Battling Hobnob go down after unfortunate own goal
After the troubles in fielding an XI last week the players are beginning to trickle back in and Hobnob were today able to welcome Clifford Davies back to the starting line up after missing the last five games through suspension. This gave the side a bit more balance and meant that the versatile Dave Gale could play up front for the first time since the cup game against Victoria Arms when he scored twice. Otherwise the side was unchanged with James Tiltman available for the bench (running the line) after returning from injury.
The two games against Eldon Celtic were feisty affairs last season with both games involving red cards and this game promised to be much of the same. Eldon again brought their vocal crowd and as they were unbeaten in the league all season and Hobnob were coming off the back of a defeat, they started as favourites. It was then with a degree of surprise and frustration that Eldon found the first half. Seemingly reluctant to play the long ball, they unwittingly played to Hobnob’s strength. The back four were happy to stand off and give possession to the away side but for much of the first half they were unable to do a huge amount with it. Cheng and Terry were alert as soon the ball came near the forward whilst Robertson and Cross were preventing any attacks from the wings. In the middle their playmaker was becoming increasingly frustrated as the ball moved sideways and Hobnob were able to launch sporadic counter attacks when picking up loose balls in midfield. Whilst there was nothing clear cut being produced, the resulting corners were asking more questions. A goalmouth scramble led to Pulfer firing over and Terry headed wide. At the other end Eldon were having more luck with their set plays as well, especially with their long throws. Chapman was forced to tip the ball over directly from one throw. It wouldn’t have counted as it didn’t take a touch but the goalkeeper wisely decided to make sure. The closest either side came in the first half was again from a throw when the big centre forward flicked a header across goal only for the ball to bobble inches wide of the far post.
Hobnob could be rightly pleased with their defensive efforts in the first half and with Bolton’s robust tackling in midfield, Eldon were beginning to wonder how they were going to score. In the end the goal the decided the game was a fortuitous one for the visitors. Early in the second half, partly through lack of other options, Eldon began taking pot shots from range, none of which troubling the Hobnob goal. That was until a daisy cutter that was probably going wide took a wicked deflection of Terry as he went to block. The ball looped up and over the despairing goalkeeper to give Eldon the luckiest of openers. It was a cruel bit of luck, especially for the Hobnob player/manager who was making his 50th appearance for the Blue & Whites. With Hobnob now having to chase the game they began to press forward and the inevitable gaps began to appear, however more good defending and smart work from Chapman kept the home side in the hunt. Again set pieces were looking like Hobnob’s best option in attack and after Plant’s free kick forced a save from the keeper, Terry was only able to head wide from the corner. The best chance of an equalizer again fell to Terry who, eager to atone for his misfortune at the other end picked up a loose ball at went on a rampaging run through midfield. Seeing an opening he smashed the ball goalwards only to see it fly wide.
It wasn’t to be for Hobnob as they again lost by one goal, remarkably for the seventh time this season. Whilst they were clearly unlucky with the goal that was scored, defensively the lessons of last week had been learned with a committed performance. Perhaps because of that however there is a bit of a loss going forward and the side is seemingly becoming a little reliant on set pieces to create chances. That said, but for a freak of a goal, the Nobbers would have left the game with a hard earned point against a side that will almost certainly be playing in Division 2 next season and they can be rightly pleased with that.
