Category Archives: Match Reports

Gateshead Three Tuns 1 – 1 IJLW Brazil

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18/09/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Paterson, Creighton, McCartney, Katirai, Thompson.

Brazil’s almost full strength squad of 15 was depleted to 10 players in just a couple of hours on the morning of the match, leaving their confident manager a little less sure of his team’s chances. Gateshead lived up to expectations in that they were a very poor side. The only times they looked threatening were when Brazil had committed men forward to support Chris Thompson so Gateshead could considerably outnumber Brazil as they attacked.

The best chances of the first half all fell to Brazil, although none of them were clear opportunities. Chris McCartney, Bryan Walker, Matthew Creighton and Ewan Paterson all had decent efforts but it was the home side that went in ahead at the break. Their goal coming on 40 minutes with the scorer in an offside position as the ball was played through to him.

In the second half, Brazil battled well as they played into the strong wind. They allowed Gateshead to dominate the possession and then tried to make quick counter attacks. Even with their extra man and Brazil’s weary legs, the hosts couldn’t get close to extending their lead and Brazil were eventually rewarded for their perseverance. McCartney capped his debut with a well taken goal following a superb break and one-two with Thompson.

Brazil could’ve taken the lead as they pressed forward but Paterson hit the post with a well struck drive from the right shortly before McCartney headed Paterson’s cross just wide. Brazil’s fullbacks, Shaun Haigh and Gary Davison remained calm even when trying mark two men, as Gateshead sought a late winner. They were denied by a couple of timely challenges by Dave Churchley and three great saves from Lee Wilkinson, which contributed to him being named man of the match. Special mention must also go to James Katirai who was forced to play out of position on the left wing but still managed to play some lovely passes and win some important free kicks. It is hoped that this hard-earned point will serve as the springboard to kickstart Brazil’s season. Against better opposition, however, it is almost certain that Brazil will need at least eleven men to be able to compete.

Killingworth Social YPC 3 – 0 IJLW Brazil

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11/09/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Mitchell, Paterson, Greenwood, Slack, Harrison, Bull. Subs not used: Hinks.

Despite the strong wind, it was very hot out on the pitch. Social had most of the early possession but Brazil defended well and didn’t allow the hosts any clear shooting opportunities. Most of Brazil’s chances in the first half were limited to quick breaks. Three times Peter Slack found some space behind the right back; twice he was unfairly stopped by the linesman’s flag and the other time he forced a save from the keeper. The linesman seemed to be Social’s most effective defender whenever the ball was played over the top for Matty Bull or Mike Harrison. Andy Greenwood had a couple of long range shots but failed to hit the target.

Midway through the first half, Social took the lead when slack marking at a corner gifted their tall striker a free header. Brazil fought back and Bull’s opportunistic long range attempted lob appeared to be going in until it was held up in the wind, allowing the keeper to make a save. At the interval Brazil were confident that they could still get something out of the game.

The game got stretched in the second half with Brazil’s tiring players defending too deep, despite the efforts of their skipper, Davy Churchley, to bring the line up. The visitors seemed to lack the urgency required to get back into the match and allowed Social to dominate proceedings. Churchley and, man of the match, Bryan Walker defended solidly but were helpless to prevent Social extending their lead.

All of Brazil’s second half chances fell to Bull. Several efforts from distance were just off target and the keeper pulled off a couple of excellent saves. Brazil’s best chance came from a defensive corner. The cross was overhit and Churchley carried the ball out towards the right wing. He looked up and saw Greenwood in acres of space and gave him the ball. Bull’s excellent run met Greenwood’s inch-perfect pass but his first touch took the ball wide and a defender recoverd to make a clumsy challenge, which he got away with.

With time running out and the result beyond doubt, Social’s star player broke from midfield and thought he was going to get a goal but he hadn’t reckoned with Brazil’s captain. Churchley sprinted across the pitch and made a superbly timed, strong sliding tackle and even came away with the ball. Brazil should have had a late penalty for a blatent push in Harrison’s back at a corner but Social’s manager inveigled the referee as he shouted from the touchline and nothing was given.

IJLW Brazil 0 – 1 West Jesmond

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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.

IJLW Brazil 0 – 1 Lindisfarne Athletic

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18/08/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Cup Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Paterson, Hinks, Creighton (Luper 55), Haigh, Slack (Freath 45), Ho (Katirai 65).

