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.