Santos — Sat 16 Oct 2010

Match report

Half time: 0 – 1

Samba returned to league action for the first time in three weeks as they travelled to old foes Santos. Gibbons options were limited and he choose a 3-5-2 system with Wilkinson and Gamba coming in for E.Taylor (injured) and Francis (unavailable). The opening 15 minutes saw Santos start the better, with the home side just a fraction quicker across the park. Samba looked relatively solid though and Santos struggled to penetrate the backline. As the half progressed Samba started to pass the ball better and looked a threat as Santos pushed numbers forward, on many occasions only leaving the centre halves to deal with frontmen G.Taylor and Street. Samba had a number of good opportunities but didn't take advantage of numerical superiority in good positions and more often than not the opportunity was wasted. Gibbons had the best opportunity of the half when his shot was deflected, forcing the Santos keeper into a smart save low down to his right. Santos were still a threat but were committing suicidal numbers forward and you fancied Samba on the break. As the half entered the last third it was Santos were took control, as Samba's good possession deserted them. The pressure started to build with a succession of free kicks in and around the Samba box. When Santos scored 5 minutes before half-time you had to admit it had been coming. Samba tried to break out and gave away the ball within their own half. Santos countered with superb effect exchanging passes before squaring the ball across the box, leaving Nicholls exposed and the Santos man with a simple tap in from 12yds. The goal spurred Samba back into life but they couldn't find an equaliser before the half-time whistle.

Samba decided to mix up their play a bit more in the 2nd half , and try and hit the forwards earlier. Within 30 seconds it almost paid dividends. Gibbons hooked a ball down the left and when the ball arrived into the box, G.Taylor challenged the keeper who was off his line. The ball squirmed away and G.Taylor laid the ball back for Gibbons who had a golden opportunity from 18yds. Unfortunately the Samba man didn't quite get his body position right and his shot went wide of the right hand side post. Within minutes that miss looked crucial as Santos doubled their lead. A cross into the Samba box looked routine enough, but the communication wasn't all it could have been, and the ball carried through to the far post where the Santos man couldn't miss from 6yds. It felt like Samba had a mountain to climb but sure enough they rolled up their sleeves and started to create chances. By the time that G.Taylor slid in with the keeper following a cross from the left to reduce the arrears to 2-1, Samba were well on top. Boughton was causing numerous problems from set pieces, with one header in particular forcing a smart save from the Santos keeper. There were scares for Samba at the other end, in particular when a move broke down in the centre circle and Santos broke brilliantly down their right. The goal was at the mercy of the striker as the cross came in but Dollochin blocked brilliantly on the edge of the 6yd box. At the other end Gibbons rifled a powerful enough effort straight at the keeper but time was starting to creep away. With 2 mins left on the clock Samba conjured an equaliser and it was shrouded in controversy. G.Taylor broke down the Samba left but tight to the touchline appeared to run the ball out. With no roping off of the pitch, the spectators were right on the touchline, impairing the ability of the linesman to see down the line. As Santos appealed, Samba capitalised, and G.Taylor squared for Gibbons who finished calmly, as the keeper dived at his feet. The goal sparked wild celebrations on the touchline from the Samba contingent but Santos went mental at the award of the goal. Ugly scenes ensued and it was a full three minutes before the game restarted. Santos won a soft free kick just outside the penalty box to the right hand side. The taker opted to hit the ball hard and low, and as Boughton and the big Santos centre half wrestled in the box, the ball seemed to take a deflection before finding its way into the back of the net. Santos were jubilant and Samba desolate and with the clock showing 93 minutes, there was not time for an equaliser and the Sandboys were condemned to their third defeat in four league games.