12/04/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Haigh, Belcher, Toms, M McClure, Mitchell, Robinson.

Brazil struggled to field a side and could only manage to get 10 men. Tom Mitchell made his comeback after last playing for Brazil three seasons ago. A last minute change of kits was required, as Blyth, who arrived late, had only brought their yellow away kit. The referee failed to turn up but the match was played anyway. Although Blyth were the better team and Brazil were far from their best, the home side did have some good moments with some short passing around the visitors but there was little support for Steve Robinson up front. Brazil did however come close to opening the scoring after 20 minutes when Mike McClure’s curling shot from the edge area beat the keeper only to come back off the post. Steve Toms blasted the rebound wide. A couple of minutes later, with luck on their side, Blyth took the lead. Shaun Haigh tried to avert the danger by passing back to Al Andrew. Despite a bobble off the hard surface, Brazil’s keeper managed to kick the ball but it went straight to Blyth’s attacking midfielder who headed into the empty net from 25 yards. The same player had completed his hat trick by half time and Blyth led 3-0 at the break.

In the second half Brazil kept playing their short passes, even in defence, and were rewarded for their perseverance when they pulled a goal back. Toms flicked on Haigh’s long throw and Paul Belcher, running in at the back post, smashed the ball through the keeper’s legs. Haigh and Gary Davison were trying to get forward as Brazil had no natural width but both were required defensively as well. Mitchell had a chance to bring Brazil back into the game in a situation similar to the game’s opening goal but he was a lot further out and his first time shot was wide of the target. Blyth’s goal scorer added two more to his tally to put his side 5-1 up and the result beyond doubt. Robinson’s perfectly timed run beat the offside trap but he couldn’t break his duck for the season as he shot over the crossbar. Dave Churchley just beat Mark Kennedy, his centre back partner, to the man of the match award in the last competitive match of the season (assuming this fixture does not need to be replayed with a referee).

22/03/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Barlow, Davison, Churchley, M McClure, Charge, Woods, Toms, Belcher, Haigh, Robinson, R McClure. Subs not used: Slack.

With a record number of absentees and a flat match ball Brazil were certainly not the favourites to win this match, despite feeling aggrieved to have narrowly lost to The Bush with a weakened side in the second round of the NFA Minor Cup. The Bush, as expected, dominated the match. Brazil were kept inside their own half for virtually the whole of the first half. Although The Bush had lots of possession and some quick forwards they did not create too many clear scoring opportunities. This was partly due to some good defending and partly due to The Bush’s poor final passes. Brazil’s first moment of respite came when an excellent long pass by Ricky McClure resulted in a Brazil corner. R McClure and Dave Churchley both checked their runs, as the corner was miss-hit, but Churchley’s call was ignored and Brazil were unable to get a shot away.

The pressure continued at the other end and The Bush came extremely close to scoring after 30 minutes. Pete Barlow’s save rebounded to a Bush striker whose follow-up shots were blocked on the line by first Anand Charge and then Churchley. Churchley then completed the clearance after having to make a tackle on the line. Brazil could have snatched an undeserved lead before the break when Steve Toms, who had worked hard defensively as well as being Brazil’s most creative player, ran onto Shaun Haigh’s long throw. His shot, on his left foot, was just wide of the near post. Brazil’s only other shot of the half was 25-yard drive by Paul Belcher, following a short free kick by Churchley. The shot was well struck but blocked by a charging defender.

The second half brought more of the same except that some of the Brazil players were beginning to tire and The Bush were pushing more men forward in an attempt to score the crucial goal. More good Brazil defending and goalkeeping kept The Bush at bay until the 70th minute when a weak clearance was picked up just outside the area and the ball was driven into the bottom corner of the goal. More chances followed but the score remained at 1-0 as Mike McClure made an excellent saving tackle, Barlow pulled off a couple of good saves and the far post kept out a wickedly curling effort.

