Kimberley MW A — Thu 28 Apr 2011

Match report

Half time: 0 – 0

After eight years trying, FC Samba finally had made it to a cup final. They played Kimberley MW of the first division at Dunkirk's ground under the floodlights. Gibbons' had the unenviable task of picking a first XI from a squad of 16, but this was made a little easier by the absence of regulars G.Taylor and C.Taylor who were unavailable. Gibbons unsurprisingly went 3-5-2 with Wilkinson, Dollochin and Street at the back, Boughton in midfield and Francis partnering Gibbons' up front. The initial period of the game was nervous from both sides but it was Kimberley who started to put pressure on Samba's goal. Their method of getting the ball forward quickly complemented the fast players they possessed and they had the first few efforts on goals which were either off-target or easily saved by Nicholls. Samba were struggling to gain any momentum and were finding it difficult to pass the ball on a high bouncing pitch. Kimberley rightly had their tails up and forced the first real save from Nicholls when a powerful header from just inside the box saw him fling himself to his left and catch the ball mid-air. Samba were letting the occasion get to them and around the half hour mark, they nearly fell behind. The Kimberley player received the ball out wide and cut in towards the box. Street had a nibble and as the player evaded his tackle, Wilkinson slide in to finish the job off, and at full stretch tripped the striker for a clear penalty. The Kimberley man stepped up and struck his penalty firmly down the middle. Nicholls dived to his right but was strong enough to deflect the ball away with his left arm/leg, right on the line, and Samba had escaped. The penalty miss gave Samba a shot in the arm and they started to impose themselves on the game a little more. However, they were failing to capitalise on Boughton's domination of the midfield aerial battle and at half-time Samba had failed to test the Kimberley goalkeeper, who didn't have a single shot to save. Perhaps understandably Samba were down at half-time, as they hadn't performed, but as soon as they reminded themselves it was 0-0, they knew they had every opportunity to go on and win the cup.

The second half started and Samba upped their game. They played with a greater intensity and aided by the wind, which had been a factor in the first half, they started to make inroads into the Kimberley half. Kimberley were still a threat on the break but Samba were slowly becoming the more dominant force. Chances were still at a premium, and the game was hardly a classic but Gibbons and Francis were starting to cause their back line problems. Gibbons was able to run at the defence and after committing two defenders, saw his shot go narrowly over. Samba started to make changes with E.Taylor replacing Bassett at left wing back. Within minutes he was making an important clearance off the line following a Kimberley free kick, on what was becoming a rare attack. On 66 minutes Francis received the ball in the right hand channel and passed to Gibbons on the other side of the box, the ball was firm enough for Gibbons' to allow it to pass across his body, inviting the challenge and drawing a clear foul. Samba's bench didn't realise it but it was in the box, and the second clear penalty of the game. Francis made no mistake and stroked the ball home into the right hand corner of the net. With a 1-0 lead and now clearly on top, victory was in sight. Boughton was replaced with Hill in midfield and Gamba came on with 14 minutes remaining. If anything it was Samba who were going to score again. Francis had a terrific drive that went just wide but Samba were pressing and winning the ball so much better than in the first half. Gamba, up against a very quick winger, was a little over exuberant with a challenge and found himself booked. Minutes later he nearly picked up a second for barging the winger into the railings, but thankfully the referee gave him one last chance. As the clock ran down Kimberley were little threat and Samba gave a good lesson in closing out the game by holding the ball in the corners. As the final whistle was heard management and substitutes alike ran onto the pitch to celebrate a narrow win with the players and Samba had the silverware they craved.