Last week the general consensus seemed to be that Hobnob had played well and were unfortunate to lose at AFC Burghfield Reserves, a view even shared by the Burghfield manager. They had reason to be confident then going into the match against a Forest side who had so far lost all of their league games. The team selection reflected that with only two changes, one of which was enforced after Dan Robertson got a late call into work. Clifford Davies came in for him with Brendan Fitzsimon, recently returned from international duty replacing Rob Walker. There was a slight tweak to the formation to try and take advantage of a huge pitch with the plan to attack with pace.
Forest’s approach to the bigger pitch was the exact opposite to Hobnob’s as the flooded the middle of the pitch and the home side’s knowledge really paid off. L’Heureux and Phillips worked tirelessly but the sheer weight of numbers slowly began to tell. Hobnob didn’t exactly help themselves though with the passing continually going astray. The ball was incredibly wet but that was no real excuse for the sloppy play in possession. Forest should have made the breakthrough midway through the first half but Hobnob found themselves on the lucky end of a refereeing decision, and not for the last time in the game either. As the Forest number 7 sprinted clear Robertson had a clear choice to make and opted to scythe down the attacker rather than allow him a free run on goal. He timed it perfectly so it was outside the box but to his astonishment there was no whistle after clattering the player. No red as last man, no yellow, not even a foul. Hobnob had been given a gift. Not that they were feeling especially grateful and just before the break the Forest attacker managed to get between Robertson and Cheng and nodded perfectly into the bottom corner. Chapman managed to push the ball onto the post but the old “curse of the square posts” hit again and it bounced in.
The second half could not have started worse for the away side. Less than a minute after they’d taken kick off, Hobnob managed to lose possession and it was 2-0. This one aided by a comical collision between Cheng and Phillips. Two quickly became three and this time it was a weak clearance the led to a cross and Forest nodding in another. 3-0 down and with most of the half still to go, it looked grim. Fortunately this sparked Hobnob into a bit of life, albeit only slightly. Forest were quite content to sit back and Hobnob began to put some semblances of attacks together through Fitzsimon and Walker on the flanks. The battling was rewarded with two goals, both of which were slightly giftwrapped. Davies’ corners had been troubling the Forest defence all game and this time his inswinger evaded everyone to go straight in. Hobnob continued to press with Fitzsimon on the left getting some joy and the referee gifted them a lifeline when the Irishman’s cross was deemed to have been handled and he pointed to the spot. After what seemed like an eternity Fitzsimon kept his composure the bring Hobnob within one goal. But that was all it was to be. For the second week in a row the opposition’s stand in goalkeeper was never really tested bar one sharp save from Fitzsimon’s free kick. In the end a poor performance was typified by Cheng’s booking at the death for trying to punch the ball into the net, fittingly, the ball still flew wide.
To lose is one thing but to be so outplayed by a winless side is another. Yet again it took going a couple of goals down for several players to really wake up and start playing. There is clearly desire among a couple of players to do well but as a team we need to be working harder and for each other or we are going to have to get used to defeat.