The game was reduced to 35 minutes each way as Lindisfarne turned up half an hour after the match was scheduled to start. The length of the grass and the occasional rain and wind made it difficult to play proper football but that’s exactly what both teams were trying to do. Brazil’s midfield started off superbly, with all four of them passing the ball well. Brazil were making good progress up both flanks and it was a cross from fullback Gary Davison that almost put the hosts ahead. The keeper was almost caught napping as the ball sailed over him towards the goal but he managed to back-pedal desperately and tip it onto the crossbar. As the thunder and lightning got closer, the wind got up a bit and gave Lindisfarne the advantage. They began to dominate possession and tried to get the ball up to their lively number 10. Brazil have now fielded the same back four in the three of the last four matches and they are a consistent and organised unit. They allowed the visiting strikers very little in terms of goalscoring chances, particularly with Lee Wilkinson coming off his line quickly to snaffle the balls played over the top.

Some slack marking at the back post allowed Lindisfarne to snatch a lead midway through the first half, as a lovely curling free kick was played into the box. Moments later there was almost an action replay but this time the header rebounded off the upright and Dave Churchley was on hand to clear the danger. Though Lindisfarne were looking vulnerable to the counter attack, the lack of any natural forwards in Brazil’s squad told and time after time the danger petered out.

The second period saw Brazil looking much more dominant but however much the pack was shuffled (six players played up front for Brazil at one time or another) the elusive goal wouldn’t come. The introduction of Mark Freath, early in the second half, rewrote the Brazil record books as he became the second oldest man to ever represent the club and the oldest to play in a competitive fixture. He took the record away from Peter Slack, who he replaced (who, incidentally, had played for Lindisfarne back in his youth, over ten years ago). Freath showed some good touches and almost marked his debut with a goal but his shot was dragged just wide of the post.

Brazil produced numerous opportunities to level the score, with Jon Hinks, Ewan Paterson and Davison all putting in good crosses from the right, but they just couldn’t finish them off. Shaun Haigh saw a header rebound off the crossbar and then sent a volley wide. Churchley pounced on a loose ball to fire in a shot from forty yards but the keeper was equal to it. Wilkinson, man of the match for the second game running, almost scored a spectacular goal. His long clearance out of his hands seemed to confuse the visiting keeper who slid towards the ball but missed it and could only watch, relieved, as it missed the post by a couple of inches. The most controversial moment came inside the last ten minutes as Brazil committed more men forward and created more chances. A corner fell kindly in the area to Steve Ho who spun and hit what he thought would be the equaliser until the defender on the line kept it out with his hands. The referee, who hadn’t had the best of games, waved away the penalty appeals. Despite the defeat, Brazil can be more than satisfied with the performance, particularly as the opposition are from the division above and they have four strikers keen to stamp their mark on the season.

Ryton AFC Reserves 3 – 1 IJLW Brazil

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14/08/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Cup Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Slack (Katirai 55), Paterson, Creighton, Haigh, Harrison, Bull.

Brazil continued their excellent start to the season as they dominated the opening exchanges. For the second time already this season, Brazil took a lead very early on. This time it was new central midfielder, Matthew Creighton who got his name on the scoresheet. Peter Slack’s corner from the left was headed back across goal by Shaun Haigh and Creighton was on hand to toe-poke it into the net. After a cagey period, both sides began to create chances but it was the visitors that looked the more threatening. Matty Bull and Mark Harrison were fairly isolated up front but they had plenty of space to run into behind the Ryton defence. Slack, Haigh and Ewan Paterson played through some nice balls and Bull had several shots, although they were all from quite long range.

At the other end, Ryton were restricted well by an extremely hard working and well-organised defence and midfield, though they did manage a couple of efforts on goal. Twice Lee Wilkinson made superb saves diving to his right to keep Brazil in front. A break down Brazil’s right side forced Wilkinson to advance towards the player with the ball and a clever lob was sent towards the unguarded net. Luckily for Brazil, Dave Churchley had both the pace and sense to get back and clear the ball from under the crossbar. On the one occasion a Ryton forward beat the offside trap it was Churchley again that managed to get back to him and make a tackle before he could get a shot away. Generally, Brazil’s marking at corners was very good but a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and Ryton’s big centre back seemed to be getting his head to everything. This problem was fixed when Mark Kennedy was assigned to look after him, which he did extremely well.

