A few sore heads this morning for Hobnob as many players had used the extra hour last night for more time in town celebrating Dan Robertson’s imminent departure rather than in bed. Playing hungover is a tactic that has worked well for the club in the past but it was a risky one against a Super Reeves side who went into the game unbeaten in their five league games this season. The home side were also forced into a kit change which meant confusion for some latecoming fans who couldn’t quite grasp why Hobnob were in yellow and green.
Dan Hare’s suspension was in force this weekend and with Chris Chapman’s knee still playing up the Nobbers had their third different goalkeeper in as many games. The man to take the gloves was Ian East, playing in his first game for the club in two and a half years and for the very first time between the sticks. There were two changes to the outfield as well; Daniel Cross is away in Arizona for the foreseeable so Mike Terry brought himself into defence with Tom Robertson moving to right back. Elsewhere Clifford Davies returned after missing last week’s big win, Luke Walker dropping to the bench to make way.
Last week’s success came in part from the pressure that the whole team was putting on the opposition every time they had the ball and that attitude carried itself into this game. Reeves were finding themselves having no time on the ball at all and they began to panic on the ball. They’d left one player up front on his own who was getting increasingly isolated and Hobnob were beginning to capitalise. Tiltman and Davies were making headway down the left but the final cross wouldn’t quite materialise. Just as Hobnob felt that they were getting a grip of the game the first real chance of note fell to the visitors. Reeves exploited the space on Hobnob’s left flank and crossed to the far post. The ball was cleared but fell to a player who curled a good effort towards the bottom corner; East was not to be beaten though. The big man threw himself across goal and got a hand on it to turn it around the post. It was a great save and so nearly brought a goal straight away at the other end. Hobnob countered at pace and won a corner. It was swung in and Cheng got a great header in. The keeper palmed a great save up against the bar. Two fantastic saves in a half that otherwise didn’t have many clear cut efforts at goal. Bolton and Dan Robertson went close from range but both teams were struggling to break down the defences. The game was concentrated around the middle of the pitch and the game began to get a little niggley. Bolton was lucky to avoid a booking and the opposition striker was fortunate not to have anything given against him for a late challenge on Tom Robertson. Just before the end though Hobnob got the breakthrough that their efforts deserved Pulfer did very well to nod on a long ball to the back post and Rich Paine showed great reflexes and agility to turn the ball into the net.
The first half had been a hard fought affair and the second continued in the same vein. Reeves were looking a bit rattled in the middle of the pitch and Bolton and Plant were first to everything. Instead they looked initially to flood the flanks. Paine was fighting all his attacking instincts and giving good support to Tom Robertson and between them they were able to nullify the threats. Reeves were making a concerted effort to get back into the game though and Hobnob again had East to thank for another great save. Their forward cut in from the byline and from a tight angle he got in a great shot which East somehow managed to tip onto the bar. That save seemed to signal the end of the attacks from Reeves and instead it was Hobnob’s turn to get on the front foot. Davies and Paine were making good ground on the flanks and the latter was millimetres away from connecting to a cross to double the lead and couldn’t quite connect cleanly on a volley at the far post. It was the Grimbarian’s turn to be provider in the end though as he swept a magnificent cross from deep to find Dan Robertson. The striker who was playing his final game before departing to Australia next week saw his moment. It was written, it had to happen. Robertson didn’t connect properly but everyone held their breath as the ball rolled agonizingly toward the corner. In it rolled and cue pandemonium as he was mobbed. Disappointingly the crowd didn’t follow through with their promise to get on the pitch when Robbo scored but they did treat everyone to a mini Poznan instead. The goal ended the game as a contest. In a flurry of Robs and Walkers the subs came on and pleasingly kept the intensity up to ensure that Hobnob came away with not only the win but the clean sheet.
In many ways the win today was a better one than the 6 goal thriller last week. Everyone worked incredibly hard. Indeed Pulfer looked so dead on his feet that he was using the post to prop himself up at corners! It was the best send-off we could give Dan and sets the side up well for the rest of the season. It doesn’t matter who the personnel is, if everyone keeps that level of intensity and works for their teammates then the future could be rosy.
