Kashmir — Sat 4 Sep 2010

Match report

Half time: 1 – 1

After a successful pre-season, the serious business began with Samba's first league game of the season away at Kashmir. Samba had finished last year five points but only one place ahead of their opposition and two previous encounters had resulted in one win each. Gibbons chose 4-5-1 with the player-manager and Francis operating from wide positions in midfield, looking to support G.Taylor up front. The game started and Samba were slow out of the blocks. Kashmir were quicker and hungrier and immediately put pressure on the Samba goal. It was a lethargic start and Samba couldn't shake it off as time and again they relinquished possession. Fortunately Kashmir could not capitalise though they were getting a lot of joy with the ball over the top, as Samba employed a questionable high line against a speedy attack. The best early chance fell to Kashmir and it came from a direct pass over the top but the striker pulled the shot wide past Nicholls far post. There must have been a deflection because Kashmir were awarded a corner, one of several in an opening 20 minutes dominated by the home side. Samba were showing shoots of recovery, when they scored the opening goal of the match. Francis received the ball wide and squared for G.Taylor who poked goalwards. The keeper bizarrely appeared to palm the ball into the net and the goal was definitely against the run of play. The goal helped settle Samba and they started to pose a greater threat in the Kashmir half. However, the Sandboys were rocked back when Kashmir conjured an equaliser of the highest quality. Samba won a header on the edge of the box but before the Kashmir man could be closed down he rifled a superb left foot shot on the half volley, that had goal written all over it. It was superb strike and the home side celebrations reflected the quality of the goal. With about 10 minutes of the first half remaining Samba had their best spell in the game. Gibbons exchanged passes with Francis before the wide man rolled one back for Gibbons to hit low towards the right corner of the net. A little deflection altered the direction slightly and the ball struck the post.

At half time the inquiry to the first 30 minutes began and Samba took the positives that the defensive approach had been successfully changed, that they were level in the match and that they were starting to create chances. The second half began with real optimism but Samba were given a bloody nose when Kashmir took the lead. A free kick from Samba's right was whipped in and Nicholls parry seemed to hit a Kashmir man and the ball carried into the net. It was a bitter blow but Samba fought back almost immediately. Good approach play in midfield saw Gibbons free out on the right, with space to drive into the box. He pulled the ball back for Dollochin to side foot home, and Samba were back on terms in some style. Samba looked more likely but Kashmir were a constant threat on the break. G.Taylor took advantage of a bouncing ball and hesitant defending but lifted his shot over the bar from what was a difficult chance. He was unlucky moments later when he was presented with an easier opportunity but again the post foiled Samba with the keeper beaten. When Kashmir scored a third goal following another breakaway you feared that this was the winner. The Kashmir man hit the ball early and beat Nicholls at the near post and Samba had it all to do again. The task was made even harder when Kashmir added a fourth, again a great finish, rounding Nicholls before firing the ball past two defenders on the line. Samba had created bucketfuls of chances in the second half and they continued to come with Francis firing wide after a bursting run and the keeper foiling G.Taylor's low shot. There were countless other good opportunities for Samba to score but time was running out. G.Taylor set up a grandstand finish when he expertly converted a penalty after Francis was fouled in the box and hope sprung eternal once more. However, Samba couldn't force an equaliser and Kashmir were victors in a compelling game. The Sandboys had been poor in the first half but had been on terms at half-time, whilst a good second half performance was only rewarded by scoring an even number in five, and losing out in a seven goal thriller. Small improvements at either end of the park and Samba will start collecting points.