A trip to West Reading for Hobnob as they made their way to the Ibis Club for the first time to take on Warwick Arms, a side who beat them 9-1 in their only previous encounter six years ago. That was a very different side though with only Chris Chapman, Warren Cheng and Daniel Cross surviving from that starting XI for this game. The football club has come a long way since those dark days but there is a similar feeling of not being able to buy a win. After the disappointment of throwing away the win in the dying moments against FC Woodley there was only one change to the team with Dan Hare coming into the midfield in place of his brother Joe whilst manager Mike Terry became only the third player to hit 100 appearances for the club.
On a very narrow pitch Warwick Arms started the better, immediately putting Tiltman under pressure in the left back spot and it didn’t take long for them to open the scoring. Long throws were always going to be more effective on such a narrow pitch and the first one of the game headed toward the near post. In what can only be described as the definition of a goalmouth scramble a Warwick Arms player managed to get a toe on the ball and it squirmed into the corner of the goal. Not the start Hobnob needed. The other effect of the narrow pitch was that the midfield became very congested and, despite Hare and Phillips best efforts, Warwick Arms seemed to have an extra man in there. As a result the Nobbers struggled to string two passes together and their best opportunities came when they took to more direct running. Tiltman had the first effort of note after good work from Miles but couldn’t generate enough power on his shot. The best chance of a scrappy half fell to Walker though. He broke through the middle and away from the defenders but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper when through one on one.
The half time chat revolved around working the channels more to exploit Warwick’s high line and for everyone just to relax a little on the ball. The message nearly did the trick but Phillips couldn’t keep his shot down as it sailed into the car park. Slowly but surely though that space was being used more effectively. Hare, now out on the wing, was getting behind his man but the now very blustery conditions meant that crossing was nigh on impossible. That wind was making life for everyone. Terry and Cheng were struggling to judge the high balls and a Davies free kick that was perfectly well struck drifted almost comically out for a goal kick. When the ball was kept on the ground though Hobnob started clicking into gear and the equaliser when it came was really well worked. Miles picked the ball up on the halfway line and fired a beautiful ball between the defenders for Walker. His initial touch was a little heavy but he showed great composure to take the ball forward, not panic and work it on to his left foot before firing home. A really good goal that demonstrated the benefits of a ball in the channel and little bit of composure. After that Hobnob should have opened the floodgates. Time and time again they were getting in behind the defence but they just could not find the finish. Davies had the best chances as he fired at the keeper from close range and then almost became the first recipient of a club fine for a shot going out for a throw in. Buoyed by his goal Walker had several more efforts, some of which he may have been better crossing. Tempers were beginning to get frayed as Miles and Hare both collected yellow cards and when the former saw his effort saved it began to look like they would have to settle for another point. Fate had other ideas though and it was the wind that played a part. From nowhere the goalkeeper who’d barely cleared the halfway line all game with his kicks launched it into the opposition penalty area. Cross couldn’t quite get a connection on it and the Warwick forward somehow managed to hold off Cheng’s challenge to loop it in to the net. There was simply no time to respond and somehow Hobnob had lost the game.
It was a very quiet changing room after the game as the players reflected on another game that they had somehow contrived to fail to win. Instead of six points that they should have from the last two games they only had a solitary one. On the plus side there was no shortage of chances. Perhaps that’s clutching at straws a little but it does feel like the side are so close to clicking but at the moment it’s just not happening.
Milestone
Mike Terry made his 100th club appearance
Dave Miles picked up his first assist and yellow card
