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).