Three defeats in a row for disappointing Hobnob
After the disappointment of the defeat to Real Reading the previous week, Hobnob went into the game determined to get back to winning ways. There were two changes made to last week’s side as Tom Robertson and Ian Pulfer came in for Daniel Cross and Adam Turner, a move that pushed Rich Paine into a wider position on the right hand side. Hobnob had not played Loddon Valley Rangers Reserves since the opening day of the season when they had been unlucky to lose 2-0 and the visitors were now sitting in second place and were looking for a win to help their promotion push.
LVRR had a very international feel to their side and in a very evenly contested first half there was little to pick between the two sides. The visitors were reliant on long balls over the top to their two big Polish strikers but Hobnob kept a very disciplined line and more often than not, they were getting caught offside. However, LVRR had a definite physical advantage over the home side and it was proving difficult for Hobnob to get the ball out of their half as most of their balls forward were being headed straight back. Both sides were getting more joy when the ball was played on the ground and the wingers were encouraged to run at the defenders. LVRR fired the first warning shots of the game as they ran in from the right and pulled back for a shot that went wide. Soon after they hit the post as a header clipped the edge and went wide. At the other end Dan Robertson was able to find Pulfer with a deft flick but the striker was only able to shoot wide of the near post. The breakthrough came when LVRR hit on the break and after cutting in from the byline, the forward dummied a shot before going the other way and firing through Terry’s legs and into the back of the net. Hobnob came back though and Paine’s running was continuing to be a nuisance. He thought he’d won his team a penalty after getting into the box and hearing the referee’s whistle after the defender’s challenge. Much confusion ensued but it eventually became clear the referee had blown for an indirect free kick in the area for a high boot. Hobnob felt aggrieved but were unable to get the resulting free kick on target. With time in the first half running out the ball was cleared for a throw in. Bolton’s trademark, booming throw into the box found Plant unmarked in the six yard box and he headed past the keeper to make it all square at the break.
Despite their good work towards the end of the first 45 minutes, Hobnob seemed oddly flat footed going into the second and but for a bit of brilliance from Tiltman, would have been trailing shortly after the break. A through ball found their big striker in space and he was able to run in on goal. Chapman did well to force him wider and that delay proved vital. As he went round the prone goalkeeper, he had the goal at his mercy only for Tiltman to fly across and part block, part tackle the ball behind for a corner. It was a superb bit of commitment from the left back that saved a certain goal. In the following period of play Hobnob continued their decent defence of the high ball but it was to be set pieces that were to prove their undoing. Cheng defended well and conceded a corner but as the ball came in at the near post the LVRR player evaded his marker and gave Chapman no chance with his header. The goal seemed to act as a catalyst for both sides but instead of one side pushing on, the game became ragged and both teams began to lose their shape and their discipline. LVRR thought they’d won a penalty when their striker was clean through and Terry bundled into him. The referee had a different view however and ruled in favour of the home side, saying the striker had dived. This did nothing to improve already fraying tempers. Substitute Dan Hare was yellow carded shortly after coming on after leaving his boot in on a defender and Bolton also found his way into the book after one hefty challenge too many. With both sides losing a bit of discipline there began to be more space at both ends. Paine’s running on right was tireless and his cross almost found the back of the net, it needed a good save to tip it over the bar. At the other end LVRR won a free kick after another Bolton challenge about 25 yards out. Hobnob were insistent that the player had dived but after the kick was given against them, Bolton could perhaps count himself lucky not to pick up a second yellow. His side were duly punished however as the resulting free kick was superbly put into the top corner giving Chapman no chance. Hobnob threw everyone forward for the final few minutes but when Plant bundled in his second, it was clear it was only to be a consolation goal.
The game was a very even one but ultimately Hobnob were unable to build on a decent end to the second half. They were at their best when getting the ball down and passing and running but this happened only in patches. There are now only two games left of this season, neither of which will be at Palmer Park which may come as something of a relief to the side as it has proved to be an unhappy hunting ground. There would appear to be nothing but pride to play for now but that should be incentive enough. There’s a long pre-season beckoning and everyone involved with Hobnob FC will want to make that period easier by going into it off the back of two wins.
