26/03/2005
North East Amateur Shield Semi-Final

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Walker, Churchley, Kennedy, Katirai, McGowan, Creighton, Haigh, Ho, Goodliff, Bull.
Subs not used: Freath.

A bumper crowd saw Brazil’s cup hopes end for another season despite a brave performance in the face of adversity. Playing a 3-5-2 formation designed specifically to counteract Ryton’s league-topping form, Brazil started well giving Ryton none of the time or space they thrive on. The five man midfield also allowed Brazil to give some support to Les Goodliff and Matty Bull up front. With 20 minutes gone, the critical moment of the game occurred when Bull reacted badly after a foul on him went unnoticed. A verbal tirade directed at the referee resulted in Brazil’s top scorer being dismissed for foul and abusive language.

Regardless of the setback, the ten men of Brazil continued to work hard for each other and actually took the lead. Jonny McGowan broke into the box and was bundled over from behind as he brought the ball under control leaving the referee no alternative but to award a penalty. With the regular penalty taker off the pitch, Goodliff stepped up and confidently smashed Brazil into the lead. A strong team effort, with no Brazil player losing out in a 50-50 situation, kept the lead against the numerically advantaged, top of the league, home side right up until seconds before half time, when a fine volley from the edge of the box levelled the scores.

In the second half, Brazil were under almost constant pressure; with Ryton having corner after corner. Brazil defended them well, despite being a much shorter team so it was ironic when the home side took the lead from a short corner. As Brazil napped at the front post, the ball was taken into the box and the cross was met by a powerful header into the top corner. Some of Brazil’s players were tiring fast but Mark Freath’s broken toe ruled him out of making an appearance. Although Goodliff was very isolated up front, the man of the match’s pace and strength almost got Brazil an equalizer. He got onto the end of a long ball, past the last defender and stabbed the ball past the goalkeeper. As the ball bobbled towards the goal, however, the defender managed to get back and knock it round the post.

Despite Ryton’s incessant pressure, they did not get many clear goal scoring opportunities, thanks to the way Brazil defended as a team, all working hard for each other. Lee Wilkinson’s rushed clearance presented Ryton with their best chance when it rebounded to a striker off the back of McGowan’s head. Brazil’s goalkeeper atoned for his error though with a brilliant save. On another occasion, when Wilkinson was beaten, Dave Churchley sprinted back onto the line to clear with his head. The third and decisive goal came from a low strike into the bottom corner of the goal following a half-cleared corner, with about ten minutes remaining.