After last week’s strong performance against FC Berksalona, Hobnob faced another Spanish themed team in the form of Real Reading. The two sides went into the game level on points and with only 7 points separating top from 9th, both sides knew a win could be vital. Hobnob were forced into a change with regular left back James Tiltman away in Germany so Clifford Davies deputised with James Plant returning in the middle of the park. It necessitated a change to the midfield that had performed so well last week and Dan Hare’s good goal scoring form saw him rewarded with a place up front with Rich Paine moving to the left wing.
From the outset it was clear that Real Reading were a side that wanted to play the ball around and their energy in closing down and moving prevented Hobnob from playing their natural game. Plant and Terry had their hands full in the middle but the visitors were struggling to make much use of the ball. There were several attempts to run the ball into the channels but Cheng and Dean Walker were more than alive to any danger and swiftly dealt with it. Real countered this by dropping players into the gap in front of the defence and that extra time on the ball allowed them to try a few pot shots from range. By and large they didn’t trouble the goal but one skidded off the bar; Chapman probably had it covered but it was a sign that they had to keep on their toes. As the home side battled their way into the game it became clear that both sides were very evenly matched. Davies and Paine were linking up well on the left and the latter was having some joy cutting in from wide. It was from one of those moves that Hobnob created their best chance of the half. Paine cut in and his cross found Luke Walker rushing in at the far post but as the ball skidded off the turf, the winger wasn’t able to keep his shot down as he fired high and wide on the stretch. Before the half was out there was one chance that fell to the visitors. A corner wasn’t cleared fully and as their player stepped in he fired hard at the top corner. He couldn’t have hit it truer but he was denied by a strong hand from the flying Chapman in the Hobnob goal.
Hobnob may have ridden their luck a little bit in the first half with Real Reading having the better chances and perhaps with this in mind they seemed reinvigorated second half. There were more passes being strung together and Plant was finding more space the further forward he got. Paine’s running is always dangerous and he was at the heart of the opening goal. He toyed with the full back, making to go one way before going round him right on the byline. His pull back was perfectly measured to find Plant on the edge of the box who had time to take a touch and slot the ball in. Real Reading immediately changed things about and once again found some space to fire against the bar from range. Their tails seemed to be up at this point and as they found some space in the Hobnob area their forward went for an audacious lob that was spectacularly tipped over by the back peddling Chris Chapman. The save really seemed to be a body blow for them and after that it was all Hobnob. Rich Paine broke away and was unlucky to see his effort saved when through one on one with the Real goalkeeper. Pulfer went close as well after he was released by a lovely through ball by Cheng, the goalkeeper saving well at his near post. A one goal lead is always a slender one though and Hobnob continued to work hard to protect the clean sheet. Cheng was winning everything in the air and the impressive Davies was looking rock solid as he outmuscled all comers to win the ball. There was potential for the side to lose some cohesion at the back when Robertson was forced off after a taking a whack to the arm but Cross slotted in seamlessly. The returning Dan Robertson forced a decent save from the goalkeeper at his near post after coming off the bench for his first game in two months. At that point 1-0 looked the likely outcome especially with Hare and Pulfer both struggling with knocks at the end. There was however still time for a bit of magic. From the corner the Real goalkeeper made a good save from Paine and the ball looped up about 20 yards out. Unable to really move freely Hare took a slightly speculative punt at it and he couldn’t have struck it better. The ball flew off his right boot dipping in off the bar to round off a very good second half from the Blue and Whites.
With only 6 games left of the season Hobnob have hopefully hit form at the right time. With a full bench again available to choose from there’s plenty of competition for places and this is resulting in some really wholehearted performances on the pitch. The goal difference is now in positive figures for the first time in a long time and now’s the time to make a run for promotion.
The defence will again rightly take the plaudits for another excellent display today. Cheng and Walker were excellent in the air and Davies looking like he’s found the position he’d been born to play in, Tiltman will have a job on to get back in the side! Chapman was absolutely flawless in goal and was a touch unlucky to miss out on the man of the match trophy by only one vote. Here’s hoping the side can maintain these high levels and really make an end of season push.
