Nuthall — Sat 26 Jan 2008

Match report

Half time: 4 – 2

Samba returned to action after a week off, determined to put the poor performance against Gunthorpe firmly behind them. Samba handed a debut to Holloway at centre half and their were starts for E.Taylor and Doughty. The game kicked off in windy conditions and on a bobbly pitch. The first few minutes did not produce any real chances but it was Samba who drew first blood. From a Doughty corner Hill found himself free on the edge of the six yard box and had time to divert his header back across the goalkeeper for 1-0. It was a confidence boost to Samba to take the lead so soon in the game but it lasted a mere 30 seconds, as Nuthall worked a shooting opportunity straight from kick off. The ball appeared to be going wide and Ballard was in position to deal. However, the ball bounced up and spun off the keepers gloves to give Nuthall immediate parity. This didn't appear to effect Samba who were begining to knock the ball around in confident fashion. A move on the Samba left saw Francis release Hill, who had the freedom of Kimberley to run through the inside channel and cooly slot his and Samba's second of the match. However, Samba only managed to hold onto the lead for slightly longer than the first occasion. Set pieces and in particular long throw-ins had been Nuthall's greatest threat and on such one occasion Boughton climbed highest, but unfortunately not high enough and the ball skidded off his head and over the stranded Ballard. 2-2. The goal extravaganza showed no sign of abating, when Boughton gave Nuthall some payback with a thumping header from a Lucas long throw, which crashed off the bar and in for 3-2. A few minutes later it was 4-2 with the ball going in via a deflection from another wicked Doughty corner. At the other end Boughton nearly claimed an unwanted hat-rick when his header again flicked towards his own goal but Ballard was smartly down to turn round the post. To be fair to the big man, it did look like he had been pushed on this occasion.

Samba came out after the break determined to see out their first victory of 2008. The game produced less chances in the second half with Samba controlling the game and playing most of the football. If a further goal was to come, it looked like being Samba who would score it as a succession of quick breaks and corners, threatened to extend their lead. A combination of poor finishing, a post, and in some instances poor decision making meant the score stayed 4-2. Samba had to use all three substitutes as G.Taylor, Gibbons and Walters were thrown on to combat injuries but this did not impact on Samba's control of the match. As the game drifted towards full-time, Nuthall got a lifeline when Holloway was penalised for handballin the penalty box. With his arm down by his side it looked a harsh decision, but Nuthall didn't care and the ball was planted low and firm in the bottom left hand corner, giving Ballard no chance. There was 5 minutes remaining and the game was once again on a knife edge. Fortunately Samba remained compact and viligant and claimed their first 3 points of 2008.