Bingham Town — Sat 13 Nov 2010

Match report

Half time: 1 – 0

Samba travelled to first division side Bingham Town for a 2nd Round league cup clash, after success the previous week in the FA Cup. Gibbons rewarded his troops with the same starting eleven that dispatched Teversal but there were injury returns from G.Taylor and E.Taylor, who took their place on the Samba bench. The game started and immediately Samba were on top. They started to create chances, the pick of which fall to Francis who inexplicably missed from 4yds out with the goal at his mercy. Even though the author of this report missed the actual event, due to a late arrival, he agreed with everyone else that it was the worst miss in history. The pattern of the first half was that Samba were sharper and stronger in the tackle but the quality in their football was not up to last week's standard, albeit on a much more difficult pitch. Once incident typified this, when the Bingham keeper picked up a blatant back pass, and although Samba were bright enough to take a quick free kick, the execution was poor and the chance went begging. It was the premier division side though that took the lead, with Wilkinson the creator. A crisp driven cross-field pass, intended for Misiuda, was pounced upon by Francis, and with the defenders trailing in his wake he burst through and finished low to the keepers left, to make amends for the earlier miss. The remainder of the first half was scrappy with neither side looking too threatening and although only 1-0 Samba looked comfortable at the break.

The second half started and any fears about Samba taking their foot of the gas were proven to be well founded as they conceded an early penalty. With Samba in complete control a mix up between Nicholls and Gamba saw the Bingham striker nip in between them and Gamba tripped his opponent. However, Samba were let off the hook when the penalty was woefully put wide past Nicholls right hand post. Samba made Bingham pay for the wasted opportunity when they went 2-0 up on the hour. The goal was shrouded in controversy though as Samba were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Bingham box. Wilford had made a burst from midfield and has he swung to shoot the defender got there a fraction quicker and cleared the ball. The boots collided and Samba were dubiously given the free-kick, when if anything it should have gone the other way. It mattered not to Gibbons' who flighted a lovely crafted free-kick over the wall past the stranded keeper. Samba nearly went 3-0 up, when the industrious Brewer rode several challenge to perfectly cross for Francis. The Samba frontman, not renowned for his heading ability got this one spot on, only to be denied by a splendid save from the keeper, tipping the ball onto the post. It appeared to be game over but Samba contrived to hit the self-destruct button which never seems out of their reach. Bingham got a goal back when a free kick was flighted in and Nicholls could only palm the ball onto the head of a Bingham player who tucked it away. The second goal was equally messy, with the defence parting like Moses through the Red Sea, to allow the Bingham man to loft the equaliser into the net, much to the delight of their manager who was vociferous in the extreme throughout. If there was going to be a winner you fancied the first division side, but Samba dug in and held out for extra time. Full Time: Bingham Town 2-2 FC Samba By extra time Gibbons' had played two out of his three cards throwing G.Taylor and Tuxford into the fray. The manager went to get changed with a promise that by the time he returned the score would be 3-2. Unfortunately for Samba, Mystic Bassett only did half a job, as the fifth goal went in Bingham's favour to cap a remarkable comeback. The goal came from the penalty spot, Gamba having been adjudged to push his man in the back. The penalty was struck firmly to Nicholls' left, and Gibbons' returned a disgruntled manager. Facing an embarrassing exit from being 2-0 up Samba upped their game and draw next blood, when Dollochin equalised with a header from a corner. The game was now an absorbing cup tie, completely in the balance. How Bingham didn't force a fourth goal is beyond logic with Nicholls producing a brilliant reflex save to turn the ball onto the bar from close range. Fortunately Samba found a winner, as their record of never being involved in a penalty shoot-out was extended. Terrific work from Tuxford saw him fire a low cross into the box and G.Taylor was on hand to pounce for the winner of a cup tie that at times had been low on quality but high on entertainment.