The missed chances seemed to demoralise The Bush and, for the last ten minutes, Brazil came back into the game. Haigh started battling for the ball and using the space he had on the left flank to attack The Bush. The added pressure by Brazil came to nothing though, as the only shot on target was a weak effort by R McClure who volleyed a difficult ball as it came over his shoulder. Churchley had to get back and make a strong saving challenge as most of the Brazil team stopped, expecting The Bush to make a substitution, when the ball was actually in play. In the last minute, Belcher’s neat through ball almost gave Steve Robinson an unlikely chance to rescue a point for Brazil, but he was beaten to the ball by a defender. Steve Toms finally got a man of the match award, after having played excellently throughout the second half of the season.

08/03/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, M McClure (Bancroft 75), Kennedy, Paterson
(Slack 65), Toms, Belcher (Woods 65), Haigh, Gavan, Harrison.

This was the replay of the fixture abandoned at 2-2 in November, when Tim Lambert seriously broke his ankle. This game began the way the original did with Saints putting Brazil under some early pressure. Brazil, playing with a high defensive line, were happy to allow Saints’ strikers to stray offside almost every time the ball was played over the top. As Brazil’s midfield caught up with the pace of the game, Saints’ creative duo in the middle became a lot less effective and Brazil started to build some attacks of their own. The opening goal was still against the run of play, however. Steve Toms played a one-two with Paul Belcher, who was playing a more defensive role than usual, before pushing a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Shaun Haigh. Toms ran on for the return pass but Haigh’s pace had taken him clear of the Saints’ full back and he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper from a tight angle to put Brazil ahead.

Saints, who are joint top of the league and seeking promotion, responded
well and forced a couple of saves from Al Andrew. On the one occasion it looked like Andrew was beaten, Gary Davison was on hand to clear off the line. Saints’ strikers, particularly the little number nine, continued to get caught in the offside trap and when they escaped it Dave Churchley had enough pace to clear the danger. Mark Kennedy appeared to be enjoying the extra freedom he found playing at full back and combined well with Haigh down Brazil’s left flank. Brazil were starting to feel like they could contain Saints and could have doubled their advantage. Mark Harrison got clear of the defence but was chopped down from behind just outside the penalty area. Belcher’s free kick was on target but didn’t have the power or direction to beat the keeper. A couple of minutes later, Toms, who had an excellent first half, made a superb run through the defence to get onto a cross field pass but couldn’t control his shot with his left foot and it sailed high over the crossbar.

Saints found their way back into the match 10 minutes before half time. The left winger got behind the defence and pulled a low cross back across the face of the goal. Mike McClure had no choice but to try to intercept it but he ended up toe-poking it into his own goal. A foul on Haigh gave McClure a chance to redeem himself. Belcher dummied to shoot but squared it to McClure but the young Irishman couldn’t keep his first time shot down. The scores were level at the break.

Saints’ half time introduction of their player-manager up front turned the game in their favour. They dominated more than they had in the first half as some of the Brazil players started to tire. Andrew was called on to make a good one-on-one save before Saints did take the lead, 15 minutes into the second half. A good run off the ball and a neat finish by the player-manager put the home side ahead for the first time. Saints expected to run away with game after taking the lead but this didn’t happen. This perhaps shows how
much Brazil have improved as a team over the course of the season. The defence continued to hold out and the introduction of the substitutes helped to add more energy to the midfield. Tom Woods, making his Brazil debut, worked hard in the middle and put himself about. Peter Slack wasn’t involved as much but when he got the ball at his feet he showed some nice tricks go past his opponents. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Saints’ player-manager scored again. He managed to get goal side of the defender at the back post as a deep cross came in from Brazil’s left. The finish was a tidy first time volley.

