East Valley Utd — Sat 10 Apr 2010

Match report

Half time: 0 – 1

The sunshine came out for Samba's tricky looking meeting with East Valley Utd. Although probably out of the title race EVU were in pole position to finish 3rd, which realistically is the height of Samba's ambitions this term. Samba had 14 players for the 1st time in weeks and amongst the changes to the squad were Hill into midfield and Ballard on the bench for the 1st time this season. Gibbons opted for 4-5-1. The EVU pitch had a slope at a worse gradient than Burton Road, but at least Wilford bucked the usual trend by winning the toss, meaning Samba went uphill in the first half. Samba started well, they were able to pass the ball in the opening exchanges and on a number of occasions got into good positions behind the home defence. In terms of clear cut chances they were limited, but when Hill won an aerial dual in the box, G.Taylor's header was tipped over the ball at full stretch by the keeper. On one or two occasions Samba almost got through but were denied by either the offside flag, a poor final ball or decision. EVU were always a threat and in particular runners from midfield were causing concern. Samba were starting to get on the back foot but were relatively comfortable, when the opening goal came. It went to the home side, and Samba will feel it could have been avoided. The ball was cleared from the Samba box but only to 30yds out. The ball evaded Hill and Brewer and the EVU man stepped into his stride and hit a powerful low strike which had too much for Nicholls and EVU had the lead. From this moment saw a dramatic decline in Samba's performance. Mis-placed passes and conceding territory were general themes as EVU threatened to overwhelm Samba. Bassett was lucky when he dwelt on the ball too long in possession as the last man and was subsequently robbed. Fortunately the shot was turned over for a corner. In the opening period Samba had managed to get numbers forward in support, but as the half grew on G.Taylor cut an isolated figure up front, with wide midfielders helping out defensively, to the detriment of Samba as an attacking threat. Samba were behind at half time for the 4th successive match but in the previous 3 had managed to pull games round to earn points. With the slope in their favour, there was hope this could be achieved again.

Samba started the 2nd half well, fuelling expectations they could get something out of the match. In the opening few minutes Hill twice went close, first with a header, after a salmom-like leap in the box, and secondly with a more difficult volley, both efforts going over the bar. Still, there appeared more intensity about Samba's attacking play. The wind was taken out of their sails when they conceded a sloppy 2nd goal. Samba never got set from a throw-in on their left and when the ball travelled into the box, the EVU man arrived on cue to finish the move. The strike itself was not clean and it seemed to hit the EVU man as much as anything, before bobbling into the bottom corner, with Nicholls wrong-footed. Samba got a goal back when G.Taylor was rewarded in the box for his persistance, holding off several defenders to poke the ball home. The trouble for Samba was that EVU were causing far more problems going up the hill than Samba had managed to cause them. The next goal was crucial and EVU got it, and it was very similar to the first goal. A powerful hit shot from the edge of the area, condemning Samba's inability to close down quick enough. At 3-1 Samba were on the brink but all hope was lost when Samba conceded a horrible fourth. Rose was robbed in possession in the right back position and the EVU forward made no mistake this time, slotting under the advancing NIcholls. In truth it could have been more, with EVU missing another great chance and Nicholls denying them one on one. This defeat brought about Samba's first defeat in 6 league games and the only bright point was that there would not be too long to dwell on it, with a game against Kashmir on Tuesday night.