Trident — Sat 17 Apr 2010

Match report

Half time: 0 – 0

Samba's recent hectic schedule continued with a home game against Trident, a team with whom they had shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw three weeks ago. Gibbons maintained his 3-5-2 formation, with Nicholls returning in goal and Francis earning a start up front. The game started in bright sunshine and it was Trident who made the early running, kicking down the slope. Neither side created a good chance in the opening exchanges, with the pace of the game rather frantic. Slowly Samba started to create chances with Wilford heading straight at the goalkeeper from 15yds out, after a good late run into the box. Later in the half Bassett played in G.Taylor from a wide left position. He collected the ball with his back to goal and as the keeper advanced he tried to roll him before shooting. Unfortunately both the initial effort and the follow up shot were blocked by a combination of the keeper and the defenders. The best chance of the half fell to Trident when their no.9 received the ball in their inside right channel. Gamba did well to re-direct the forward to the by-line, but the striker managed to pull back the cross for his team mate to fire straight at Nicholls' legs from 8yds. Samba perhaps shaded the first half, though Trident were well in the game, in a relatively even contest.

Kicking down the slope, Samba were confident of turning the screw in the 2nd half. They made an early change when Rose replaced Gamba, leading to a re-shuffle at the back. After a sloppy opening to the second half Samba started to create more chances and G.Taylor was denied from an inside left position when his shot was smothered by the keeper. The home side kept up the pressure but Trident were always a threat on the break. A cross from Samba's left whistled through the corridor of uncertainty and a touch from the striker at the backpost was all that was required. Samba pressed but chances came and went and one goal seemed certain to win it. Wilkinson tried his luck from a free kick and narrowly missed, whilst Ballard on as a sub for Francis, produced his best double save since the 2006/7 season! Unfortunately for Samba the 'saves' were unfortunate blocks, as a result of a desperate passage of play in the Trident box. First Misiuda's header struck Ballard and then the follow up shot did the same. It was clear that the game wasn't going to find a winner and a scoreless draw was the end result, a rarity at this level.