05/04/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Rothwell (Smith 45), Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Ellis, Freath, Creighton, Haigh, Katirai, Bull.

For the second time in five days an under-strength Brazil team lost to by a single goal to a side they really should be beating. Scott Rothwell made his debut for Brazil, who took while to get going in their first evening game since August. Wardley had more of the ball in the opening period but Brazil’s defence was solid and didn’t let them get a clean shot on goal. In the second quarter of the game, Brazil started to get the ball down and play football. The best chance fell to the experienced Mark Freath but instead of shooting with his left foot, he tried to cut back inside onto his right and the chance was lost.

Two errors combined to gift Wardley a goal in the second half. Brazil fought back but couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed to get back into the game. Matty Bull worked tirelessly up front and had a couple of good shots well blocked around the edge of the box. Matthew Creighton’s long range free kick was well saved by the diving goalkeeper down at the foot of the right hand post. As darkness descended, Lee Wilkinson made a couple of very good saves. Player/manager Dave Churchley was man of the match.

01/04/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Dixon, Paterson, Creighton, Marquiss, McCourt, Bull.

In the only Tyneside Amateur League match to survive the weather, Brazil had to make some last minute phone calls to get eleven players together. The pitch, which was on the verge of being unplayable, was not conducive to Brazil’s slick, flowing, passing game so it was no surprise that they struggled early on, as they came to terms with the conditions. The home side took the lead with a break down the right. James Katirai saved the first shot but could only parry it to Gateshead’s second striker who put his side ahead. Katirai made a good save with his face after a shot bounced unevenly off the ground and some very good defending from Craig Ellis helped to keep the score down.

Midway through the half, Brazil began to find their feet and the passes started to connect. Matty Bull got onto the end of Jim McCourt’s flick on, burst past the defence and fired the ball into the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. A couple of minutes later Bull broke free again. This time he wasn’t offside and his powerful right footed shot beat the keeper easily but they way the pitch dropped away down the slope meant that the ball crashed against the crossbar. The deserved equaliser didn’t take too long in coming though. Dave Churchley’s free kick set Bull free down the right. His perfect cross was met on the volley by the left foot of John Marquiss who had ghosted in at the far post. Before the interval, Brazil took the lead from the penalty spot. Bryan Walker’s throw into the box was about to be flicked on by Mark Kennedy but two Gateshead defenders jumped on his back and shoved him to the ground. Bull buried the spot kick straight down the middle of the goal.

The second half was always going to be difficult for Brazil; playing uphill, into the wind with the sun in their eyes and no substitutes. Brazil had a few chances (Bull brought a good save out of the keeper with a left-footed shot from a tight angle and McCourt twice had time to shoot in the box but missed the target) but as they tired Gateshead brought on three fresh players and made the advantage tell. The hosts were forced to work hard for their victory and Brazil were left to think about how things could have been different. Ewan Paterson’s endeavours in the muddy centre of the pitch earned him his first man of the match award of the season. Scouts from Wardley Durham Ranger were present at the match but they will have learnt little ahead of Wednesday’s encounter as it will be a very different Brazil side on that occasion.

25/03/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell, Paterson, Creighton (Kennedy 70), Freath, Haigh, Katirai (Harrison 45), Day.

The withdrawal of Matty Bull before kick off with a staircase injury rocked Brazil but they still went out full of confidence. It was just an off day though with Brazil seeming to be second to almost every ball. Rob Day and Matthew Creighton both went close for the visitors but it was Wallsend that took the lead. This boosted their confidence and they were passing the ball around as if they had an extra man on the pitch. A poor refereeing decision gave the hosts a two goal cushion with a penalty.

In the second half Brazil were better but still only second best. Whilst Wallsend passed the ball around well and enjoyed going forward they still looked very vulnerable at the back. On another day, Day could have scored five or six but on this occasion he didn’t. The highlight of the game was a superb run by Shaun Haigh but at the end of it he was caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross and the result turned out to be a good example of neither.

A third goal wrapped up the victory for the hosts but, to their credit, Brazil continued to work and look for the elusive goal. Ewan Paterson’s superb corner fizzed across the six yard box but three Brazil players couldn’t get a touch. Day continued to cause the defence all kinds of problems and force the keeper into a number of good saves. Towards the end, Lee Wilkinson managed to get enough of a block onto a shot to enable Dave Churchley to get back and clear it off the line to stop the score line from becoming embarrassing. Bryan Walker was man of the match.