Ruddington Village — Sat 13 Oct 2007

Match report

Half time: 3 – 0

After two great cup wins which had yielded 14 goals Samba got back to the bread and butter of their league campaign against Ruddington who had started with 4 wins out of 5 in Division 1 this season. The only change to the side was again at centre back where Clifford replaced Boughton to partner Sharp at the centre of defence. The opening exchanges where fairly scrappy with neither side exerting real pressure on the oppositions goal. The first half chance fell to Ruddington when a careless pass in midfield was capitalised on, and the ball over the full back sent the Ruddington player through in the channel. Under pressure from Bassett though the striker didn't connect as he would have wanted and the ball sailed well over the bar. It was not long though before Samba took the lead when a long throw from Micky Lucas caused havoc in the Ruddington box and in an attempt to clear the big Ruddington midfielder only succeeded in heading the ball against the underside of the bar and over the line to give Samba a lucky headstart. The goal however clearly unsettled Ruddington and Samba were two goals to the good just a few minutes later, when a Lucas near post corner was flicked by Gibbons and buried by Clifford who simply headed in at the near post from within the 6 yard box. Ruddington were clearly struggling at this point and Francis went agonisingly close with two excellant headers, with the woodwork coming to Ruddingtons rescue on both occasions. A third goal was definitely coming though and when it arrived it came from an unlikely source. The ball was chipped into the Ruddington box and was headed clear to the edge of the penalty area, where Bassett who had been encouraged forward, controlled the ball and arrowed a low shot across the keeper into the bottom right corner for his first goal in open play since March 2004. The surprise on the full back's face said it all. Two minutes before half time Samba's great half was slighted soured when Clifford had to be replaced with a pulled hamstring. Rose came into midfield with Hill going to centre back. The final action of the half saw a long ball through Ruddingtons inside left channel cause problems and the striker raced through but lobbed both Ballard and the crossbar to keep Samba's three goal lead intact.

Samba started the second half poorly and within 10 minutes Ruddington had pulled a goal back. A punt into the box saw Sharp stretch for a ball which he diverted across the penalty box and with Ballard coming to collect the ball, it left him stranded and the Ruddington player simply took a step to the left and curled the ball into the net. Ruddington had the slope in their favour and were using it to good effect, with long kicks from their keeper putting the Samba back line under pressure. Chances were still coming at the other end though, and when the keeper parried a shot from Samba, Francis blasted the rebound over. There was a spell where Samba were not playing well but were defending with assurance -with Hill heading every ball in his vicinity. However, a defensive lapse in concentration proved costly when a cross from the Ruddington right, fell right onto the header of the late runner and he placed his header expertly past Ballard to leave him no chance. At 3-2 Ruddington smelt blood and they got it within minutes. A corner saw several players go up with Ballard and he couldn't hold the cross and the ball fell invitingly for the Ruddington player to blast into the roof of the net. At 3-3 Samba were depleted, shell-shocked and fatigued and this showed, as a panic crept into their play. Bassett totally missed his kick on halfway to send the Ruddington winger through but fortunately Samba recovered to usher him wide and evert the danger. Moments later Ruddington nearly took the lead when the ball was cleared off the line by Bassett following further Samba trouble at dealing with set pieces. Samba certainly had their chances though with Taylor breaking on numerous occasions but was unable to find the killer shot or cross that could have swung the game back in Samba's favour. As the final whistle blew, Samba couldn't help but be disappointed at losing a 3 goal lead, but Ruddington threw everything at them in the second half and will feel that they deserved their point. Man of the Match: Mark Bassett