After last week’s drubbing Hobnob were in more familiar territory for their second game of the season at home to Prince of Wales for whom this was their season opener. Last year’s encounter was certainly dramatic after the game was called off after Mike Terry knocked out his opposite number. Indeed the game was played in almost identical circumstances (except for the ambulance!) with the weather much the same and even pitch and ref being the same.
Before the game could start there was an issue over team selection. Due to the number of absences Mike Terry’s hand was slightly forced. He may have wanted to change the majority of the team after last week but with only 12 players around (13 if you include Jason Stephenson’s babysitting cameo!) the only change was Warren Cheng coming in for James Tiltman meaning that Tom Robertson could move to his prefered position of full back.
After some confusion over referees (not very often we get two turning up) the game kicked off in glorious sunshine. The two teams have faced each other so many times in recent years that it wasn’t a surprise that they matched up so evenly. Hobnob perhaps had the better of the opening exchanges without quite managing to work an opening, Dan Hare on the right looking particularly dangerous. Not long into the game Pulfer thought he’d given the home side the lead when he burst through from Plant’s pass only to be defeated by the linesman’s flag in a very tight call. Last year’s topscorer should probably have then opened his account for the season. Good work from Cross down the right lead to a beautiful cross from Hare. He called Paine’s name as he struck it but Pulfer nipped in and put his header just wide. Bolton had a long range effort tipped over and it began to look like a matter of when, not if, Hobnob opened the scoring. Such is the way of things though that didn’t happen. Hobnob gave away a soft free kick in their own half and as the defence fiddled about with the defensive line they forgot to follow any of the attackers. Three broke the offside trap and had the simple task of tucking the ball into the back of the net. As the half time whistle went it was hard to know quite how Hobnob were 1-0 down.
The message at half time was simple, “keep doing what you’re doing” and it quickly paid off. Matt Bolton’s long throw don’t always amount to much but very early into the second half the slope on the pitch meant the ball landed right on the head of Hare who nodded in the equalizer. It had been coming and the pressure continued as Davies couldn’t quite stretch enough to divert Hare’s cross in and Bolton’s point blank effort was magnificently tipped over by the Prince of Wales keeper. Cheng and Terry were looking solid at the back but a drinks break after 25 minutes and a freak tezzer’s injury to Plant led to a slight loss of focus and at the back and Prince of Wales took advantage. They were helped in the first instance by a mad moment from Terry who tried to usher the ball into touch only for their forward to nip the ball off him and run past. As a reflex he stuck out his leg and conceded the clearest penalty you’re ever likely to see. He was almost redeemed though as Chapman pulled off a great save from the spot kick and then got his hands on the rebound but couldn’t prevent the ball going in at the third attempt. It was all a bit deflating and sure enough Hobnob’s age old nemesis, the ball over the top, reared it’s ugly head. Their forward got on the end of the pass at made it 3-1. In the blink of an eye Hobnob had again gone from looking dominant to falling behind.
Tempers were beginning to fray and as teamates started snapping at each other you began to fear the worst. Matters weren’t helped by a second disallowed goal for Pulfer and Paine heading wide from a corner but fortune hadn’t completely deserted Hobnob. Hare’s run and cross was blocked by the defender at close range and this time the cries for handball were answered as the referee pointed to the spot. With unerring accuracy Pulfer notched in yet another penalty and got the side back into the game. There were then calls for a further penalty when Cheng looked to have been taken out and when it was turned down it looked like that might be it. With barely any time left on the clock Hare launched a hopeful ball forward and a defensive mix up resulted in the ball finding its way to Davies’ feet right in front of goal. He’s sidefoot effort was weak and straight at the keeper who got hands on it. Hobnob turned away in agony, they’d come so close. But no. Somehow the keeper hadn’t quite kept it out and it looped agonizingly into the back of the net. Hobnob went mental. But that reaction still almost cost them the game. With no option but to go straight for goal from kick off the ball was fired at Chapman from long range. It bounced in front of him and over his outstretched hand into the goal. From somewhere there was a whistle and to the home side’s relief the referee adjudged that the forward had fouled the Hobnob captain and chalked it off. It finished then 3-3 and neither team could really feel agreived, on another day this could easily have been 5-5.
Games between Hobnob and Prince of Wales tend to be good and both side have the opportunity to do it all again next week in the first round of the John Lusted Cup. But for some slightly iffy offside calls and a bit more composure at post ends of the pitch this could have been a different result. A marked improvement from last week then that sets up next weekend quite brilliantly.