In the second half the sun went in a bit but it was still far too hot and humid for a football match. Ryton were more dominant in possession than they had in the first period but Brazil were still creating the better chances. James Katirai, forced to play out of position on the right wing, made a couple of lovely passes. Bull was the beneficiary of most of the chances and seemed to be getting closer to scoring with each effort. The best was when he found himself in behind the defence with just the keeper to beat. A good save with the feet sent the ball rebounding out to Harrison whose first time shot was kept down but just the wrong side of the post. After Haigh had sent a volley flashing over the bar from Gary Davison’s right wing cross, the pattern of the game shifted in Ryton’s favour.

With about twenty minutes remaining, Brazil’s midfield tired considerably and the relative squad sizes came into play as Ryton were able to replace their weary players with fresh legs. Their centre back, who had broken Paul Belcher’s ankle in last season’s match, carried the ball from the half-way line round three or four Brazil players (who failed to make a decent challenge between them) before hitting an unstoppable shot into the corner of the goal, from the edge of the box. A couple of minutes later the same player gave the home side the lead when he moved, unmarked, into the box to meet a cross from the right. A late third goal flattered Ryton and almost guaranteed Brazil’s exit from the league cup, with one game left to play. On the positive side, Bryan Walker had an excellent game, not allowing Ryton’s tall, strong, quick striker a sniff of goal. Wilkinson’s dominance of the penalty area earned him his first man of the match of the season.

IJLW Brazil 0 – 1 Winlaton Vulcan Inn

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11/08/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Cup Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson (Katirai 45), Davison, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Paterson, Creighton (Harrison 50), Hinks, Ho, Thompson (Luper 65), Bull.
Subs not used: Kennedy, Bernstone.

With Winlaton Vulcan Inn the reigning Division 1 champions and Brazil the winners of the wooden spoon in last season’s Division 2, an away win was the expected result. The difficulty of the victory, however, was far from expected; and that is due to how well the home side performed, in what turned out to be an excellent, competitive football match.

Brazil’s defence now has a good understanding and, after a few early marking blips, they settled into a good pattern and kept Winlaton’s front men under control. Gary Davison, Dave Churchley and Bryan Walker all made a lot of timely tackles with Lee Wilkinson comfortably dealing with any high balls into the box. Matthew Creighton was asked to fill the apparently permanent hole in the centre of the midfield and his composure and confidence grew as the half went on. Neither side had any early chances although Steve Ho, making his debut on the wing, found a bit of space on the left and Matty Bull and Chris Thompson were linking up well up front, looking to feed off the intricate passes of Ewan Paterson and Jon Hinks.

Bull and his older strike partner, Thompson, both forced saves from the visiting keeper but Creighton had the best chance to break the deadlock. He ran, unmarked, onto Paterson’s low corner but completely missed the ball as he swung his foot at it. Going into the interval, Brazil, though satisfied with their performance and the scoreline, could have actually been ahead.

New goalkeeper, James Katirai was brought into the action at half time for his debut but it was not an ideal start to his Brazil career. Within five minutes, Creighton injured his shoulder and had to go off. Five minutes later, Thompson received a leg injury and also needed replacing. Before Dan Luper, also making his debut, had readied himself to come on, Ho was forced to crawl off the pitch too. This left Brazil with nine men and they began digging in with their backs to the wall. Inevitably, the defensive line dropped deeper and deeper but they managed to hold on, with Katirai making a good save diving to his left. Luper’s arrival and a formation reshuffle gave Brazil more attacking options, although they still had only ten men and no more substitutions allowed.

The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute. A cross from Winlaton’s right wing was headed in at the back post but Brazil, to their credit, battled on and didn’t look like conceding any more (thanks, in part, to Bull’s goal line clearance from a corner). In fact, they managed to force a couple of corners but, try as they might, the equalizer wouldn’t come. Despite the first defeat of the season, Brazil were very happy with the way they played and Davison celebrated his first man of the match award with gay abandon, as he collected up the net pegs. Brazil now have a struggle to get a few men fit before their next match on Saturday.

Wardley Durham Ranger 3 – 4 IJLW Brazil

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07/08/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Cup Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Mitchell (Creighton 45), Paterson, Hinks, Haigh, Smith (Thompson 60), Bull (Harrison 70).
Subs not used: Katirai.

Brazil’s 2004-05 season couldn’t have got off to a better start as they took the lead inside five minutes in the searing heat of east Gateshead. Ewan Paterson won possession in midfield and slid a well-weighted pass though to Paul Smith who despatched it inside the post to claim his first goal for Brazil. The long grass made passing difficult so both sides were finding it hard to keep hold of the ball but a superbly worked goal got Wardley back into the game.

