26/11/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Hetherington, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Harrison, Paterson, Freath, Smith, Day, Bull.
Subs not used: McGowan.

With the Wallsend team involved in a crash on their way to Winlaton, the match kicked off 45 minutes late. Although this disrupted Brazil’s preparations, it did give time for Mike Harrison to arrive, after being called up at late notice. Harrison’s first appearance of the season was a good one, especially in the first half. Brazil also debuted a new signing in the form of Craig Hetherington.

Although the visitors had more of the possession in the first half, Brazil had the better chances. Rob Day broke away down the right. His pace took him past the last defender and then the keeper but his shot, from a tight angle, went just wide of the far post. Ewan Paterson sliced the pick of the chances wide (after it bobbled in front of him).

After the break, as the light started to fail, the game opened up a bit with more chances coming at both ends. Disappointingly for Brazil, the game’s only goal came from one of their corners. Matty Bull’s cross into the box was challenged for by Day and Bryan Walker. Whilst either one of them would have scored on their own, between them they only managed to head the ball straight at the goalkeeper. He initiated a quick break down the right flank. The winger carried the ball, unchallenged, for over 50 yards before firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Brazil kept competing and had enough chances to get something out of the game. Mark Freath tried to do it on his own as he carried the ball from the edge of his own box to the edge of the other box, going round at least six players en route. He later dedicated the run to the late, great George Best. Paterson had another chance to get on the scoresheet but his recent goalscoring run seems to have come to an abrupt end. The final chance was well set up in the box by Day and Freath who manged to lay the ball off into Bull’s path. Brazil’s top scorer would normally have buried the chance but it hit the bar. One explanation for this is the fact that his right boot was ripped so, in the spare 45 minutes before the game started, he swapped it for one of his manger’s spare boots. Not only was it a size too big but it is also renowned for sending the ball upwards.

Brazil’s defence, Walker and Dave Churchley in particular, should be proud of the fact that Wallsend’s top striker (who had scored 11 in seven prior to this match) failed to score for the first time this season. Lee Wilkinson was unsurprisingly named man of the match after pulling off a fantastic save from a corner in each half.