Winning Post — Sat 2 Sep 2006

Match report

Half time: 1 – 0

FC Samba started their league campaign against Division Two champions Winning Post in a repeat of last seasons opening fixture. Samba started brightly and looked confident in the opening exchanges. It was however Winning Post who had the first real chance when following a half cleared corner, a second cross came into the box and the header was put over the bar under pressure from the defender. After a good start Samba struggled for 10 -15 mins, with players arguing and finding it difficult to adapt to the windy conditions. Doughty came close with a 20 yard effort that just went over the cross bar and Samba had the ball in the net when Ballard converted a Francis cross but was judged offside. At the other end the Winning Post had the clearest chance of the match when their striker was through on goal and keeper Ince came rushing out of his box, however the striker lifted the ball over the crossbar when perhaps he should have scored. About halfway through the half Hill was booked for dissent. The deadlock was broken about 10 minutes from half time when after good work on the Samba right, the cross had appeared over hit, until Lucas anticipated the route of the ball and with the keeper off his line it left a corner of the net unguarded. Lucas found the bottom corner of the net with a controlled finish and Samba led 1-0. Winning Post should have snatched an equaliser when a misunderstanding between the Bassett brothers let the player in but he screwed his shot wide with only Ince to beat. The final action of the half saw Ince make a smart save at his near post after the ball had dropped following a long throw in.

The second half began with Samba kicking into the wind and this proved a difficult task as Winning Post pegged Samba back into their own half for long periods. The pressure although intense did not result in too clear cut chances as both sides found the going tough. Ballard had perhaps the clearest opportunity but after excellent control he fired the ball wide. Samba had the ball in the net again, when from a corner Hill bundled it over the line but this was correctly ruled out for an infringement on the keeper. Winning Post had very few opportunities, most of which were long range and the Samba defence was holding firm, with C.Taylor and D.Bassett outstanding at centre half. However, they could not have come closer when a powerful header from a corner crashed against the crossbar via an excellent reaction save from Ince.Winning Post appealed in vain but the bar clearly did not cross the line. Samba lost Hill with about 15 minutes remaining with a foot injury which cost the Winning Post player a yellow card and he was replaced by Wilford. Shortly after Lucas found himself in the clear but the Winning Post keeper managed to smother this shot from about 10 yards. Taylor (G) a substitute for Ballard found himself in the book for a tackle but at this stage it looked like Samba would hold on for the three points. Unfortunately the resistance was finally broken when following a cross from the Winning Post right winger Ince tipped the ball away from the goal. It fell to the Winning Post player who on the half volley hit an inch perfect shot into the top corner of the net. The goal came right on the end of 90 minutes and left Samba with no time to search for a winner.