The home side took the lead after half an hour and could have extended it further. A long ball over the top got the striker in behind the defence but Dave Churchley got back to him and slid in a well-timed challenge just as he was about to shoot. It was the visitors that were next score, with a goal from nothing. Smith chased down a back pass which the keeper, under pressure, swung at and missed leaving Smith with the easy task of placing the ball into the unguarded net. Matty Bull nearly gave Brazil a lead going into the half-time break but his powerful shot, from 35 yards out on the right-hand side of the pitch, just cleared the crossbar.

Brazil made several positional changes during the interval and brought on Matthew Creighton for his debut. With several players in unfamiliar roles, Brazil made a stuttering start to the second half and fell behind once more. As they settled, however, Brazil’s confidence started to grow. A bit more shuffling and they were right back in the game. The equaliser was the pick of the goals. Bull’s flick-volley fell perfectly into Smith’s path and the longhaired striker headed off towards goal. He nutmegged the first defender, skipped around the second and fired a shot past the keeper to complete a fine hat trick. The lively Chris Thompson came on to replace him after an hour, but Smith had already done enough to earn himself the man of the match award.

Brazil were in the ascendancy now and it didn’t take them long to go ahead for the second time in the match. Lee Wilkinson’s long, long clearance evaded all of Wardley’s defenders and Bull, who was alert to the situation, volleyed in what proved to be the winner. The final twenty-five minutes was the longest goalless period of the match but there were still chances at both ends. Jon Hinks chased down a weak back pass and managed to tackle the keeper but, from a very tight angle, his left-footed toe-poke went across the face of the goal. A great run by Mark Harrison, leaving three defenders trailing behind him, was capped with a selfless lay-off to Thompson. The young striker hit a hard first time shot that ricocheted back off the post. At the other end, Wardley came closest to equalizing when Churchley managed to get a glancing header onto a long-range shot to deflect it off target. The bounce defeated Wilkinson as he dived and the ball struck the upright. With the keeper on the ground, the forward following-in shot wide. Despite playing over five minutes of injury time, Brazil managed to hang on to their lead, meaning that they have now won two games in a row (going back to the end of last season); their best sequence for over two years.

IJLW Brazil 3 – 2 Proctor & Gamble Cobalt

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24/04/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Paterson, Hinks, Greenwood, Robinson, Smith, Bull.

Up on the hill in Winlaton, the conditions were perfect for watching football, as Brazil attracted their largest home crowd of the season. With bottom place guaranteed, Brazil still had plenty to play for: any result better than a two goal defeat would ensure that Brazil didn’t finish with the worst defensive record in the league; and a win by three or more goals would mean that Brazil didn’t have the worst goal difference in the league.

Brazil got the perfect start when skipper Dave Churchley beat the P&G captain at the toss and ensured that Brazil would enjoy the small advantage given by the bright sun, as it headed westwards in the second half. The actual match started well too, with Brazil taking the lead in the second minute. A swift passing move culminated with Steve Robinson, making the most of his free role, receiving a perfectly weighted return pass from Matty Bull before deftly lifting the ball over the keeper (who went to ground a little too quickly) with his left foot. Raucous celebrations ensued, despite exactly half of Brazil’s fans not even noticing that a goal had been scored! For the next quarter of an hour, the home side were dominant but failed to extend their lead. After that, P&G, to their credit, worked themselves back into the game, but didn’t really threaten the Brazil goal.

Brazil were defending solidly with the dependable full backs, Mark Kennedy and Gary Davison, both having very good games and the centre backs, Churchley and Bryan Walker, dealing with P&G’s two-man strike force relatively comfortably. Andy Greenwood and Jon Hinks were at the centre of most of Brazil’s moves and always made themselves available to receive a pass. Paul Smith and Ewan Paterson, whose form has been revitalised in recent weeks, were providing good support to both the attack and defence, from their positions on the flanks. When the hosts were in possession, they were bravely committing a lot of men into their attacks, as they sensed the weakness in the P&G defence. This sometimes left Brazil vulnerable to counter attacks but the defence, led by Churchley, were good enough to deal with the threat. P&G did draw level before half time though. A deflected header from a corner wrong footed Lee Wilkinson just enough for him to be unable to reach it. The defender on the line had left his post, allowing the ball to bounce gently over the line.

The turn around after the break did the visitors no favours. They were playing into the sun against a lively confident side. It was when Wilkinson had the ball in his hands that the sun played its biggest part. The young goalkeeper’s huge kicks caused immense trouble for the P&G centre backs and Bull was gambling on them missing the ball. On several occasions he was just inches from getting on the end of one before it bounced through to P&G’s keeper.

