7th December 2002
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Paterson, Churchley, Kennedy, Davison (Haigh 70), Belcher (Toms 50), M McClure, P Clark, Hinks (Greenwood 60), Harrison, R McClure.

The pitch was covered in puddles but, as the ball still bounced, the match went ahead but was reduced to 40 minutes per half. On a better surface it could have been a really good match as both sides tried to play an attractive passing game. Social had the better of the early exchanges but Brazil’s defence held firm with some timely tackles and blocks. On the couple of occasions Social did break through, Al Andrew made good stops. Social came closest to scoring when a free kick was blasted just an inch wide of the post after the female referee had thought that Dave Churchley’s tackle was dirty. Brazil’s defending of corners was much better this week. When Social did manage to send a header goalwards, Paul Belcher cleared off the line at the back post. Brazil had their chances too. Ricky McClure’s volley from the edge of the area was well saved. R McClure then hit a free kick through the wall but straight at the keeper, after a well worked dummy by Belcher. Paul Clark should have given Brazil the lead towards the end of the first half. Mark Harrison’s cut back fell to Clark’s weaker left foot, though, and he sliced the shot wide. Although Social had dominated possession, a 0-0 score line was probably fair at half time.

The second half took on the same pattern as the first, Social put Brazil’s defence under a lot of pressure and Brazil tried to counter attack. It didn’t help Brazil that almost every time the ball went into Social’s half, Harrison was caught offside. Steve Toms made a welcome return after a fairly serious knee injury and this allowed Ewan Paterson to push forward into midfield. It was Paterson that had Brazil’s best opportunity of the second half. He beat the offside trap and managed to poke the ball past the advancing keeper but just the wrong side of the post. To be fair to Paterson though, he did well to get to the ball before the keeper in the first place.

As the game went on, Social’s dominance grew and Brazil were constantly under pressure at the back, despite M McClure’s tackling in front of the back four. An inswinging corner was sneaking in at the front post but Gary Davison didn’t mind getting his knees dirty to deflect the ball wide. Brazil’s centre backs, Churchley and Mark Kennedy, made a number of strong tackles and blocks and it looked like Brazil might be able to hold on for a point. A goal mouth scramble ended up in the back of the net though and Brazil brought on their last substitute and changed to a 3-4-3 formation to look for a late equaliser. Churchley, the man of the match, pulled his hamstring but had to play on as there were no more substitutes and he, Kennedy and Toms continued to be in the thick of the action.

The final score was 1-0 to the home side and, although they lost, Brazil were pleased with their defensive performance against a team with serious hopes for promotion that had scored eight the previous week.