23/09/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Paterson, Churchley, Walker, Liddell, Cooper (Freath 55), Creighton, Honeywood, Haigh, McGowan, Katirai.

A much-improved Brazil performance saw the hosts match their visitors for large parts of the game. In the first half in particular, Brazil worked hard at the things they had talked about. James Cooper impressed on his debut and Henry Liddell continued his excellent start to the season but it was promotion favourites Forest Hall that had the better chances. Brazil required some solid defending, a couple of fine saves by Lee Wilkinson and a goal line clearance onto the underside of the bar and away by Shaun Haigh to keep the visitors at bay. Jonny McGowan’s return to action after a long injury lay off almost gave Brazil the lead going into the half time break. After some good work down the left, the ball was played into the box where James Katirai squeezed it through to McGowan. Had he not been off balance he almost certainly would have scored but as it was he couldn’t get enough power into his shot to beat the keeper.

Immediately after the break, Katirai created himself the best chance of the match. Chasing down a back pass, he managed to tackle the keeper. As he scuffed his shot with the outside of his right foot, it looked like the chance had gone but he battled with two defenders to gain another opportunity. This time his shot was cleanly struck but just wide of the post. With only one substitute, Brazil suffered as the team tired in the second half and two quick goals around the hour mark killed off the game. Two more goals flattered the visitors who had been made to work extremely hard for their victory.

Dave Churchley was man of the match.