Ruddington Village — Sat 16 Feb 2008

Match report

Half time: 3 – 2

Samba entertained Ruddington looking to bounce back to winning ways after the previous weeks horror show against Arnold Longbow. Samba welcomed back Ian Holloway into the side but Wilford missed his first game in 4 years due to a broken arm, Boughton took the armband. Straight from kick off, due to some terrible defending by Ruddington G.Taylor was presented with an early chance but he couldn't open the scoring, with the keeper saving with his feet. Samba looked so much more comfortable playing on their home turf and it was not long before they took the lead. The goal was route one, with Boughton playing the ball over the top and G.Taylor racing on to fire home for 1-0. Samba were playing well and it was not long before they extended their lead. Boughton and G.Taylor were the players involved again, as the big centre half knocked down a corner which fell at the feet of G.Taylor who turned and swept the ball home. Samba were looking comfortable although they had lost Holloway to a hamstring injury, and he was replaced by Hill. Ruddington however were given a lifeline when Hill was dispossesed and E.Taylor failed to clear, leaving the Ruddington man with a great chance and he finished well to reduce the arrears to 2-1. Samba reacted well to the goal and scored the goal of the game when good work from Francis on the right saw the ball pulled back for Doughty who kept his composure and slotted the ball in from 12 yds with his left foot. Unfortunately for Samba though they could not preserve a two goal lead, as the ball was given away poorly on the edge of the box and as Francis tracked the runner he clipped him just inside the penalty box and the referee had no hestitation. The penalty was converted and the half time score was 3-2, when Samba's dominance perhaps deserved more.

Playing against the slope in the 2nd half Samba knew it would be tough. Gibbons was withdrawn after 5mins with concerns about his thigh injury and was replaced with Issac. Ruddington were certainly having more of the game in the 2nd half without really testing Ballard. The game reached past the half point of the second half before the next goal and when it arrived it was clouded in controversy. The Ruddington winger was slid in but the linesman gave offisde. This was overuled by the referee and the ball was crossed for the on-coming Ruddington player who's header was perfectly planted across Ballard into the net for 3-3. Boughton led the Samba protests but to no avail. As with the first goal that Samba conceded they showed good bounceback ability, when Issac was put in the clear in the box by Francis. He took his time before firing past the keeper to make the score 4-3. Samba lost Doughty to injury, replaced by Horton, and Lucas was playing on one leg due to a hamstring problem. It was clear that Ruddington would throw everything at Samba and that Samba simply had to defend the best they could. Ruddington were gaining a succession of freekicks and on one such occasion the ball was flighted in and the defensive header only reached the edge of the box where the Ruddington player fired it against the crossbar. Samba thought they had escaped but the ball was put back towards the 6yd box and the Ruddington man turned it in for 4-4 with virtually no time left on the clock. That was the end of scoring in this match as the teams drew for the third succcesive time. Samba knew they had thrown points away but Ruddington will feel that they deserved a share of the spoils for their 2nd half display.