25/10/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, M McClure, Haigh, Toward (Slack 65), Belcher, Toms, Clark, McGowan, Paterson.

Brazil started very sloppily and could easily have been behind in the opening minutes of the match. Dave Churchley blocked a shot from inside the area and then made an excellent goal-line clearance moments later to keep the scores level. After these early scares, Brazil began to get into the game. The diminutive Ewan Paterson was playing as a lone striker for Brazil but still managed to cause problems for the Westerhope defence with some clever runs.

The home side had a lot of pace up front and you could sense the frustration growing as Brazil’s defence was coping well. The centre of the pitch was fairly congested but Brazil found a lot of space for Shaun Haigh and Jonny McGowan to attack down the left flank. Paul Clark, making his first appearance of the season, played competitively in the middle of the pitch.

Brazil’s defending at corners was excellent. This has been a weakness in the past but not during this match. Churchley, Mike McClure, Chris Toward and Steve Toms all made headed clearances and, on the one occasion Westerhope won the header, Gary Davison cleared off the line at the back post.

Brazil were creating chances too. Paul Belcher’s chipped free kick was just out of the reach of McGowan. Paterson also put McGowan through but the goalkeeper narrowed the angle well and smothered the chance. Haigh’s long throw-in resulted in Toward being shoved in the back and Brazil were awarded a penalty. McClure stepped up and dispatched it perfectly into the top right hand corner to give Brazil the lead. Brazil could’ve gone further ahead before the break when Paterson skilfully turned and slid the ball across the face of the goal, off balance and left-footed. The keeper was stranded and it looked as though Toward couldn’t miss until the fullback made a sliding block just inside the post.

The second half was scrappier as the young Westerhope side were becoming ever more annoyed at the score, at themselves and at the referee. The official seemed to have no control on the game and allowed the home side to continually swear at and abuse him loud enough to be heard on the golf course. These frustrations then turned into fouls and a few scuffles evolved around the pitch.

There was some football played too, however. With the wind against them, Brazil defended deeper and, whilst this helped to combat Westerhope’s pace, it meant that they caused much less of a threat going forward. There were chances to extend the lead, though. Clark’s corner from the right was met by a great run from Churchley. His header was powerful and downwards but the wrong the wrong side of the post. Peter Slack, playing up front when he came on off the bench, failed to realise how much time he had after the keeper had fumbled a headed back pass. He did well to get to the ball but rushed his shot and it went across the face of the unguarded goal.

Paterson and Churchley both made good sliding blocks and Al Andrew came out well to make a fine one-on-one save but all this was in vain as Westerhope broke quickly to score two late goals and snatch victory. The hosts were reduced to ten men in the closing stages of the game as their full back kicked Toms in retaliation to a late tackle. McGowan was man of the match.

With Newcastle Rutherford Reserves dropping out of the league, Brazil now have to wait a fortnight, when they play host to Killingworth, before they can attempt to climb off the bottom of the table.