Hobnob architects of their own downfall against Real Reading
Reading FC’s quarter final up in Manchester deprived Hobnob of Daves Gale and Harris and also meant that, despite the kick off being pulled forward by an hour, Adam Turner was only able to play the first 45 minutes. With Pulfer and both Hares also absent, there was a reshuffle which saw James Tiltman, Rich Paine, Dan Robertson and Warren Cheng all returning to the starting line-up and Tom Robertson dropping to the bench as the sole substitute.
Real Reading started the game the better and were rewarded for their endeavour with the opening goal. The midfielder’s flick header found the on rushing winger who was able to beat Cross and slot past Chapman. Perhaps Hobnob were still half asleep from the early kick off as it took a while for them to get going. The goal seemed to wake them up a bit though and for the rest of the half they dominated much of the play and with a bit more luck would have gone into the break with a lead. Firstly Davies ran clear of his man and crossed for Dan Robertson to bundle into the back of the net. However the winger hadn’t timed his run correctly and the goal was ruled out for offside. It was the first of three disallowed goals for Hobnob in the first half. Bolton was penalised for a challenge on the goalkeeper when he headed in and Robertson was again denied when the referee ruled that Paine had just failed to keep the ball in play. All goals were perhaps rightly ruled out but Hobnob went into the break on top.
The second half started in much the same vein and it didn’t take long for the equaliser to come. With the half only 3 minutes old, Plant found Robertson with a delightful through ball. Robertson used his strength to ward off the attentions of the defender and beat the keeper at his near post with his left foot. It was the injury plagued striker’s first goal since his strike against Arborfield back in December and his delight was plain to see, as was his bizarre boot polishing celebration. Real Reading fought back though and were unlucky to see their effort ruled out for offside. They were able to regain their lead however just after the half hour mark. The left winger’s cross seemed harmless enough as Terry swung his boot to clear the ball. It was with some surprise then when it skewed away over the unsuspecting Chapman and into the back of the net. It was a cruel blow for Hobnob who had, until that point, been keeping the attacks at bay. It didn’t take long for them to strike back however when Paine broke free on the right and pulled it back for Plant who, despite slipping, got enough on his shot to send it past the keeper. The final twenty minutes were to prove decisive. As the game got tighter, tempers began to become frayed and, in the midfield especially, tackles began to fly in. Paine was on the receiving end of a nasty lunge but it was Hobnob who let their tempers get the better of them. The referee had little choice but to award a penalty to Real Reading when Bolton hauled down their player as the ball came over from a free kick. The penalty was despatched and Hobnob knew they had to start committing numbers forward. They can feel hard done by that they didn’t get a penalty when Paine was bundled over in the area and the keeper was forced into a great save as Plant shot looked destined for the bottom corner. The final blow was struck however when Hobnob won a corner and committed everyone but Terry forward. As the ball was cleared Real Reading had a 4 on 1 situation and despite an increasingly frustrated Terry trying to scythe down the striker as he went through, he rounded Chapman to tap into an empty net.
At the final whistle Hobnob’s frustration was palpable. They had had the better of the game and really had only themselves to blame for some needless goals conceded. As many of the team made their way to their cars for the drive to Manchester, there was an air of resignation that the season is all but over. With three league games left, elevation is looking less of a possibility and all at the club will need to pick themselves up for a big finish to the season.
