With every new league season comes a new cup campaign and Hobnob travelled to Bracknell for the first round of the Berks & Bucks Junior Trophy against Inter Reserves. They made two changes to last week’s 3-0 victory at Reeves Rangers. Dean Walker replaced the injured Mike Terry at centre-back and Dan Robertson covered Ian Pulfer’s absence in attack. Terry instead chose to lead the team from the sideline, sporting his Tony Pulis outfit for good measure.
Hobnob carried their recent good form into the game, starting the first half very strongly. Good work by Tiltman and Davies down the left flank produced a decent cross for Robertson, who was unable to bury an early goal for the ‘Nobbers. More good work by the wide men resulted in a header for Bolton, which was comfortably saved by the Inter goalkeeper.
Hobnob continued to use the flanks well and in the 18th minute, good work down the right by Paine and Plant led to the ball dropping on the edge of the area for Bolton. With his back towards goal, the holding midfielder managed to turn his body and get a great shot off. The ball looked destined for the left-hand side of the goal, but again the Inter ‘keeper came to his team’s rescue with a great diving save.
Hobnob were controlling the tempo with their new passing game, while Inter rarely troubled the Hobnob back four and had a couple of corners dealt with comfortably.
In the 26th minute, things took a sudden turn for the worse when an Inter player made a great run into the Hobnob area, hurdling a challenge from Cross on the by-line, but being tripped by a sliding tackle from Cheng. The Hobnob stalwart thought he got the ball, but the referee was quick and certain in awarding a penalty to the home side. Chapman was facing his second penalty in as many weeks and with a great save last week, his confidence was high. He wasn’t needed, however, as the Inter player dragged the spot-kick wide of the goal.
A few minutes later, Tiltman conceded a free kick in the Inter half after being scathed down following a skilful run down the left. Plant played the free kick short to his fellow Grimbarian, but Paine couldn’t open the scoring, with the ‘keeper again pulling off another save from the long-range strike.
Inter were granted an opportunity to open the scoring shortly after, but the attacker’s header was tipped onto the post by Chapman.
Hobnob continued to pile on the pressure in the closing moments of the first half. Tiltman, Davies, Plant and Paine linked up well down the left, but the Inter goalkeeper snuffed out Plant’s through-ball to Robertson and then saved a thumping shot from Plant, forcing a corner.
It was a stalemate at the sound of the half-time whistle, but the Hobnob players felt they should have got at least a goal from their flurry of chances, although it was clear that the opposition’s goalkeeper was the only thing keeping Inter in the game.
Hobnob were adamant to keep up the pressure in the second half after the disappointing second half performances against FC Whitley Reserves and Reeves
Rangers this season. And they did just that, keeping possession like they did in the first half. This didn’t last long though when in the 46th minute, the referee ignored a claim for handball against an Inter player, but the Hobnob defence seemed to stop. The attacker found his way into the penalty area and laid off a short pass to his teammate on the edge of the 6-yard box. The side-footed shot somehow found its way between the legs of Cross and bobbled past the fingertips of Chapman. Hobnob were visibly frustrated, but were determined to not drop further behind.
Just two minutes later, Hobnob gained another corner. The ball from the left was well-cleared by an Inter head to the edge of the 18-yard box and the on-rushing Cross judged the bouncing ball beautifully for his first shot of the season, pinging the ball through the crowd of players, only to see it tipped wide by the outstanding ‘keeper.
Hobnob knew they were still the better side and continued to press. Just after the hour mark, Walker found himself in possession deep in the Hobnob half and, with lots of time on the ball, released a huge ball down field. The pass looked to be going nowhere, but Paine’s chasing down of the opposing centre-back caused a bit of confusion in the Inter defence as he coolly picked up the ball and rounded the ‘keeper to tap in the equaliser from a tight angle.
Hobnob now felt like the game was theirs to win and Bolton again found himself with a chance to score, controlling the ball well in the crowded area, only to fire the shot wide of the goal.
Hobnob continued to attack and the Inter defence, more so their goalkeeper, continued to deny the chances. In the 73rd minute, Inter had a rare attack and a lapse of concentration at the back caused an unmarked man to get a free header from close range. Chapman did well to palm it wide.
Harris came on for the impressive and aging Turner, moving Davies to the right flank, and made an immediate impact on the left with a cross that led to yet another Hobnob corner. Cheng went up for it and seemed almost surprised to find himself open at the back post, heading the ball over from a yard. It was just another opportunity for Hobnob to wonder if maybe it just wasn’t their day and, with extra-time looming and 3 minutes of normal time left, it was confirmed. An Inter throw deep into the Hobnob half resulted in Cross, Chapman and an Inter player all challenging for the same ball in the 6-yard box. Chapman’s punch instead met with Cross’s face and the ball fell to an open man in front of the goal to tap in. Inter were understandably delighted with the late goal, but it certainly wasn’t deserved.
The relatively good-tempered game ended with slight anger, as Inter attempted to run down the clock by holding the ball up by the corner flag. Second half substitute Hare went for the ball, but his tackle was met with annoyance by the Inter player and Hare found himself in the middle of a torrent of abuse from the home side after seemingly lashing out.
It pretty much summed up Hobnob’s day and they came off the pitch thinking they deserved much more. On a different day, and perhaps with a different opposing goalkeeper, the tight game could have been over at half time. At least the ‘Nobbers
can now concentrate on the league, but should nevertheless be relatively happy with their overall performance.
by Daniel James Cross