As the second half progressed it was clear to all who the better team was, despite their relative league positions. Brazil made their superiority tell when they regained the lead through a well-taken Bull penalty, following an absurd handball just inside the area. Moments later Bull could have double the advantage when he intercepted a poor goal kick. Bull was to grab a second just a couple of minutes after that when another weak goal kick forced an equally poor back pass which he latched onto and slotted past the keeper.

The Brazil goal was rarely threatened but Wilkinson was forced to back peddle quickly and tip a good attempted lob over the bar. P&G looked at their most dangerous when they had an attacking throw-in. They put a lot of bodies in the box and attempted a long throw but one of Walker and Churchley was always in the right place to head clear.

Brazil had chances to claim their targeted three-goal victory (the best was created by a low Paterson cross from the right which Hinks dummied allowing Smith to shoot from close range) but a dubious penalty gave P&G a second goal and set up a tense last ten minutes. Brazil held on for their first home win of the season, thanks in part to Churchley heading away a couple of shots and to P&G’s substitute squandering their best chance.

Andy Greenwood showed glimpses of the true talent he possesses, in the second half, and this was enough to earn him the man of the match award.

The Bush Wallsend 4 – 2 IJLW Brazil

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17/04/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Paterson, McGowan, Hinks, Harrison, Slack, Thompson, Goodliff.

It was top versus bottom at Norham Community College, with The Bush needing just a draw in order to clinch the division 2 title. Brazil made a couple of enforced changes, following their excellent midweek performance, most notably playing with just three defenders.

Neither side created any early openings although the home side did look the most likely. Brazil were defending well but did look quite stretched on several occasions. Their attacks were limited to quick breaks and long, wind-assisted, balls over the top from Lee Wilkinson. With half an hour gone, The Bush had the first meaningful shot at goal. Wilkinson, diving to his right, pushed the ball against the post and Dave Churchley was the quickest to react in the box and he scrambled it behind for a corner. The well-delivered corner was unfortunatley headed into his own goal by a Brazil player, under heavy pressure from two attackers. Brazil reacted well to going behind though, and got back into the game almost immediately. Wilkinson’s goal kick cleared The Bush’s left back allowing Ewan Paterson to run clear. His volleyed cross found Chris Thompson’s run perfectly and the young striker confidently lobbed the keeper with a header to register his first goal for Brazil.

Some good work from Peter Slack and Les Goodliff, on the left wing, allowed Jonny McGowan to break into the box. Just as he was about to shoot the ball got caught up under his feet. Slack kept up his fine run of goalscoring form in controversial fashion. His corner from the right was dropped, by the keeper, onto the shoulder of a defender and bounced over the line before being cleared by another defender. Despite the protests, the goal stood and Slack claimed it. Brazil felt that they deserved the lead but it wasn’t to last long. Just before the interval, they conceded a soft goal as Brazil’s markers in the box stood too far off their men to allow an easy finish from close range.

In the second half, to combat the threat of the wind, Brazil made a tactical change. Mark Kennedy and Gary Davison were assigned man-marking jobs on The Bush’s strikers (which they both carried out excellently) and Churchley dropped off to play as an out and out sweeper. This seemed to work well with the Brazil skipper free to clear numerous long balls.

When Brazil managed to get the ball on the ground, they played some attractive passing moves, all over the pitch, with McGowan and Jon Hinks nearly always involved somewhere. Playing into the wind though, the visitors had to concentrate on defending and trying to hit The Bush on the counter attack.

The Bush looked dangerous with every corner, as the delivery was always superb, and it was from one from the right that they regained the lead. It was headed goalwards but Davison headed off the line at the back post only for the referee to claim that it had crossed the line. The Bush players, obviously delighted, were as bemused as Brazil. Another soft goal gave The Bush the lead that looked likely to win them the match (and, with it, the league) when a quickly taken, short free kick caught the Brazil midfield napping and allowed the league’s top scorer to line up an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.

