Nuthall — Sat 24 Apr 2010

Match report

Half time: 1 – 1

Samba with only one defeat in their previous ten league games, played Nuthall at Burton Road, in the reverse of the fixture from 3 weeks ago. The starting eleven saw a few changes again, the most notable in goal, where John Wise made his debut in place of Nicholls. The game kicked off and within 2 minutes Samba were behind. The Nuthall man was allowed to advance to within 25yds and then slipped the ball through the inside left channel. The Nuthall midfielder had pulled wide and shot across Wise who had little chance. The early goal was a very clear indication that the game was not going to be easy, despite Nuthall's lowly league position. The perfect tonic for Samba was a quick equaliser and it came in the form of a Brewer shot from just outside the edge of the area. Dollochin laid the ball back and Brewer struck the shot low to the keeper's right and Samba had parity with barely 10mins on the clock. The rest of the half was competitive but Samba failed to click into top gear. Samba had plenty of the ball and at times the football was good, but the cutting edge or the final ball was missing. At half-time Gibbons was looking for more and felt Samba had enough to win the game.

Samba were kicking up the slope in the 2nd half and with the game evenly poised, there was plenty to play for. A succession of back-passes proved an issue for the Samba back line with a great deal of uncertainty as to whether they constituted deliberate passes. Samba managed to survive these scares but were fortunate when Nuthall rattled the cross-bar from 25yds. Gibbons made a couple of substitutions introducing Francis and then himself. It had the desired effect as Samba upped their game in the closing quarter. Samba were starting to pick Nuthall's pocket and Gibbons put G.Taylor through on goal. Under pressure from the defender and a treacherous bounce on the hard surface, the ball got away and rolled safely back to the keeper. Francis had an opportunity when he got beyond the defender, who recovered well before the Samba forward was crowded out. Samba took the lead when Francis played through G.Taylor down the inside left channel and as the keeper narrowed the angle, Taylor finished confidently into the bottom right hand corner. Samba were taking control but Nuthall cursed their luck again when an over-hit free kick cannoned against the bar. Samba got a third and there was a touch of fortune about the goal. G.Taylor retrieved an over-hit cross and attempted a definite 'chipped' shot to the back post. It was so accurate it hit the post, rebounded off Dollochin's backside and into the net. The photgraphic evidence on the website shows that the midfielder took great pride in his goal, and wasn't the least bit embarrassed by the area used to deadly effect. Samba were cruising now and when a Nuthall player tried to be over-elaborate running with the ball, he was robbed and Samba counter-attacked. G.Taylor played in Francis and he finished the job with a low finish to the keepers left. Although Samba had benefitted from an element of fortune, they were worthy winners and turned their focus to Tuesday night's game with East Valley United.