19/08/2006
John Hampson Memorial Trophy Group B

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Dickson, Churchley, Johnson, Kennedy, Sorbie, Creighton, Johnston, Siddle, Egan, Watson (Freath 60).

For Brazil’s 3^rd encounter with Division 1 opposition in eight days they had to recruit several new players just to be able to get enough men on the field. Matthew Egan, Karl Johnson, Jonathan Watson and Dennis Sorbie all made their debuts and Matt Dickson put in his first appearance of the season (after arriving 10 minutes after kick off).

Whilst Winlaton (who have won Division 1 of the Tyneside Amateur League for the last three seasons) had the best of the play, Brazil did look dangerous on the break, particularly with Egan’s pace up front. It took a deflected shot through a crowded penalty area to give the visitors the lead, but they doubled this before the break with a good goal.

At the break, Brazil’s manager moved a few players around (this was the only tactical option available with no fit substitutes) and they came out a stronger side. After conceding an early goal, the hosts had a really good passage of play and dominated the game for half an hour. Gordon Johnston was particularly influential in the middle of the midfield.

Watson hobbled off with a knee injury and, despite his doctor’s advice (and his wife’s orders), Mark Freath decided his fractured rib wouldn’t prevent Brazil from playing with 11 men.

Iain Siddle whipped in a cross from the left, Sorbie flicked it on and Matthew Creighton timed his run well to get beyond the defence and onto the ball. The stand-in skipper volleyed it into the net from close range to give Brazil a glimmer of hope. This was the first goal Winlaton had conceded all season.

That glimmer grew to a spark when Freath scored his first goal of the season. As the cross came in from the right, he got in front of the defenders and glanced a header into the far corner.

As the game drew to a close, Winlaton used their substitutes well and went on to score two late goals and run out comfortable winners.

Creighton was man of the match.

16/08/2006
John Hampson Memorial Trophy Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell (Siddle 60), Paterson, Freath, Creighton, Haigh, Johnston, Katirai (Liddell 55).

The first midweek match of the new campaign was played on a poor surface which resulted in a fair few scrappy passages of play. After an early half-chance for Mark Freath, where, under pressure, he struck a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the post (and later found out that the challenge on him had fractured a rib), the hosts had more possession in the first half, but never looked like turning their possession into goals. The best chances fell to Brazil. Freath’s superb through ball set Gordon Johnston away with just the keeper to beat but, despite netting twice in the previous match, he didn’t look confident of scoring and shot too early, allowing the keeper to push it away. Johnston then turned provider, setting James Katirai on his way. For the second time in a matter of minutes, the keeper pulled off a one-on-one save, perhaps more easily than he should have been allowed.

Shaun Haigh and Ewan Paterson both played well in their first games of the season. Paterson in particular had a very good match in his 100^th appearance for Brazil. He becomes only the second player to reach this landmark.

Iain Siddle made a promising debut in the second half. Brazil defended well throughout and it took a freak goal to beat them. A deep cross from Lindisfarne’s right back was sliced and looped and dipped into the top corner, giving Lee Wilkinson no chance.

The easily recognisable Matthew Creighton was man of the match.

12/08/2006
John Hampson Memorial Trophy Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Drozdowicz, Freath, Creighton, Johnston, Liddell, Katirai.

With the first match of the new campaign in the middle of holiday season, Brazil required the services of three new players in order to get 11 men on the pitch. The new signings, Gordon Johnston, Henry Liddell and Adam Drozdowicz, all aged 18, added some welcome youth to the side.

After Brazil’s long, long journey to Bellingham, the home team understandably started brighter and enjoyed a high proportion of the early possession. A superb last-ditch tackle by Dave Churchley prevented an early goal scoring opportunity for Bellingham. Two more good chances came and went as Churchley and Mark Kennedy both cleared off the line. The home side finally made their domination pay as they took a two-goal lead.

Brazil fought back with Drozdowicz, Liddell and James Katirai all hitting long range shots on target. Brazil’s best chance of the half came from a good passing move through the midfield culminating in Johnston laying the ball off for Liddell after some great skill in the box. Unfortunately, Liddell sliced his shot wide of the post.

At half time, Brazil shuffled a couple of players around with Johnston and Drozdowicz swapping positions. This seemed to have an immediate impact as Johnston got onto the end of Lee Wilkinson’s long clearance and buried the ball past the Bellingham keeper. A well-worked equaliser followed not long after, as Liddell’s cross-field ball was brought down finished clinically by Johnston.

Katirai had a good chance to give the visitors the lead saved. A couple of fantastic saves by Wilkinson kept Brazil in the game before the first division team finally scored the decisive goal against their second division opposition.

Churchley picked up the first man of the match award of the season.