Ashland Rovers — Sat 2 Oct 2010

Match report

Half time: 1 – 1

After a bitterly disappointing performance against Kirton, Samba were given an opportunity to progress in the Notts FA Cup with a first round tie away at Ashland Rovers. Gibbons welcomed Boughton, E.Taylor, C.Taylor, Francis and Street back into the squad and chose to go 4-5-1 with G.Taylor operating as the sole forward. As the game kicked off Samba quickly showed more passing ability and control in the first five minutes than in the previous game. Short passing across the park encouraged Samba's faithful band of supporters. However, they were hit with a sucker punch when on 6 minutes a long ball was flicked on and the striker pounced on the ball before the onrushing Nicholls. The ball hit Nicholls leg before falling kindly for the striker who put Ashland in front despite Samba's confident start. Samba continued to play good football but perhaps lacked a cutting edge and it was obvious that G.Taylor was struggling with the thigh strain he picked up against Kirton. Samba bossed possession but Ashland still posed a real threat and only the alertness of Nicholls prevented Ashland doubling their lead, when he dived sharply at the strikers feet to smother the ball. Samba had failed to utilise Francis in the opening exchanges and again choose to release Street down the Samba right. His cross however reached Francis on the left hand side of the box and whilst most were expecting another cross, Francis drilled a smart finish past the keeper and into the roof of the net. Samba were on terms and it was well deserved. However, Francis would soon depart from the action with a back injury to be replaced with Gamba, a move which saw the influential Misiuda moved to the left hand side. G.Taylor was struggling to play on the shoulder of the defenders and in the last 10mins of the half Samba recognised that they needed to serve him with crosses. All of sudden he became a threat and was desperately close with one headed effort. Samba reached half-time playing their best football of the early season and confident that they could go on and reach the 2nd round.

The first section of the second half was similar to the first period with Samba looking like getting a goal but not quite having the cutting edge they desired. Brewer and Wilford worked tirelessly in midfield whilst the back four looked solid and gave Samba a good platform. Samba absorbed Ashland and hit them on the break and with the home side hideously committed ,Samba all of a sudden had 3 on 1 with Gibbons driving at the remaining Ashland defender. G.Taylor broke left and Gibbons opted to pass right to Brewer, but overhit the pass and the chance was gone. Mid-way through the second half, Gibbons replaced G.Taylor with Wright and sticking to 4-5-1, put Street up front. Time was creeping away and Ashland had some good opportunities themselves in the final 15minutes. The best of which saw the Ashland man shoot wide after creating some space on the edge of the Samba box from a central position. As the game entered stoppage time it looked all set for extra time. However, Samba had one last attack in them and it proved to be a telling one. Gibbons released Wilford down the left and the skipper whose running power resembled Forrest Gump in the final 20mins, sent a pinpoint cross onto the head of Street who buried it from 6yds. The clock showed it was the 94th minute and Street, who had not the best game of his life, celebrated the winner, with no time for Ashland to recover.