Alan Bancroft, Brazil’s second debutant of the afternoon, made an explosive start to his Brazil career as he crashed through a Saints player in making a challenge. Having clearly made a connection with the ball, the referee, who was amongst the best Brazil have had this season, did not blow for a foul which enraged both the Saints players and supporters. Brazil were beaten though and Saints pushed forward looking to improve their goal difference. Andrew made a second good one-on-one save, Slack cleared off the line at the back post from a corner and Churchley blocked a volleyed shot from close range. A rare counter attack by Brazil saw Slack run inside Harrison and between the defenders but Harrison’s tired back-heeled pass was behind him and straight to the defender. Saints still wanted more goals and their player-manager, on a hat trick, ran at the Brazil defence turning one way and then the other. Churchley, who was man of the match, kept up with him and never gave him the space he required to get a shot away so when he did shoot Churchley blocked it.

With just two league matches remaining this season Brazil are looking to get
some supporters along to watch, particularly for the away tie against The
Bush Wallsend, on 22nd March.

22/02/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Charge, Hinks, M McClure, P Clark, Haigh, Paterson, Harrison.

Saints, unbeaten all season and hot favourites for promotion, kept Brazil pushed back deep in their own half in the early stages. Despite the pressure, Brazil held firm at the back and Saints were struggling to get any clear shooting opportunities. After 15 minutes, Brazil broke away. A slick passing move involving Paul Clark, Mike McClure and Ewan Paterson resulted in a through ball by Clark. Saints’ keeper ran out to clear but, under pressure from Mark Harrison, he completely missed the ball. Harrison followed it up to tap into the empty net. Saints continued to dominate possession and brought a good save out Al Andrew. Anand Charge followed up quicker than the forwards and managed to clear. On the half-hour mark, McClure played a through ball for Harrison to chase. The keeper got there first but Harrison slid in, using his lankiness to his advantage, and dislodged the ball from his hands. For the second time in the match, Harrison tapped the ball into an empty net. Five minutes later, Saints’ keeper redeemed himself slightly as he made a good save from McClure’s free kick. Some good defending by Brazil, including Dave Churchley charging down a shot from 12 yards, kept the score at 2-0 to the home side at the interval.

The pattern of the game continued as the second half got underway. Saints were constantly putting Brazil’s back-line under pressure but Brazil’s defenders were playing well with both Churchley and Mark Kennedy dominant in the air. Just as it appeared that Brazil might pull off an unlikely upset, disaster struck. A low cross, too close to the goal to be of any real danger, somehow squirmed under the keeper to present Saints’ striker with the easiest tap in of the game. Saints continued to create chances. A shot came back off the post and Churchley beat the striker to the ball to clear. Andrew, diving to his left, made an excellent save. From here Saints expected to complete their comeback but Brazil rallied and managed to regain their two-goal advantage. Harrison was sent clear, finally beating the offside trap, but just before he was allowed to complete his hat trick he was hacked down viciously from behind. McClure calmly slotted home the penalty but the offending defender somehow managed to remain on the pitch.

This was probably the turning point of the match. Had Saints been down to ten men Brazil would surely have been able to hang on to their lead for the last half-hour. As it was, it still took a severe error for Saints to be able to reduce the deficit. This time it was the referee’s mistake. Saints’ left winger was shepherded towards the goal line and the ball was clearly a foot over before he put the cross in. A couple of the Brazil players were also at fault for stopping before the whistle which gifted Saints their second easy tap in. The equaliser was a well worked goal – the type you would expect from a side full of confidence at the top of the league. Brazil then had a couple of half chances to retake the lead. Harrison and Paterson both sliced their shots well wide of the target though. With ten minutes remaining, Saints took the lead for the first time and again it was a freak goal. An inswinging corner swung more than expected and dropped into the goal between the keeper and the defender on the back post. Clark came close to snatching a point for Brazil but his opportunist stab from the edge of the box was just wide. Just to rub salt into Brazil’s wounds, Saints scored another tap in when their captain lost his marker at a corner in injury time.

Jon Hinks made probably his last ever appearance for Brazil, as he is leaving Newcastle, and Andrew was man of the match.

