After the drama of last week’s late win Hobnob were looking to build some momentum against Imaan but any consistency in performance was put in doubt due to the changes in personnel. Captain and goalkeeper Chris Chapman was missing at a gig in London whilst Luke Walker started a three week absence in Australia. Fortunately Warren Cheng was back from injury and Joe Hare came in for only his second start of the season enabling his brother Dan (who’d clearly had a good night…) to deputise in goal.
Straight from the whistle Hobnob looked to get at Imaan and it was clear early on that the 4-4-2 formation was a loose one. The early produced the desired outcome before 10 minutes were even up the home side went in front. Miles cut in from the right and laid the ball off for Joe Hare who placed his long range effort perfectly to beat the keeper. The goal didn’t act as the point to kick on from that it should have though. Whether it was complacency on Hobnob’s part or Imaan stepping their game up I don’t know but the visitors began to look very threatening on the ball. As all teams know, to win games you have to convert you chances and Imaan did exactly that. In a 20 minute spell they produced a lot of pressure but only 2 chances of note and took them both well. The first was a jinking run that was finished off but questions have to be asked about how many players the scorer was able to evade without someone clearing the ball. The second goal to put Imaan ahead was much more textbook. A good run and cross down Hobnob’s right was expertly nodded in giving Dan Hare no chance. There were chances for Hobnob, most notably Rob Walkers effort over the bar after a good run from Pulfer and Phillips testing the keeper from range but it looked like Hobnob would be going into the break 2-1 down. Then up stepped Dave Miles and Jim Phillips. The former collected the ball and slowly made his way across goal with his teammates yelling at him to pass. Miles waited, and waited, and then spotted the run through the middle of Phillips. The pass and run were both timed to perfection and the midfielder was finally able to open his account for the club.
The second half started pretty much with a metaphor for the coming 45 minutes as Hobnob kicked the ball straight out for a throw in. It was a sign of things to come as they struggled to keep hold of the ball and Imaan began to press further and further forward. But 20 minutes in and out of nowhere Hobnob were in front. Again Phillips was the man of the moment to take advantage of some bizarre defending. He showed great composure to calmly knock the ball past the keeper and give Hobnob the lead back. That goal was the cue for the whole game to shift completely in the direction of the home team’s goal. Fortunately the inability of the Imaan players to stay onside and then to even work to goalie kept the score at 3-2 until the 82nd minute. Terry caught slightly under a high ball and for the first time in the half the Imaan forward timed his run and grabbed the equaliser.
Both teams probably came away from this match frustrated that they didn’t do enough to get the win but Hobnob will be kicking themselves to have thrown away the lead twice. Another entertaining game though and two new goalscorers as well!
