Headstocks — Sat 9 Apr 2011

Match report

Half time: 5 – 0

After the midweek triumph in the cup it was back to the relegation fight for the Sandboys. Headstocks were again the opponents, a week after Samba recorded a vital 2-0 in the first fixture. G.Taylor was absent up front so Gibbons partnered Francis and there was a midfield role for Boughton. Bassett was making his 200th first team appearance for the club (the youngest player in the club's history to reach this milestone) whilst there were returns to the starting line up for Gamba and Street. In the April sunshine Samba set about their task with purpose and not for the first time in recent weeks scored an early goal. It was an impressive move that opening the scoring. Wilford started the play in midfield and spread the ball to Bassett who released Boughton into the Headstocks half. He thread Francis beyond the backline and his inviting cross was turned into the net by a Headstocks defender from 6yds out. Just a few minutes later however Headstocks had the perfect opportunity to level the score when they were awarded a penalty. It was Gamba who was penalised for a trip on the Headstocks man but Samba were reprieved when the taker mishit a poor penalty past Nicholls right hand post. The action was unrelenting and it was Samba's turn to be awarded a spot kick. Francis was released in the left hand channel by Gibbons and the defender initially held up the frontman outside the box. Francis got away from his man though and the defender had a second nibble, a blatant trip, and the referee gave the penalty. Francis hit it low and hard to the keepers left and Samba were 2-0 up. Headstocks were a threat going forward but Samba's back line looked sturdy and defiant. The away side were throwing men forward and got punished with a counter attack. A diagonal ball was played to Gibbons who allowed the ball to move past his body before unleashing a perfectly struck half volley into the far corner from 25yds. Samba were cruising and there was only 25 minutes on the clock. When Francis picked up the ball 35yds out from goal there seemed little danger but he pulled the ball onto his left foot , took a couple of strides and curled the ball majestically into the top left corner. The keeper never smelt it. Headstocks were in disarray defensively and Gibbons had them worried again with a driving run that was only halted when he was tripped on the edge of the box. He took the kick himself and simply side footed it round the wall into the gaping hole left by the keeper. Samba were leading 5-0 before half-time.

The second half started and despite the managers call for more of the same, Samba started a little sloppy. They were given a couple of warnings before Headstocks winger jinxed in from their left beat a couple of challenges before arrowing in a low shot into the bottom right hand corner. Surely it would be nothing more than a consolation goal? Samba upped their game to ensure that there would be no collapse and managed to add a couple more goals to their tally. Doughty and Charles were second half substitutes for Street and Gibbons respectively and it was the latter who got on the score sheet with a second half brace. The first was disputed as Headstocks claimed offside. Charles received a Gamba cross in the box and with no defender near him he had time to control the ball and pick his spot. He didn't need the time given as he controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed into the right corner for an impressive finish. Charles's 2nd and Samba's 7th was a simple set piece. Wilford's near post corner saw Charles lose his marker with a short run towards the ball and his flicked header into the roof of the net left the keeper with little chance from six yds out. Francis could have made it eight but his right foot effort looped into the keeper arms when Doughty was desperate for the square pass. It didn't matter though as Samba recorded a resounding victory, their biggest since beating Gedling Southbank by the same scoreline in October 2008.