Hobnob’s winless streak ended with a hard fought win at bottom of the table New England.
After the mass changes made last week Hobnob only made three changes from the side that had drawn with Real Reading. The selection headache was made slightly easier with Dan Robertson’s injured ankle ruling him out until March, James Plant getting drunk for Australia Day and Rich Paine’s dodgy hamstring restricting him only to the bench. Of the side from the previous week the two younger Hares were unavailable, as was Matt Bargent, so Mike Terry and Warren Cheng returned at the heart of defence and Chris Chapman was back in goal. Looking to minimise the changes from last week, Dave Gale also retained the captaincy, a decision that clearly pleased the midfielder.
On a sticky, muddy pitch, both teams struggled to gain any early momentum and were wasteful in possession. Hobnob’s usual passing game was being disrupted by New England’s physicality and both sides were panicky and lacking a bit of composure on the ball. With both sides cancelling each other out, chances were at a premium and New England were certainly not helped by their forwards’ inability to stay onside with several of their forwards routinely getting caught out by Hobnob’s high line. The first real incident of note was the first of several strong appeals for penalties from the away side. Dan Hare chased a good ball over the top and on the edge of the area was fouled from behind. It was perhaps a marginal call, and Nobbers will tell you it was in the area but referee Nick Rood erred on the side of caution and awarded a free kick. Not long after there was a second appeal turned down after Hare appeared to be elbowed in the face inside the area. It was the kind of challenge that you would expect to be given outfield but on this occasion, wasn’t given as a penalty. Hobnob were at this stage in the ascendancy with Gale’s running from midfield and Turner’s delivery from wide beginning to cause problems. The closest either side came to scoring however fell to New England when their winger was able to bring the ball down and smash it over Chapman from 25 yards. After some initial confusion the goal was rightly ruled out for offside, a decision their player could have little complaint about after stopping and wagging his finger at the linesman before hitting the ball goalwards.
After some words of wisdom at half time, Hobnob went out with a bit more energy in their game, again being led by Gale and aided by some robust play from his midfield counterpart Matt Bolton. However neither were able to prevent the opening goal. After a corner was only half cleared by Robertson the New England player was able to take a touch and smash it in from 25 yards. It was a good strike but it’s not the first time Hobnob have conceded in this manner this season and question marks have to be raised at the speed in which he was closed down. Hobnob may have played a small part in conceding but their gift was nothing compared to how New England reciprocated. Minutes after the opening goal, Gale made another good run into the box and put in a good low cross. His initial disappointment at a lack of team mates in the six yard box soon turned to joy as the centre back slid in and diverted the ball inside the near post. No doubt he will try and claim the goal but despite his hard work in creating it, it was very much an own goal. The goal immediately led to heads dropping from the home side and Hobnob began to play with an increasing confidence. However a crazy few minutes from the otherwise excellent Terry almost put that in doubt. Before giving away a needless corner after letting the ball run from a quick throw out, it was his poorly judged back pass that went straight to the opposition. It was only good pressure from Cheng and a well-positioned Chapman that prevented them from retaking the lead. There was a sense from both sides that after getting away with the error the game was there for Hobnob to take and they duly delivered. Ian Pulfer was taking advantage of the tired legs at the back and after a fantastic 50 yard run disrupted the defenders, he won a free kick on the left. In a repeat of last week Turner sent over a pinpoint delivery that was nodded in at the far post by Hare, only this time it was Dan Hare. The relief was palpable from the blue and whites and after that there was only going to be one victor. In the final five minutes Paine was denied claims for a penalty after a push in the back and Pulfer fired wide from a corner.
At the final whistle New England were clearly disappointed to have thrown away what would have been a rare win for them but Hobnob got the rewards that their efforts deserved. The defence of Cross, Terry, Cheng and Robertson looked very solid with Chapman having very little to do but for long periods of the game Pulfer and Hare were starved off the ball and there will have to be more chances created for next week’s visit of top of the table AC Winnersh. A vital three points for Hobnob who see an end to their 7 game winless streak and are now on a three game unbeaten run. Reasons to be cheerful for the Nobbers but no room for complacency.
