Headstocks — Sat 18 Oct 2008

Match report

Half time: 3 – 1

Samba travelled to Bilborough college to play unbeaten Headstocks on a cold October afternoon. Gibbons opted for 3-5-2, with Broughton coming back at centre back, with Hawkins unlucky to miss out. In the opening period Samba settled the better out of the two sides, although the game was scrappy and conditions were difficult for good football. After 15 minutes Samba were awarded a penalty, and it came as a complete surprise to all twenty-two players on the pitch. The ball was swung in from the Samba right and as the defender challenged G.Taylor, not one Samba player appealed. Francis converted the spot kick to give Samba the lead in strange circumstances. The game was very stop, start, with a number of free-kicks being given and it was not helping the rhythm of the match. Ten minutes later the referree mystified everyone again by this time awarding Headstocks a penalty, with the claim that Hill had handballed in the box. Without being over-critical the referree had appeared to have lost the plot and booked several players from both sides for what he saw as 'dissent'. Headstocks converted the penalty and the game was level. Headstocks began to have their best spell of the half and a cross from the right should have seen the home team take the lead, but the header was planted straight at Nicholls. A few minutes later Headstocks has another chance with the ball being played over Bassett's head to put the winger through on goal. The winger drove into the box but wasted his chance puttting it past the far post. Samba were creating but it was not through fluent passing, more through pure endeavour. Bassett wriggled free in the box and choose to lay off to Wilford, whose shot was wild in the extreme and went out for a throw in! Samba regained the lead when Francis was put through on goal. The linesman indicated offside but the ref overruled and Francis finished confidently. A few minutes before half time Samba got a third from a perfectly worked corner. Wilford delivered, G.Taylor found space and buried a strong header into the net.

Gibbons made a change at half time replacing Bassett, with E.Taylor at left wing back. Only a few minutes of the second half had passed when Samba looked to have put the game beyond Headstocks. Poor defending led to Francis runnning through on goal and he converted to seal his hat-rick and three points for Samba. After this the game dipped into a lull for 25 minutes or so. In this time Gibbons had replaced Lucas and Brunt had taken over at right wing back from the injured Holloway. Samba looked in control with the back three of Broughton, C.Taylor and Wilkinson looking untroubled. However with 15 minutes to go Headstocks got a goal back and at 4-2, there was life left in the game. Samba had gone very sloppy and although there were a few nervous moments, the two goal lead was preserved and Samba maintained their top spot.