It had been a while for a lot of the team since they’d worn the hallowed hoops of Hobnob (7 weeks for most, a staggering 14 for Robertson and Cross!) and the lengthy drive through deepest, darkest Sonning certainly meant that they couldn’t be accused of lacking in preparation time. Both centre halves from the last game were missing so another new pairing was needed with Mike Terry joined by Jim Phillips for his full Nobbers debut. At the other end of the scale Clifford Davies and Ian Pulfer joined the 50 club with their appearances. Otherwise the side was unchanged but they knew how hard the task ahead was as they were up against an SC United team who had not only played twice in recent weeks but had won every one of their league games.
The game was a little late in starting, firstly due to a late withdrawl from the referee and then because of question marks over the pitch. There was never any question that Hobnob wanted to play and after a bit of a conflab it was agreed that the game would go ahead. Almost immediately SC United must have wished they hadn’t been persuaded. In only the second minute Pulfer did well to hold the ball up and lay off to his strike partner Hare. Before the game there’d been instructions to test the keeper and so Hare didn’t think twice about taking a shot from range. The goalie was pretty confident the ball was flying wide but it swerved wickedly inside the post and Hobnob had a dream start. The home side looked pretty stunned and struggled to really keep the ball. Knowing they now didn’t need to push things Hobnob were happy to look for attacks on the break and out wide Davies and Tiltman were doing well to work space down the left. Chances were limited though and the closest they came to doubling the lead was a header from Pulfer that he couldn’t keep down and a free kick from Plant that flew over. At the other end SC United weren’t creating much more. Terry and Phillips were doing well containing the forwards but the whole defence was being put under increasing pressure. That pressure finally told with an unfortunate comical result. With the ball bouncing around the six yard box Chapman yelled for the clearance. Under little pressure Tiltman panicked and sidefooted the ball across goal, looking to knock it out for a corner. Sadly for the left back it was perfectly placed inside the post and gave a bizarre own goal.
Going in at the break all square was probably reflective of an even first half and as the second went on it slowly began to dawn on Hobnob that the Sonning highfliers were very beatable. As confidence grew the defence began to squeeze the space in front of them and it was the home side’s turn to be under the cosh. Davies went close directly from the corner and Pulfer had a good hit well tipped over the bar. Dan Hare thought he’d put Hobnob back in front only to see his effort very well saved and it was beginning to look like when rather than if the second goal came. That didn’t mean Hobnob had it all though and Chapman had to be alert a few times although more in controlling any ball that came into the box than any shots in anger. In fact the captain was dominant in his box whether it was plucking crosses out of the air or taking absolutely everything that came anywhere near him, regardless of the feet flying in his direction. The game was swinging in Hobnob’s direction and right at the end the best chance of the game fell their way. Substitute Luke Walker did well stepping in from his wing and clipped his shot beautifully at the far post, bringing the best from the opposition goalkeeper.
At the end of the game both teams were battered and bruised but neither could be too upset with a point. Hobnob looked far from a team who hadn’t played in so long and they must be very pleased, especially against a side who have enjoyed such a good season. There’s now eight games left in the season and with any luck this performance will generate some momentum going into the final stretch.
