05/02/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Mitchell, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Harrison, Paterson, Freath, Haigh, Bull, Goodliff.

Brazil’s excellent 2005 continued with a resounding victory over P&G. A small boy refereed the match and, although he did not have total control over the game, he will develop into a well respected man if he keeps at it. As the rain eased off, it turned into a sunny afternoon which, despite the sticky surface, allowed both sides to try to play good, attractive football. A record crowd cheered and jeered as Brazil took the lead in comical circumstances. P&G’s centre back ignored a loud, clear call from his goalkeeper and sliced Shaun Haigh’s cross-shot into his own net. Haigh, of course, claimed the credit for the goal.

Half time arrived with the hosts still a goal to the good. The performance to this point had been excellent at times and patchy at others but this inconsistency was to change after the break as Brazil were superb throughout.

With about 20 minutes remaining Les Goodliff really seemed to come to life and the link-up play up front, with Matty Bull, made the manager proud. The two of them were running and working hard and passing to each other, rather than running down a dead end street as has sometimes been the case in the past.

A terrible error at a corner allowed P&G to equalise but Brazil did not crumble, as the visitors were hoping for, instead they came back stronger and dominated more than before. After Goodliff had put them back in front with his first goal of the season, Brazil were confident that they could defend their lead all day and all of the night (or at least see out the remainder of the match). Goodliff put the result beyond doubt however, when he stormed forward and blasted the ball into the top corner. Bull also managed to get on the scoresheet to complete the rout as he converted a penalty earned when he was cynically up-ended in the box as he got on the end of Haigh’s delightful through ball.

Lee Wilkinson was the man of the match, just getting the nod ahead of Bull and Dave Churchley.