23/08/2006
John Hampson Memorial Trophy Group B

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell, Dickson, Creighton, Johnston, Liddell, Haigh (Harrison 60), Katirai.

For the first time this season, Brazil had no debutants and they made a good solid start to the match. After a couple of early scares, Craig Ellis dealt well with the immense pace of Wallsend’s left winger. Once Brazil had got settled, they defended comfortably and created the better of the chances. Some good interchanges between the midfielders and forwards resulted in several chances falling to Gordon Johnston but he failed to hit the target. Shaun Haigh’s movement up front caused Wallsend’s defenders a few problems but it was the visitors that took the lead with an unmarked header from a corner.

Brazil fought back and Bryan Walker almost made amends when he got his head onto Henry Liddell’s corner but he couldn’t keep the ball under the bar.

After the break, Brazil dominated play even more. Perhaps the best chance of all fell to Johnston again. Bryan Walker’s long throw in from the right was flicked on by a defender. Johnston ran onto it but smashed his shot over the bar from close range.

A lot of space opened up, as the game went on, as both sides tired and lost their shape. Club secretary, Mark Harrison made his first appearance of the season after travelling up from Middlesbrough especially for the match. He put himself about and caused the defenders problems as usual. Dave Churchley took a high ball down well and ran into the space in front of him. He cracked a shot on target from 30 yards but it deflected wide for a corner off a defender’s shoulder.

Wallsend sealed the victory late on when a miss-hit cross curled into the top corner. In the last few minutes, the referee overruled the linesman and allowed an offside goal to give the visitors a very flattering scoreline.

Creighton was man of the match.