FC Dynamo — Sat 1 Sep 2012

Match report

Half time: 0 – 1

Samba set about defending their league title with a home game against one time foes and newly promoted FC Dynamo. The sides had not met since the 2004/5 season when both teams competed in the Sunday League. Samba fielded 10 of the players that had played a significant part in securing the league title with just the one debutant, James Randall, taking his place in the middle of the park. Samba started in a relaxed and confident mood but it didn’t last particularly long as they struggled to maintain any rhythm to their play. Dynamo had an early shout for a penalty when a typically tough challenge from Gamba took down the opposing forward. Fortunately there was sufficient contact on the ball to allow the referee to dismiss the appeals, though it looked at least a corner. It was Dynamo who had the first meaningful strike on goal and it so nearly opened the scoring. A mini game of head tennis on the edge of the Samba box ended with a dipping volley that struck the top of the Samba bar, with Nicholls struggling if it had been either side of him. At the other end Samba were failing to create clear cut opportunities, not helped by a distinct lack of tempo to their play. Their best opportunity in the opening period fell to G.Taylor following a Bassett pull back but his header went over the bar under pressure from a couple of defenders. The Dynamo keeper was looking particularly shaky with any crosses into the box but by and large Samba failed to capitalise, though Bassett went close with a well hit low drive. The game seemed to be drifting towards 0-0 at the break when Dynamo took full advantage of an error in the Samba backline as Letford failed to clear and the Dynamo striker was able to slot underneath Nicholls for a half-time lead.

Samba started the second half with more purpose after a desperately disappointing first period of the match. They were still finding clear opportunities hard to come by though and perhaps unsurprisingly their route to a goal came via a long ball into the box. The ball was struck in high by Temple from a free kick and as players challenged for the ball, it evaded everyone including the keeper and dropped nicely into the net for 1-1. The goal coincided with Samba’s best phase of the game as they took the initiative for a 15 minute spell whereby they looked the likely victors. Dynamo were a threat on the break though and could have gone back in front when they capitalised on another Samba mistake, this time from Gamba, only to see the smart finish correctly chalked off for offside. However, it wouldn’t be long before Dynamo regained the lead for real. The attacking player made a purposeful run into the box and by the time a meaningful challenge was made the ball had found its way to the edge of the ‘D’ where an inch perfect finish off the post left Nicholls with no chance. The goal was a real blow to Samba but they almost equalised shortly afterwards when G.Taylor’s low effort from the inside left position was well saved by the keeper’s feet. Dynamo made sure of the three points a few minutes later when a well-executed free kick left Nicholls wrong footed and gave the away side a two goal cushion. From then on Dynamo were comfortable and were probably wondering how Samba had managed to win the league when in truth the home side had put in a performance that lacked bite and conviction. Substitute Frost nearly secured a consolation goal for Samba when he met a low cross truly and steered his shot to the bottom left hand corner of the goal, but the keeper was equal to it and despite a shaky performance ended the day with an excellent save.