02/10/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Paterson, Freath, Creighton, McGurk, Bull, Katirai.

Ryton had the wind, sun and slope advantages in the first half. This gave them the edge possession-wise. Brazil defended well throughout the first half, however, and didn’t allow any good chances. Lee Wilkinson made a couple of saves, Dave Churchley headed away a powerfully struck shot and Bryan Walker put in a commanding performance, which earned him the man of the match award. At the other end, Brazil played some pleasing football to carve out a couple of chances but it appeared that no-one (with the exception of Matty Bull) was willing to have a shot.

The goalless score line at the break gave Brazil the confidence to believe that they could take something out of the game, but three Ryton goals in a ten minute period put an end to the match as a contest, but not as an event. Before the goals, Ste McGurk had come extremely close when a long range effort with his weaker right foot was tipped over the bar.

Ryton’s fierce tackling got more dangerous and, from some of his decisions, you might have thought that the referee was a pseudophake. Having threatened to break Matthew Creighton’s jaw, Ryton’s players were then heard to boast that they only needed one more goal to go top of the league. Brazil soon put an end to that hope when McGurk’s diagonal through ball was met by Bull (having managed to beat the offside trap) who finished well into the far corner.