The score could have been more convincing but for several excellent saves by Wilkinson and Churchley (with his head), but it wasn’t all one way. Brazil had chances too. A long run by Mark Harrison took him to just inside the left edge of the penalty area where his heel was clipped. Being the honest player he is, he remained on his feet but lost the ball just before he could get a shot off. Goodliff’s pace easily outstripped that of the defenders, following Paterson’s neat pass down the line. As he got to the goal line, Goodliff pulled the ball back, taking the advancing keeper out of the game, but a defender got to it just ahead of Davison, who had run the entire length of the pitch to join the attack. Brazil’s last chance came when Hinks was bundled over just inches outside the area. Goodliff’s low free kick was fumbled by the keeper who managed to reclaim it just as Thompson was closing in on him. Wilkinson was the man of the match, perhaps decided by a fantastic diving save to his left from a fiercely struck volley, late on.

With Proctor & Gamble’s trip to Blyth ending in a 4-1 defeat, it’s all set up for the last match of the season (in Winlaton, on Saturday 24/04/2004) to see who will concede the most goals in the league.

IJLW Brazil 1 – 2 Killingworth Social YPC

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14/04/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
McClure, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Paterson, McGowan, Hinks, Greenwood, Slack, Thompson.

As it was an evening match, this home fixture for Brazil was switched to Social’s ground so that their floodlight facilities would be available, if needed. The playing surface was in perfect condition which made for a good game as both sides like to pass the ball around along the ground.

Social, playing in red, dominated the possession in the first half but Brazil were defending excellently throughout the team. The hosts (who were technically the away side) were passing and moving nicely but couldn’t break down the Brazil defence, as every player was taking responsibility for their man. When Brazil did gain possession they struggled to break into the attacking third of the pitch, partly because of the wind and partly because of Social’s high defensive line. Their first half chances were restricted to long shots from Andy Greenwood and Dave Churchley, which the keeper dealt with comfortably.

A clumsy challenge by Brazil’s full back gifted Social the lead from the penalty spot (which was only nine yards from goal, giving Mike McClure no chance of saving it). The one occasion a midfield runner broke unmarked into the box he met a left wing cross to give the reds a two goal lead at the break.

Brazil began to settle a couple of minutes into the second half and the majority of the game was being played around the halfway line. Greenwood, Jonny McGowan and Jon Hinks were starting to see more of the ball and Brazil were using both flanks well as they tried to build their attacks. The game opened right up when Brazil were awarded a free kick on the half way line. Bryan Walker’s ball into the box was only half-cleared as far as Greenwood. His view of goal was obscured by the big Social centre back but he managed to find Peter Slack towards the lefthand edge of the penalty area. Slack’s first touch took the ball away from a defender and he steadied himself before chipping the advancing keeper with his left foot. This was Brazil’s first goal against Social, in their fifth meeting.

Social rallied well and started to take the initiative back away from Brazil but they never really managed to break down the defence. They were all strong aerially, Walker and Mark Kennedy were always strong in the tackle and Churchley made numerous interceptions. Gary Davison managed to read an attempted nutmeg by the left winger and played an accurate pass up the line to Greenwood. A neat first touch beat his marker and then he outsprinted the defender to get round the back. Unfortunately, his attempted cross was on his weaker right foot.

Chris Thompson was running selflessly as the lone striker for Brazil and his efforts almost paid off as he finally managed to beat the offside trap. (The linesman supplied by the hosts put his flag up every time the ball went beyond the defence and the inexperienced referee blew up every time.) Thompson’s clever attempt at a lob looked goalbound until the substitute keeper managed to pull off a superb save. Slack took the resulting corner and Walker headed down to Hinks who couldn’t quite get on top of the bouncing ball. His shot just cleared the cross bar.

At the other end, McClure was growing in confidence as a goalkeeper. He dealt comfortably with everything that got beyond the defence. His handling was good, he came off his line quickly and he punched clear a couple of corners. Looking solid at the back, Brazil pushed forward in search of an equaliser. A slick passing move between Hinks and Ewan Paterson sent the little winger clear on the right. His first cross was blocked but he regained possession and pulled the ball back to Greenwood whose shot was just too high. Brazil had a freekick in the centre circle and, as Walker approached to take it, Churchley peeled off wide, away from his marker, to give him a better angle to deliver it. Walker spotted his run and picked him out perfectly. Churchley, the man of the match, headed powerfully towards the far post. The keeper was beaten but the ball bounced up and struck the crossbar. With time running out, Greenwood was pushed up front, alongside Thompson, and Brazil had another chance of an equaliser. Greenwood broke free beyond the defence and tried his luck from long range when he could perhaps have taken it closer.

Support a team mate…
Brazil striker, Paul Smith’s band is playing live at Bulletproof on Friday night (16/04/2004). They are called Maximo Park and this could be your last chance to see them before they hit the big time.