AFC Bridgford — Sat 24 Nov 2007

Match report

Half time: 0 – 1

Samba entertained rivals Bridgford at Burton Road on the back of an excellant performance and win the previous week against Gedling Southbank. Taylor was missing from the starting line up and will be for some weeks after an operation on his troublesome wrist, whilst Sharp came in for the injured Clifford. The game kicked off and Samba were bright in the early moments with Gibbons receiving a good amount of ball in the hole between the defence and midfield. The first chance fashioned by Samba came from a cross from the right which Francis could only get a half connection to and the ball was comfortably saved. Perhaps a better chance arrived about 5 minutes later, this time Francis had time to control the ball but his right foot shot lacked the power to net the opening goal. As the half continued Bridgford were starting to exert themselves and were begining to take control of the 50/50 challenges and were picking up a lot of second ball. Their only shot on target came from a free kick which had good accuracy but lacked power to really trouble Ballard who pushed it round the post. It was Bridgford who made the breakthrough though, and the goal came courtesy of a mistake from Ballard who dropped a cross under pressure from the Bridgford man and ball rebounded into the net. Samba were only passing well in fits and starts and were nowhere near as fluent as the previous week. Bridgford were committed, combative and at times played some decent football, though their only other clear cut chance saw the ball sail high over the bar following the right wing backs pass from the bye-line.

The second half commenced with Samba determined to create some more chances on the Bridgford goal. The game was ultra competitive and Samba appeared to have got to grips better with Bridgfords physical challenge. Samba certainly improved on their territory with the game being played more in the Bridgford half, but their were little in the way of chances for either side. When the chances came, they arrived in a flurry with Gibbons having a shot blocked, Boughton seemingly destined to score only to be denied by a superb blocking challenge and when Gibbons managed to beat the keeper a Bridgford man cleared from just off the line. Bridgford with still dangerous on the break and only a crunching challenge from Boughton with the Bridgford no.7 denied a clear opportunity on goal. Samba had a succession of corners with Bridgford defending with real grit and determination to keep their lead intact. Samba could not find a way through and the final whistle cued vociferous celebrations from the Bridgford players, who were clearly delighted with their afternoons work. From a Samba perspective it could be argued they deserved a point but Bridgford held firm and no doubt the return match will prove to be just as competitive and close as this encounter.