke from midfield. The defence were flat footed and he easily ran through, pulling the ball back for them to tap in the opener. There was a slight question of offside about the pullback but regardless, Hobnob had fallen behind.
In previous weeks heads may well have dropped that wasn’t the case this time. The Nobbers knew they’d been matching them and continued to do what they’d been doing and began to get their reward. Pulfer was unlucky to see his shot go wide from a tight angle and but the visitors had begun to find their flow. Paine was getting more into the game and his constant running was proving a real nuisance. After being released down the left wing the Grimbarian cut inside and had his legs taken from under him. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Pulfer to calmly put the ball into the bottom corner for his third spot kick of the season. It was no more than they deserved but Berksalona are top for a reason and Chapman, on an otherwise quiet day for the keeper, had to be on top form to palm a shot wide of his right post. The league leaders were beginning to get back into the game but it was Hobnob who had the best chance before half time. Breaking away from a corner the three Ps of Plant, Pulfer and Paine were all involved in a lovely, quick passing break that led to the latter being very unlucky to see his shot fly over the bar.
The second half saw much of the same as the first. Hobnob’s organized defence proving to be more than a match for anything Berksalona could throw at them. Plant and Bolton were making their presence felt in the middle of the pitch and Cheng and Terry gobbled up anything that came near them. This solidity proved the perfect base for Hobnob to utilize the pace of Hare, Davies and Paine. It was from this that Hobnob won a succession of corners that were to prove decisive. Paine had already gone close at the near post from one before Hare floated one in right at front stick and Dan Robertson, on as a pre-planned halftime sub somehow managed to fall and bundle the ball in. If he’s honest, I doubt he could say how he did it but his delight in scoring his first of the season was clear to see, running the length of the pitch to celebrate with Chris Chapman. Berksalona kept pressing but to no avail, they simply couldn’t find a way through the defence and the game was wrapped up toward the end when Paine managed to dance his way through and around the goalkeeper to make it 3-1. It was a goal reminiscent of the onlooking Hobnob legend Jason Stephenson.
Warren Cheng was deservedly man of the match at the end of the game but full credit should be given to the entire team for an excellent defensive performance. To put the result in some context, Hobnob had conceded 12 goals in their last three games and Berksalona has scored 21 so a performance like today’s needs to be properly appreciated. Maybe it was the bumper crowd but the complaints of a lack of desire, effort or organization that were being made by some over the last few months seem to have been heeded and learnt. We now know what we can do and there’s no reason or excuse to not do that every game from here on in.
