Nuthall — Tue 7 Sep 2010

Match report

Half time: 4 – 1

An evening fixture against Nuthall gave Samba an early chance to right the wrongs of Saturday and get three points on the board. Gibbons changed to 3-5-2 for this game with Gamba and Street coming into the side, and Elton and Gibbons himself dropping to the bench. The game got off to an unfortunate start for Francis when he got one right in the knackers before the seconds clock hit double figures! Fortunately for both Samba and their midfielder things got better quickly and Nuthall were punished for allowing Samba too much room in midfield. Francis created the space and released G.Taylor whose left foot cross was turned in by Street, as he made a difficult chance look easy. Samba looked a much more composed and confident outfit, though Nuthall were giving them too much respect. However, Samba suffered a wake up call when Nuthall produced an equaliser against the run of play. A long punt forward should have been dealt with by the defence and when Samba failed to clear or adequately cover, the Nuthall man squared the ball for the striker to apply the finish. It took three attempts, two of which were thwarted by excellent Nicholls' saves and a suspicion of handball before the Nuthall man finally nodded the ball over the line. If Nuthall thought they were back in the game, they were proved wrong within a matter of minutes. A neat Samba move down their left saw Wilkinson call for the ball in an unusually forward position. He didn't receive the ball immediately but when he did, he spanked an absolute peach from 25yds into the top left corner, for an early contender for goal of the season. Not to be outdone by a more senior member of the Samba team, young Gamba got in on the act and smashed in another beauty from similar range. It was his first goal for the Senior team and at 3-1 Samba were cruising. Before half-time Francis and Street combined to punish Nuthall once more, with the former feeding the latter and Street applied another cool finish.

It appeared that complacency was Samba's only enemy in the second half but as Samba started sluggishly it appeared a dangerous foe. A lacklustre start saw a double substitution with Gibbons and Elton replacing Street and E.Taylor. Nuthall pulled a goal back when a cross was diverted in by the head of Wilkinson, looping over the helpless Nicholls and into the net. At 4-2 Samba shouldn't have been too worried but Nuthall had raised their work rate considerably and Samba had not responded. Whilst the game was largely played in Samba's half, a quick breakaway presented Francis with an opportunity to restore the three goal lead. A bobble as he was about to strike on goal was a factor, but his shot went wide and Nuthall were still in the game. When Wilford was penalised for a trip just inside the area, it was game on, particularly when the Nuthall player rattled in the spot kick off the cross bar. What looked set to be a comprehensive victory at one stage, was now the narrowest of margins. When the Nuthall player waltzed through the Samba backline before crossing and seeing the ball deflect off Francis and into the net for 4-4, Samba's loyal band of supporters couldn't believe what they were seeing. Capitulation - defined perfectly by conceding two own goals and a penalty. Defeat looked a distinct possibility but Francis who had experienced an eventful evening, played the last card by stealing a winner with 10 minutes to go. Played through by Gibbons he slid the ball past the keeper for 5-4. On Saturday the post match analysis centred on the common sense statement that you can't expect to win a match when you concede four. Samba disproved that particular theory but if success is to be forthcoming this year then the goal against tally will need to addressed.