04/09/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Haigh, Bowman, Creighton, Mitchell, McGurk, Harrison.
With their squad gutted, mainly due to holidays, Brazil fielded three debutants (Ste McGurk, Mike Harrison and Mike Bowman) and still only had ten men. Playing a 4-4-1 formation, the hosts first priority was to try to contain Jesmond, and not give them many chances. This was achieved superbly, with the whole team working hard for each other, as the visitors didn’t have a shot on goal until the 40th minute. A careless, unneccesary challenge gave the referee no alternative but to award a penalty. Jesmond’s tall Yugoslavian striker hit the back of the net to give his side an undeserved lead going into the break. Before this, Brazil had come close to scoring on several occasions. Shaun Haigh’s long range effort was tipped over by the keeper. McGurk and Matthew Creighton both saw free kicks go just wide of the far post. Gary Davison’s fierce drive was deflected wide by a defender’s ankle. Dave Churchley connected with McGurk’s corner but, at full stretch, couldn’t keep his volley down. The closest of all, however, was the conclusion of an excellent, quick, fluent, passing counter attack. Tom Mitchell’s cross from the right was headed against his own crossbar, with the keeper beaten, by one of the Jesmond centre backs.
The second half saw more of the same, with Brazil creating chances and defending excellently. Harrison (not to be confused with the club’s lanky secretary of a similar name) impressed in the difficult lone-striker role and didn’t allow Jesmond’s defenders any time on the ball. Brazil had numerous corners but couldn’t make the pressure tell. As the game went on, the ten men tired and Jesmond, with a full compliment on the pitch, used their substitutes to good effect. The game got stretched and James Katirai was called into making a couple of saves. A superb run and left-footed shot by Mark Kennedy was just tipped over the bar but by now it was the visitors that looked the more likely to score. An excellent 90th minute save by Katirai kept the score to one, when he was faced by two strikers. Creighton’s performance in the centre of the park earned him his first man of the match award for Brazil.
Other news:
Part time Brazil player, Andy Greenwood is leaving Newcastle in less than a fortnight to start a new life in Preston. If you would like to see him off, wish him well or just get drunk with his friends then attend his wake next Saturday night (September 11th). Contact Gary Davison for details.
Maximo Park, the excellent band fronted by Brazil’s Paul Smith, have a couple of gigs coming up in Newcastle. They will be playing Exhibition Park on Saturday, September 11th and The Head Of Steam on Monday, September 13th. I personally recommend that you try to get along to see them.