06/09/2003
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Charge, Hinks (Mitchell 75), Bancroft, Toms, Haigh, Paterson, Greenwood.

On a wet, skiddy surface, the game started quickly with a lot of dangerous sliding tackles from the Social midfield. Alan Bancroft responded with a couple of his own and was booked for his trouble. This served to calm the game down slightly (but only slightly). Brazil came closest to opening the scoring following some good work by Jon Hinks, Gary Davison and Ewan Paterson down the right wing. Jon Hinks was free inside the area and hit a fierce shot from a tight angle. The keeper managed to take some pace off the ball to allow a defender to clear off the line. Andy Greenwood, following in, was just inches from the rebound. A few minutes later it looked like Brazil would open the scoring. Ewan Paterson, Brazil’s top scorer so far this season, flicked the ball over the head of the last Social defender and it was clear that his pace would take him through for a one on one with the keeper. The defender, however, had other ideas and deliberately tripped Paterson as he sprinted past. The resulting free kick was too far out to be dangerous and the defender got away with just a talking to.

It took an unnecessary penalty to break the deadlock. There could be no argument with the decision (although Al Andrew didn’t seem to agree with it 100%) and Social made no mistake with the spot kick. Taking the lead seemed to spur them on and they became more and more dominant. Mark Kennedy and Dave Churchley won a lot of tackles but the whole of the Brazil defence was too stretched and it was only a matter of time until Social scored again. Their striker spun away from his marker and smashed a volley into the top corner. Shaun Haigh tried to reduce the deficit with a curling free kick but an effort at the other end came even closer and it took a very good tip over by Andrew to keep the score at two at the break.

The second half wasn’t much different and the chances kept coming for Social. They scored three more, all of which were excellent finishes. Steve Toms earned his man of the match award by working hard in the midfield but he seemed to be fouled before he could ever do anything creative with the ball. Bancroft and Anand Charge were both involved in altercations with opposition players but members of both teams quickly prevented them from getting out of hand.

Brazil nearly grabbed a late consolation when Kennedy flicked on Greenwood’s free kick. Churchley controlled the ball on his chest but fired wide as he shot on the turn, under good pressure from his marker.