Conditions for Hobnob’s third league game of the season couldn’t have been more different to last week’s comprehensive win in the cup. The pitch at Palmer Park had at least been cut but the cold drizzle was in sharp contrast to the sunshine against Prince of Wales. FC Berksalona were the visitors and came into the game off the back of three defeats and a side that Hobnob have a 100% record against.
Selection was pretty straight forward with the starting XI remaining the same as last week, the only change being the addition of Rob Walker to the bench to make it two weeks in a row when Hobnob had real strength and experience on the bench.
Dan Hare led a good thorough warm up that was needed with the rain and it told in the initial exchanges. Hobnob as a side have a habit of being a bit slow to get into games but not this week with Plant in particular dominating from the off. Much of the play was being conducted in the middle of the pitch with Paine and Pulfer both dropping in. The end result was that when the ball did find its way out wide the defenders often had a bit of a free rein in the box with no real pressure. That’s not to say chance weren’t created with Hare and Bolton both heading over from close range. The best opportunities were coming from range though. The Berksalona defenders continued to sit off the midfield and Plant’s daisy cutter smashed the post and Cross twice had long rangers well saved. The best chances of the half both fell to Pulfer who couldn’t quite turn the ball in at the far post after Hare’s fizzing cross, instead smashing his knee into the woodwork for his trouble and saw a great left foot effort held by the keeper. At the other end there wasn’t really much to report. Berksalona’s opportunities were limited to a few set pieces, with their only real effort firing wide from a long throw. There was only one team in it at the halfway point but the home side were a little disappointed to go in all square despite their dominance.
After the break Berksalona changed things a bit and two pushed on up top. However the absence of their guy in midfield who was forced off with injury was ultimately telling as the continued to drop deeper and deeper. Somehow despite sitting so far back Tiltman and Davies were having the time of their lives on the left. Davies was continually finding the byline but none of his crosses could quite connect. Coming from deep though Hobnob’s best attacking threat was their marauding left back. His run and cut back set up a decent chance for Hare and great bit of skill, first nutmegging the defender followed by a 360 on the ball resulted in a free kick that Pulfer put over. The longer it remained 0-0 the more the first goal was going to be vital and Hobnob just couldn’t find it. Berksalona were trying to exploit the space left by Tiltman but Cheng and Tom Robertson were having very little problem at the back. Tiltman was looking the most likely and he must have wished for a right foot as he kept going on his run straight across goal but unable to swing his left boot. It was in the end a rare attack from the away side though the finally broke the deadlock. Chapman claimed the ball well and pinged a fantastic quick kick to find Davies on his own. The wide man broke at pace finding Paine at the far post who showed great composure to roll the ball into the feet of Pulfer who didn’t have to break stride before slotting home the opener. It looked like it might open the floodgates especially after another Plant effort cannoned off the post but Hobnob couldn’t quite find the final pass. Paine was eventually forced off with a knee injury for Dan Robertson and the hardworking Davies was replaced with Stephenson who was appearing in his 50th game for the Nobbers. The changes worked well with Robertson holding the ball well and Stephenson providing some extra energy on the right. It still remained only 1-0 though and Hobnob did manage a real scare. A fairly innocuous ball through from a free kick was being lined up to clear by Tom Robertson who, getting a call from his keeper left it. As he turned Chapman punched it up in the air and the on rushing player headed marginally over. Mike Terry understandably looked to shore things up after that by bringing in Luke Walker to the middle in place of the goalscorer Pulfer. It worked wonders. Again on the break Chapman found Stephenson with a quick throw. His direct running is stuff of Hobnob legend and as he committed players in he played a lovely ball to the onrushing Tiltman who teed up Dan Robertson to seal the win. Right at the end Walker could have perhaps made it 3-0 but in the end it was a deserved first three points for Hobnob.
A really impressive performance then for Hobnob who pretty much ran the game from start to finish. Plant and Bolton had complete control in the middle of the park and both full backs were exceptional. Tiltman got the man of the match award, and deservedly so, but it was a game that had 14 big games from players. It’s only the second time in the history of the club that we’ve managed two clean sheets on the spin, let’s hope that in a week I’m writing about a record breaking run. Perform like that again and I will be.
