A change of competition if not in scenery for Hobnob as they return to South Reading Leisure Centre for the first round of the John Lusted Cup for a fixture that was moved from King’s Meadow Park due to the ongoing parking shenanigans. The side was keen to move on from the disappointment of last week’s defeat in a competition that has traditionally proved to be a tricky one.
There were two enforced changes to the side that lost so badly the week before. Clifford Davies had picked up a knock and hadn’t trained in the week so was replaced by Luke Walker on the left whilst at the back Warren Cheng was absent and so Joe Hare came in to partner Tom Robertson at the heart of the defence, the fourth different centre back pairing already this season. There was also limited options on the bench with Mike Terry the only substitute.
The game began a little tentatively with both sides trying to work the other out. Hobnob sat a little deeper, mindful of the mauling they’d had the week before and the newness of the back four combination. Park Villa were also patient with only one man up front. As circumstance would have it these approaches played right into the home team’s favour as the extra space and man in the middle began to be utilised. Hobnob were keeping the line well but cracks were beginning to show and it wasn’t long before Villa capitalised. Tom Robertson wasn’t able to quite close down the ball through and when Joe Hare slipped over the ball was cooly tucked into the net. As is so often the case in Sunday league, one goal swiftly became two and there was nothing Chapman could do about it. A corner was only half dealt with and the Villa player got the ball on the edge of the box and curled in an absolute beauty. He could have been closed a bit better but that shouldn’t take away from the strike. It did seem to spur Hobnob on a little though. Dan Robertson was creating space and saw a effort fantastically tipped around the post. There were half chances flowing but none were being converted. Hobnob were getting increasingly exasperatde when they were given a lifeline. Bolton’s big swing at the ball missed completely but he was poleaxed by the sliding defender, the referee pointed to the spot. Pulfer stepped up but his usual reliability deserted him and the keeper saved the penalty. It’s the first time he’s ever missed one for Hobnob after 10 successful kicks in a row and Hobnob really paid the price when Villa made in 3-0 just before the break. Joe Hare misjudged his header and it went backwards. Cross thought he’d covered the runner and was desperately unlucky when the ball took a wicked deflection first off the on rushing Chapman and then off him to leave the striker with a tap in.
The side were pretty downhearted at half time and Terry did his best to rouse his troops. It did the trick in that they started the second half much brighter but it was Villa that got the breakthrough. Hobnob were caught on the counter and a pass through the middle took the defence out of the game and it was 4-0. To their credit Hobnob did not lie down and allow themselves to be routed. Dan Robertson pulled a goal back with a neat finish and suddenly a wave of positivity went through the side. Unfortunately it didn’t last long as the other Robertson was a bit too eager to win the ball back and from the resulting free kick Villa nodded in to make it 5-1. Terry brought himself on and moved the side to a 3-4-3 and it did provide some aggression. Some great work on the wing from Dan Robertson led to a cross that Bolton control and slipped across for Pulfer to make amends for his earlier miss. The frustration was beginning to boil over and Dan Hare, booked earlier in the game got his marching orders for one comment too many at the referee. Down to 10 men all sense of shape and formation began to go out of the window as Terry went on an almost literally lung bursting run from Tom Robertson’s pass but Hobnob couldn’t make the most of his cross. The final moments were chaotic but there was still time for a bit of glory for Chris Chapman. Tom Robertson left his leg hanging and gave away a late penalty but the keeper pulled off yet another save to maintain an impressive record.
Once again then Hobnob disappoint in the cup but despite the scoreline this was an improvement on the week before. Dan Robertson got the man of the match award (if not the trophy) for his tireless efforts up front and throughout the side there were better performances. That said it was still a bad defeat. Next week see’s a landmark game in the history of the club as it will be game 100 in the Berks and Bucks Cup. Not quite time to concentrate on the league just yet!
