29/04/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Garry, Churchley, Walker, Harrison, Paterson, Creighton, Mitchell, Haigh, Allen, Dunkley.
With several regular players unavailable and two dropping out on the day of the match, Brazil did well to get 11 men on the field. Mark Garry reclaimed his record as Brazil’s oldest ever player and Guy Allen and Paul Dunkley became Brazil’s 99th and 100th players to either register or play for the club in the four seasons since they joined the Tyneside Amateur league.
The opening exchanges were fairly even but the wind, sun and slope favoured the visitors and justified their increasing possessional dominance. James Katirai was twice called upon to make good saves before an incredible refereeing faux pas turned the match. As the cross bounced and bobbled just inside the edge of the Brazil box, the defender lunged at and missed the ball. The forward also lunged at and missed the ball and crashed into the back of the defender, sending both players to the ground. At this point, both sides were happy to continue playing on but the referee’s whistle was blown. A couple of Forest Hall players started arguing against what they thought was free kick given to Brazil, as they were still in a promising area of the pitch, but the referee bemused everyone by signalling to the penalty spot. Katirai was only centimetres away from bringing justice to the situation, as he dived to his left. Forest Hall then scored another controversial goal to double their lead. As one forward pulled the Brazil defender away from the ball by his shirt, the other forward ran onto the free ball and smashed it into the net. A third goal followed for the visitors, before half time, as they put away and unmarked header from a corner.
With the change of ends it appeared that Brazil may have a change of fortunes as they struck back immediately after the interval. Matthew Creighton’s sliced shot fell kindly for Shaun Haigh. After a poor first touch on his thigh, he redeemed himself by firing the ball into the top corner with his left foot to continue his goal scoring run. After this, however, it just got embarrassing as wave after wave of Forest Hall attacks overwhelmed an outnumbered Brazil defence. Brazil would have had a consolation goal late on but, after beating two defenders, a bobble on the pitch defeated Dunkley and he shot high and wide.
Creighton was man of the match again.