08/02/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Kennedy, Churchley, Davison, Paterson, Toms, M McClure (Gavan 70), Belcher (Hinks 60), Haigh, Harrison, R McClure

Brazil were trying out an experimental formation which resulted in a lot of confusion throughout the team as to who should be marking who. Brazil’s tactics did, however, result in a very open match in midfield, with both sides looking dangerous when they had the ball but unable to create many clear scoring opportunities. Once the game had settled into a rhythm, Brazil dominated possession and Wardley tried to attack on the break. These attacks were very unproductive though due to solid performances from Gary Davison, Mark Kennedy and Dave Churchley in the Brazil defence. Wardley were restricted to just two efforts in the first half, both from 30 yards, and Al Andrew only had to stoop down and pick up the ball. On the one occasion it looked like Wardley had got beyond Brazil’s back line, Churchley prevented a shot with an excellently timed sliding tackle. The referee rightly dismissed the penalty appeals, although they may have stuck in his mind.

At the other end, despite not creating a lot of chances, Brazil could have taken the lead. A long range shot from Ricky McClure left the goalkeeper stranded but curled just inches wide of the far post. Mike McClure’s 25-yard drive was dragged wide but he had no other option but to shoot. An intelligent run to the near post by Ewan Paterson, followed by good vision and a good pass, set up the best chance of the half for Paul Belcher. His shot was saved by the Wardley keeper and the score sheet remained blank at the break.

The second half got off to a controversial start when the referee, from the halfway line, awarded a penalty to Wardley after Kennedy’s excellent tackle. Andrew was unlucky not to stop it having managed to get a hand to it after initially heading the wrong way. This turned out to be Wardley’s only shot of the whole second half. Brazil continued to dominate the game after this but still struggled to get any decent scoring chances. Steve Toms had an excellent game in the centre of the midfield and was involved in virtually all of Brazil’s moves. Brazil could have equalised when Mark Harrison burst through and struck the post from a tight angle. The rebound fell kindly to Belcher, with the keeper nowhere, but his shot was straight at one of the defenders that had gone back onto the line. A few minutes later, R McClure’s deflected free kick almost sneaked in after wrong-footing the goalkeeper.

M McClure, feeling the effects of his illness, was cautioned for a lazy handball and was then replaced by the lively Andrew Gavan. Kennedy, probably still upset from the penalty incident, was again involved in more controversy as he reacted angrily to a late challenge. The Wardley player who had committed the foul jumped to his feet and grabbed Kennedy by the throat. Kennedy had a look of hatred in his eyes but Churchley performed his captain’s task and diffused the situation by dragging Kennedy away before he could get himself sent off. Surprisingly, considering that M McClure had already been booked for an innocuous handball, neither the late challenge nor the throat grab were punished.

Gavan’s 20-yard effort required a good diving save to earn all three points for Wardley. Harrison’s work rate was rewarded with the man of the match award.

25/01/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Haigh, G Clark (Charge 65), M McClure, Toms, Belcher (Hinks 55), R McClure (Harrison 60), Goodliff.

Killingworth’s fourth choice pitch required a lot of pre-match work to get it into a playable state after their three preferred pitches had been ruled out as they were all waterlogged. Brazil started as the brighter team but Killingworth soon took control. Whilst Killingworth were enjoying the vast majority of the possession, they were unable to provide any clear chances from open play. Their final ball was poor and, whenever they played the ball over the top, Dave Churchley had the pace to clear up the danger. Set pieces, however, were a different matter. Every Killingworth player in the box was taller than his marker and it was inevitable that this height advantage would pay off at some point. It took 20 minutes. A deep cross was met unopposed and Killingworth took the lead from close range. Five minutes later, a corner from the right was powerfully headed into the roof of the net by Killingworth’s centre back, who had managed to get in front of his marker. Ten minutes before half time, Killingworth scored again and put the result virtually beyond doubt. Again it was a deep cross. Again the Brazil marker lost his man and again Killingworth scored from close range.

