Hobnob travelled back to their old stomping ground of Palmer Park for the first time since their move to Berkshire County Sport to take on Imaan. It was a bit of a patchwork team that arrived in the old meeting point in the car park, a point that was highlighted by introductions to a new player (Behan), forgotten shinpads (Rimmer), early drives from Bournemouth (Walkers and Cheng) and via a detour to BCS (Phillips). In fact it's a mark of how resourceful the team is that Dan Hare's stag do didn't prove to be a bigger disruption, with only the groom and best man Mike Terry absent drunk. Warren Cheng came back into defence in place of manager Terry (whose knee would have kept him out regardless) while James Behan came in for his debut and Luke Walker replaced his brother in a 4-4-1-1 formation from temporary player/manager Ian Pulfer.
The last time the sides met the opposition were notable for the quality of a couple of their individuals and so it was again in this game. Their captain looked to play in the space between the defence and the midfield but the new look pairing in midfield of Behan and Phillips kept him fairly quiet early on. It would prove to be defensive errors however that gifted Imaan their opener. Phillips went to volley the ball clear but only succeeded in putting it straight up in the air. That in itself shouldn't have been a problem as it dropped tamely in the six yard box. Unfortunately Chapman and Behan both dived at it and it bounced kindly in front of the Imaan striker who couldn't miss.
The goal was just what the game needed and settled into Imaan dominating possession and Hobnob looking to get the ball over the top on the counter. It was a tactic that so nearly worked brilliantly for the away team but first Davies and then Pulfer were flagged offside as they ran through and scored. The latter proving particularly controversial after the referee overturned his own decision and disallowed the goal. Hobnob were getting closer though but they were finding clear chances hard to come by and it looked like Pulfer's free kick that went narrowly over would be as close as they would get. Instead it took an innocuous corner from Luke Walker which some how evaded the whole defence to fall for Behan at the far post. There was a hint of handball about his touch but the debutant bundled home the equaliser.
Imaan needed some inspiration and despite Robertson nearly gifting them a way back in after getting caught in possession it came from their captain. Rimmer thought he'd stood his man up but as he shifted inside he smashed the ball beyond Chapman. It was a very good goal but meant that the scoreline didn't perhaps accurately reflect the first half.
The second half started the way of the home team but their inability to stay onside and overplaying the ball was costing them. Chapman came out to make a good save when their striker went through but neither side were creating much. Then came a real moment of farce. The Imaan winger broke clear down the left and Cross and Cheng did well to force him toward the touchline. Somehow he managed to whip the ball across goal to their unmarked striker. Rimmer was running forward with his arm aloft claiming offside, leaving him in the middle of the goalmouth. Quite how he managed to poke it wide is anyone's guess but the how move left everyone looking bemused.
Imaan did eventually get their goal to double their lead and unfortunately for Gale, his first game for the club in nearly two years was immediately marked by it. No sooner had the Wesley Sneijder lookalike run on the pitch had the Imaan captain skipped inside again and somehow found the top corner from range. That goal looked like it would seal the win for the home side.
Stand in manager Pulfer changed things to a 3-5-2 and went on the attack, throwing players forward. It's ironic then that all the best things from Hobnob afterwards came from set pieces. First Pulfer hit the bar with a free kick after Miles took a tumble and then the same player was most alive to taking a quick throw in from the right wing. He found substitute Rob Walker who looked like he'd taken the ball too wide before rifling the ball in to double his tally for the season and Hobnob's for the game.
The Hobnob midfield and defence were working overtime to win the ball back with Phillips looking like a man possessed as he endeavoured to atone for his earlier error as he won every header and tackle coming his way. Next to him Behan was drawing foul after foul from the opposition and it was his throw in that brought Hobnob the moment that they'd worked so hard in the game for. Again it was a quick throw and Pulfer, with his back to goal had the awareness to flick the cheekiest of delicate lobs over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
After the battling win of the last game, Hobnob continued with the fight. Imaan were a much improved side to the last time the teams met but Hobnob were good value for their point. Indeed, had the officiating been different, they could easily have been celebrating a win.
