Hobnob's final home game of the season saw them take on bottom of the table Forest FC, the side who knocked them out of the cup earlier in the season. There was some confusion over kits before the game but a patched together side took to the field for the Nobbers. Warren Cheng and Mike Terry's continued absence through injury coupled with Clifford Davies being in Sierra Leone meant that the starting XI looked a little unfamiliar. Dan Hare came in at the back to partner Will Rimmer and with James Tiltman pushing up to the left wing slot, Tom Robertson came in at left back.
Forest won the toss and opted to change ends, not a decision that normally make a huge difference but it was to prove to be a vital one at the start of the game. No sooner had the referee signalled kick off, the weather took a turn for the worse. Rumbles of thunder were heard in the distance and twice the gloom was interupted by bolts of lightning across the sky. These didn't prove too problematic initially and a nice through ball from Rob Walker put Pulfer in who fired over. The torrential rain that followed certainly did create issues. With the wind in their faces Hobnob spent the opening 20 minutes battling to even see the ball as the rain, and then hail, whipped straight at them. Not surprisingly then, Forest had the better of the opening exchanges but as the pitch got heavier, they were limited to efforts from distance. One of these cannoned off the bar and then they should really have scored when Chapman brilliantly palmed a save away but their striker some how put the rebound wide.
With Hobnob struggling to get out of their half and dropping deeper and deeper to combat conditions they weren't quick enough to adapt when the weather relented. That should take away from the quality of the goal from Forest though as it whistled in to the top corner from distance. It was a lovely goal but Forest had forgotten the age old cliche that you're at your most vulnerable after scoring. Literally straight from kick off Hobnob worked the ball forward and Miles sliced the defence open with a beautiful pass for Rob Walker. The striker's touch was heavy but succeeded in taking it past the defender. Holding of the attention of Tiltman who was keen to get in on the action Walker steadied himself and thumped home the equaliser to make it three goals in three for the forward.
Hobnob weren't really able to build on the goal though and with the flow of the game being interupted by some odd refereeing it went back to Forest continuing to dominate without really creating much to threathen Chapman's goal. A rejig a half time balanced the home side a bit better and they began to look more comfortable in possesion and they got their reward midway through the half. Cross did well on the right side and put the ball across the goal mouth. Rob Walker's attempt at an overhead kick was never going to trouble anyone but it ran to his brother Luke who laid the ball off to Phillips whose shot rifled in to give the home side the lead.
The remainder of the game can be summed up like this: Forest attack and are either offside or it is cleared, Hobnob failed to keep possession. Then repeat. This continued for the rest of the game but Hobnob held firm and looked like they'd get a really hard fought win but it wasn't to be. With seconds remaining Forest finally found a way through and poked it into the back of the net. There was barely time for kick off to be taken. It was a point that very much felt like a defeat.
The game however will be remembered for a very different reason as it was to be Mike Terry's final match as manager. Having been in charge for 6 years and over 130 matches, he has decided to stand down to focus on playing. Ian Pulfer will take over with immediate effect. It's a pity he couldn't go out with a win but there can't really be any arguements with the point.
