19th October 2002
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Paterson, Churchley, M McClure, Haigh, G Clark (Davison 75), Toms (Toward 45), P Clark, Belcher (Harrison 65), Thompson, Goodliff.

Kick-off was delayed for 20 minutes as the Killingworth team waited for their lost players to turn up. This disruption threw Brazil’s match preparations into disarray. Having won their previous three games, Brazil were looking to build on this and gain their first competitive victory on their Winlaton-based home ground.

The pitch was in very good condition, despite the recent heavy rain, and Brazil started off playing their flowing passing game. It didn’t take long for Brazil to take the lead. Graeme Clark latched onto a wonderful through ball and never looked like missing as he coolly slotted the ball past the Killingworth keeper. Brazil continued to dominate and created several more good chances, mainly from corners. Three times Killingworth’s goalkeeper had to tip the ball over from under his crossbar as Gavin Thompson swung a corner in from the Brazil left. Paul Clark had a 20 yard drive excellently saved and Les Goodliff had a few opportunities.

Killingworth’s few first half efforts were all long range shots, as Brazil held them at bay well. The bad news for Brazil was that they were forced to withdraw Steve Toms at half time, after he had been the victim of three nasty fouls by Killingworth’s giant number 2.

Brazil, playing against the wind, sun and slope, found it much harder after the interval. Killingworth were using the elements to their advantage by playing long balls for their quick strikers to chase. Just as it seemed Brazil had started to cope with this tactic, the crucial goal was conceded on 60 minutes. Five minutes later, Brazil were 3-1 down. Player-manager Paul Belcher (who was named man of the match) sacrificed himself for a second striker as Brazil didn’t give up and went in search of a comeback.

The rest of the game was fairy even but with Brazil having the better of the goal-scoring opportunities. Goodliff had a couple more chances but again Brazil came closest from corners. Chris Toward headed wide a P Clark corner. From the next corner Dave Churchley managed to leap above the giant number 2 to head towards the far post but Mark Harrison guided it just wide. In the dying seconds, Ewan Paterson’s scrambled shot bounced just the wrong side of the Killingworth post.

Although this was a backward step for the improving Brazil side, it showed that they have come a long way since the start of the season. Brazil seemed to have lost the bite of the last few matches but they still managed to play some good football and create a decent number of chances. Even after the demoralising effect of conceding three goals in five minutes Brazil didn’t fold and came out as the stronger side.