Nuthall — Sat 3 Apr 2010

Match report

Half time: 0 – 1

Samba travelled to play Nuthall short on numbers but with expectations of extending their recent unbeaten league run. Gibbons only had 11 players available, including himself, and choose to shuffle what little options he had, reverting to a 3-5-2 formation. Brewer, Rose, Hawkins and Dollochin all returned to action. Samba started the better and looked to have the measure of their opponents in the early exchanges. The passing was not always cohesive but chances were being created, though they mainly off target. Nuthall broke on occasions, a timely interception from Hawkins proving important in one particular move. It was the home side who took the lead, thanks to a dubious penalty award. Wilkinson cut out a cross but the ball spun up towards his arm and the referee adjudged that it gained Samba an advantage. Nuthall converted the penalty and Samba were behind in a game for the third week running. The theme for the remainder of the half was missed chances and growing frustration. At least on Samba's part. G.Taylor had the majority of the efforts on goal, with Gibbons the main provider with a series of crosses into the box. Taylor headed wide, shot wide, headed over and shot over but kept plugging away in the hope that things would turn. Taylor wasn't the only one, Misiuda skied an effort from relative close range and Samba failed to capitalise on some good deliveries from Gibbons from corners.

Within a few minutes of the restart Samba did what they failed to do in the first half, put a chance away. G.Taylor was rewarded for persistance when he converted a cross from Misiuda, which was aided by a touch from the defender. It wasn't long before Samba were in front, and it was G.Taylor again benefiting from an assist from Dollochin. As you may tell from the description, the author can't really recall the goal in considerable detail. When Samba made it 3-1 a few minutes later the points looked safe. This time Gibbons wide left crossed a ball that beat the keeper and seemed to be heading in but G.Taylor is never one to turn down a tap in on the line, especially when a hatrick is involved, and the first half taunts of Taylor from the home side were well and truly silenced. Samba were now cruising but never a team to make life easy on themselves, they handed Nuthall a chance to get back into the match. Hawkins and Wilkinson got over familiar in the left hand channel, and as communications broke down, Hawkins header was short. The striker was denied by Nicholls at the first attempt but the follow up shot was converted and it was game on. This marked the spell in the match where Nuthall were most dangerous. They pinned Samba back with a series of direct passes over the top, and Nicholls was called upon to tip a header over the bar at full stretch. Further nervous moments ensued but a combination of good defending, bad finishing and good luck saw Samba though. The pressure was off towards the end when Gibbons burst clear down the right hand side. He unselfishly squared for G.Taylor who was faced up by a defender. G.Taylor looped the ball over his head with his first touch, and volleyed home with his left foot, across the keeper, making it a double brace for Samba's top scorer.