Despite not seeing much of the ball in the first half, Brazil did manage to create a couple of opportunities. A free kick from Paul Belcher, who will be suspended for seven weeks if his appeal against last week’s dismissal is unsuccessful, forced a good save from Killingworth’s diminutive keeper. A tricky run and shot from Ricky McClure brought another save out of the keeper and Les Goodliff would have scored had his shot, which had beaten the keeper, not got stuck in a puddle. The highlight of the first half came just before the break. Graeme Clark took a short corner to Mike McClure, who gave it back to him. Clark’s left footed cross was headed away by a Killingworth defender but only to just outside the box, where Churchley was waiting. He caught the volley sweetly on his left foot. The keeper was nowhere but the defender on the post managed to get his toe to it and poke the ball round the post for a corner.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first except that Brazil improved their marking and challenging when defending corners. Killingworth did manage to break through on a couple of occasions but every time shot straight at Al Andrew. Andrew did extremely well in holding onto the shot each time, and was named as man of the match. Mark Kennedy stayed strong and dealt well with Killingworth’s giant striker, whilst the rest of Brazil’s defenders were never really troubled. Despite Killingworth’s domination of the possession they weren’t looking like extending the lead.

The Brazil substitutions, midway through the second half, seemed to inspire Brazil and they began to gain more possession themselves. Anand Charge went on a weaving run and, after beating two men, was tripped by a third. The resulting free kick, from fairly wide on the left, was sent curling over the keeper, who was off his line, and into the top right corner by Mark Harrison. Brazil took heart from this and continued to attack. With ten minutes remaining, Gary Davison’s low first time cross from the right was flicked over a defender by Shaun Haigh and Goodliff smashed his volley into the roof of the net to reduce Brazil’s deficit to just one goal. Unfortunately, Brazil couldn’t keep their momentum going and the game petered out.

14/12/2002
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Paterson, Churchley, Kennedy, Davison, G Clark, M McClure, P Clark, Belcher (Harrison 75), Hinks (Haigh 60), R McClure.

Going into the match, Brazil were confident of coming away with a victory having been extremely unlucky not to have won the previous meeting with South Beach. A slow start by both teams, on an extremely slippery muddy surface, gradually became almost constant South Beach pressure. South Beach opened the scoring after 15 minutes and didn’t take long to double their advantage, with a nice lob, as their attackers outnumbered Brazil’s defenders. The pace of South Beach’s attacking was impressive but, generally, Brazil’s defence managed admirably. Brazil had no clear-cut chances in the first half. Their best efforts all came from the McClure brothers. Ricky McClure’s 20 yard left-footed shot was stopped, almost casually, by the feet of the South Beach keeper. A Paul Belcher free-kick was headed wide by R McClure and Mike McClure sliced his long range volley well wide, much to his brother’s dismay.

The second half continued in the same vein, with South Beach creating all the chances. They scored two more quick goals and it could have been more, if it wasn’t for some resolute defending. South Beach’s attackers outnumbered Brazil’s defence on numerous occasions. On one such occasion, they had two strikers through on goal but Dave Churchley somehow managed to get back and make an excellent saving tackle.

The introduction of Brazil’s substitutes gave them more urgency and determination and they started to trouble South Beach’s defence a little. A strong run from Shaun Haigh presented Belcher with an excellent chance from close range but he miss-hit his shot and it was cleared by a defender as it trickled towards the goal. Brazil did eventually score and it was the pick of the goals. R McClure chipped delightfully into the top corner from 25 yards, to further extend his lead at the top of Brazil’s goal scorer charts and earn himself a man of the match award. The darkness descended with quarter of an hour left to play but no side had any clear chances in this time, or if they did I couldn’t see them.

IJLW Brazil Christmas Night Out

IJLW Brazil
Churchley, Belcher, R McClure, M McClure, Kennedy, Paterson, Harrison.

The night began, obviously, in The Northumberland Hussar, as Brazil continue to support their sponsor. The turnout was much like the afternoon’s performance – disappointing and with a lot of players not making the effort. Mark Harrison joined the action late for the second time that day but at least he brought a few guests to boost the numbers. Although the occasion was not as grand as had been planned, those that attended did enjoy themselves.