After the disappointment of extra time defeat in the county cup Hobnob were keen to put things right in the league cup with a rare trip away. Kidmore End Reserves were the opposition, a side Hobnob last played five years ago in the semi final on the same competition. There were two changes from the side that drew with FC Woodley as Joe Hare dropped out along with Warren Cheng who was suffering with a chest infection that had left him hospitalised. In their place came Rob Walker and Dan Hare in a new look side.
The tie could not have started much better for Hobnob as they were awarded a penalty inside the first five minutes. Kidmore were perhaps a little unlucky to have the handball decision go against them but Pulfer wasn’t in a charitable mood as he gave his side an early lead. That lead was doubled 20 minutes later when Davies leapt upon a terrible goal kick to run through and score his first of the season. Hobnob were rampant and both Walkers had opportunities to further extend the lead but they weren’t able to capitalise.
The second half continued where the first had left off, this time with Miles going close. The game was to turn however in bizarre circumstances. Terry and Chapman had dealt with everything that had come their way with the minimum of fuss but they got in a right tangle on the edge of the box and the Kidmore striker was able to knock the ball in from an angle into and empty net. Pulfer saw an effort hit the post and that was the slight chink that Kidmore needed. With the clock ticking down it was another error at the back that lead to the goal. Again Chapman misjudged coming for the ball and it was tapped into an open goal. Extra time beckoned and Hobnob were left shell shocked.
The shock of the equaliser was very much evident as Kidmore grabbed the lead early on in extra time. No mistakes this time at least as the nodded in from a corner. The sudden realisation that they were losing acted like a slap in the face for Hobnob though. Suddenly they were bombing forward, desperate to find the goal to send it to extra time. Their luck was in. Davies’ corner was sent deep into the box and Hare jumped higher than everyone else to nail his header into the back of the net. And so to penalties.
Kidmore went first and Chapman, who has such a fantastic record of stopping spot kicks, lived up to his reputation and stopped the first kick. Terry thumped his kick in to make it 1-0. Chapman made it two saves in two but Luke Walker side footed at the keeper to keep it 1-0. Kidmore were finally successful at the third attempt but Cross found the top corner to maintain Hobnob’s lead at 2-1 from three. Kidmore converted to make it 2-2 but Dan Hare was unable to do the same and the shoot out effectively became sudden death. Chapman did his bit again, this time diving magnificently to his left to tip the ball on to the post. Up stepped Pulfer, Hobnob’s regular penalty taker, who’d already converted in the game, to win the game. Unfortunately he blasted over giving Kidmore a lifeline. They made it 3-2 and suddenly the pressure was on Hobnob. Davies stepped up ahead of Tiltman but in a near identical kick to Pulfer’s, fired miles over allowing Kidmore to progress to the next round.
