19/08/2006
John Hampson Memorial Trophy Group B
IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Dickson, Churchley, Johnson, Kennedy, Sorbie, Creighton, Johnston, Siddle, Egan, Watson (Freath 60).
For Brazil’s 3rd encounter with Division 1 opposition in eight days they had to recruit several new players just to be able to get enough men on the field. Matthew Egan, Karl Johnson, Jonathan Watson and Dennis Sorbie all made their debuts and Matt Dickson put in his first appearance of the season (after arriving 10 minutes after kick off).
Whilst Winlaton (who have won Division 1 of the Tyneside Amateur League for the last three seasons) had the best of the play, Brazil did look dangerous on the break, particularly with Egan’s pace up front. It took a deflected shot through a crowded penalty area to give the visitors the lead, but they doubled this before the break with a good goal.
At the break, Brazil’s manager moved a few players around (this was the only tactical option available with no fit substitutes) and they came out a stronger side. After conceding an early goal, the hosts had a really good passage of play and dominated the game for half an hour. Gordon Johnston was particularly influential in the middle of the midfield.
Watson hobbled off with a knee injury and, despite his doctor’s advice (and his wife’s orders), Mark Freath decided his fractured rib wouldn’t prevent Brazil from playing with 11 men.
Iain Siddle whipped in a cross from the left, Sorbie flicked it on and Matthew Creighton timed his run well to get beyond the defence and onto the ball. The stand-in skipper volleyed it into the net from close range to give Brazil a glimmer of hope. This was the first goal Winlaton had conceded all season.
That glimmer grew to a spark when Freath scored his first goal of the season. As the cross came in from the right, he got in front of the defenders and glanced a header into the far corner.
As the game drew to a close, Winlaton used their substitutes well and went on to score two late goals and run out comfortable winners.
Creighton was man of the match.