Kirton Brickworks — Sat 17 Mar 2007

Match report

Half time: 0 – 0

Samba kicked off against Kirton hoping to return to winning ways after last weeks unlucky defeat against United. Broughton returned about 5 weeks out with a rib injury and took his place in the side, but in an unfamiliar holding midfield role. Bruce deputised for Ballard in goal and Jackson was missing from midfield. The game was fairly scrappy in the first fifteen minutes with both sides failing to create a chance. When a chance did come Samba were so close to taking the lead. G.Taylor directed his header towards goal after a good cross from the right but was denied by a covering defender on the line. Francis was next to have a chance although Samba were fortunate that the ball got that far as there looked like a blatant foul in the middle of the park. Francis couldn’t capitalise on being clean through though and the game remained goalless. Kirton were causing the Samba backline some problems with good forward movement on a wide pitch but failed to create any clear cut chances. The closest they came was from set pieces with Broughton making a timely clearance on one particular corner. Samba nearly scored from the best move of the match when Francis got to the bye-line and stood up a great cross, but Broughton could not get over it and his header went over the bar. As half time was reached Samba knew they could play better but also were well in the game and still confident of all three points.

The first five minutes of the second half were again scrappy with a Kirton player needing treatment for an injury. When the ball was back in play on Kirton’s left, Samba committed a foul and gave the opportunity to whip in a free kick from a dangerous position. The Kirton man did not disappoint, bending in a beauty straight into the top corner and you could see the confidence drain from Samba. For the next 5 minutes Samba were up against it as Kirton could smell blood and they again were particularly dangerous from set pieces. Samba managed to ride the storm however and to their massive credit started to pin Kirton back in their own half with a series of raids down each wing but particularly the left. This resulted in several opportunities for Samba but the final ball was rarely good enough with Gibbons, Bassett, Francis and Doughty all failing to find their man for one reason or another. On the one occasion that the cross was good G.Taylor could not wrap his head round the ball to get sufficient direction and power on the header. Kirton were worried at this point as Samba were throwing men forward in search of an equaliser and at one stage it seemed a matter of time. Doughty shot over the bar and when Francis was denied by the feet of the keeper the frustration for everyone involved in Samba was there for all to see. Samba simply could not score. It would be unfair on Kirton not to state that they had their opportunities as well, though these were generally gifted through sloppy defending or over-committing of players forward. Thankfully for Samba, Kirton’s finishing was as bad as theirs and the home side did not manage to extend their advantage. Although in the last 10 minutes Samba huffed and puffed it was looking increasingly likely that they were slipping to a fifth defeat in nine games and this was confirmed with the last kick of the game. A long ball split Samba wide open and with Hawkins the only covering defender he was exposed and the Kirton forwards took full advantage before slotting past Bruce for 2-0. The ball had barely hit the back of the net and the referee blew for full time and Samba trudged off knowing that for the 2nd week running a good performance had not brought a good result.