Tyneside Amateur League Division 2: 10th
NFA Minor Cup: 2nd Round
North East Amateur Shield: Semi Final
John Hampson Memorial Trophy: Group stages
Tyneside Amateur League Fair Play Award: Winners
Player of the Year: Matty Bull (6 moms)
Players’ Player of the Year: Dave Churchley
Top Goalscorer: Matty Bull (20 goals)
Most Appearances: Dave Churchley (36 apps, 100%)
Players used: 48
17/12/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Paterson, Churchley, Kennedy, Haigh, Bernstone, Freath, Honeywood, McGowan, Ho, Goodliff.
No sooner had the Brazil 11 got out of the changing rooms, was the match called off by the lanky referee. The terrible organisation by Inter Dental led to both teams and the referee travelling to a frozen pitch when the game could easily have been cancelled early in the morning.
This was the last match of 2005 so Brazil will go into the New Year with a healthy league position, following a 100% record in the month of December.
10/12/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Paterson, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Harrison, Freath, Honeywood, Ho, Day, Bull.
Red Star started well and enjoyed the majority of the possession with the wind and slope working in their favour. A well organised Brazil side defended solidly and didn’t allow the visitors to capitalise. When Al Andrew was called on in the Brazil goal he responded well; parrying a curling free kick out to the right and tipping the ball over the crossbar from an in-swinging corner.
When Brazil got the ball down and passed it around they looked like a far better team than their visitors but they had no clear chances early on. The breakthrough came from Bryan Walker’s long pass into the box to Matty Bull. Brazil’s top scorer took the ball past his marker and was brought down under a clumsy challenge. The referee awarded a penalty without hesitation and Bull gently tapped the ball straight down the middle of the goal into the back of the net.
The return of Mark Kennedy gave Brazil a boost at the back. The big defender was on top form, belying the fact that he had not played for over three months. It was, however, off Kennedy’s head that Red Star came closest to scoring. Andrew, taken by surprise, sprung into action to keep it out.
With the game still in the balance, Dave Churchley made a managerial masterstroke at half time. The wingers, Mark Harrison and Steve Ho, swapped flanks and Brazil never looked back. In the second half Brazil played as well as they had ever done and created chance after chance without allowing Red Star a single shot on target. Simon Honeywood, who has got better with every game he’s played, was outstanding in midfield alongside the ever impressive Mark Freath.
Bull skipped past a defender and smashed the ball against the underside of the bar. The diminutive Rob Day out jumped two defenders to get his head onto the rebound but again it came back off the bar. Ho, following in, put the second rebound over the top with his weaker right foot.
After a period of sustained pressure, the second goal came from a defensive error. Day took advantage of a miss-control by the centre back and lifted a curling shot over the advancing keeper to score his first goal for Brazil. Bull wrapped up the victory, making no mistake in converting Ewan Paterson’s superb through ball.
The dominant Walker was named as the man of the match for the first time this season.
Other news:
The Tyneside Amateur League Christmas raffle draw was made on Friday 2nd December. All ticket stubs and money (or unsold tickets) need to be returned as soon as possible so that the prizes can be distributed.
26/11/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Hetherington, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Harrison, Paterson, Freath, Smith, Day, Bull.
Subs not used: McGowan.
With the Wallsend team involved in a crash on their way to Winlaton, the match kicked off 45 minutes late. Although this disrupted Brazil’s preparations, it did give time for Mike Harrison to arrive, after being called up at late notice. Harrison’s first appearance of the season was a good one, especially in the first half. Brazil also debuted a new signing in the form of Craig Hetherington.
Although the visitors had more of the possession in the first half, Brazil had the better chances. Rob Day broke away down the right. His pace took him past the last defender and then the keeper but his shot, from a tight angle, went just wide of the far post. Ewan Paterson sliced the pick of the chances wide (after it bobbled in front of him).
After the break, as the light started to fail, the game opened up a bit with more chances coming at both ends. Disappointingly for Brazil, the game’s only goal came from one of their corners. Matty Bull’s cross into the box was challenged for by Day and Bryan Walker. Whilst either one of them would have scored on their own, between them they only managed to head the ball straight at the goalkeeper. He initiated a quick break down the right flank. The winger carried the ball, unchallenged, for over 50 yards before firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Brazil kept competing and had enough chances to get something out of the game. Mark Freath tried to do it on his own as he carried the ball from the edge of his own box to the edge of the other box, going round at least six players en route. He later dedicated the run to the late, great George Best. Paterson had another chance to get on the scoresheet but his recent goalscoring run seems to have come to an abrupt end. The final chance was well set up in the box by Day and Freath who manged to lay the ball off into Bull’s path. Brazil’s top scorer would normally have buried the chance but it hit the bar. One explanation for this is the fact that his right boot was ripped so, in the spare 45 minutes before the game started, he swapped it for one of his manger’s spare boots. Not only was it a size too big but it is also renowned for sending the ball upwards.
Brazil’s defence, Walker and Dave Churchley in particular, should be proud of the fact that Wallsend’s top striker (who had scored 11 in seven prior to this match) failed to score for the first time this season. Lee Wilkinson was unsurprisingly named man of the match after pulling off a fantastic save from a corner in each half.
12/11/2005
NFA “K. B. Sheet Metalwork” Minor Cup 2nd Round
IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Mitchell, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Day, Honeywood, Freath, Ho, Goodliff, Bull.
The match was almost cancelled for the second week running but eventually went ahead on a saturated pitch, after a last minute pitch inspection. Brazil were not overawed by their opponents, despite being placed two divisions below the Northern Alliance side.
The home side had the bulk of the possession early on but Brazil matched them, preventing any good chances. On a large pitch, Brazil found a lot of space to counter attack and the pace of Les Goodliff and Matty Bull up front meant that the visitors were always in with a chance.
Two soft goals, where the forwards got ahead of their markers, and a good finish from a tight angle effectively killed the game off before half time. Instead of collapsing, Brazil responded well and almost got a goal back before the break when Bull’s free kick was well tipped over.
The second half was tough for Brazil, playing uphill with no substitutes, but the whole team battled well. Bull, Goodliff, Steve Ho and Dave Churchley all had long range shots but the best chance fell to Rob Day, who made a lively debut on the right. Bull picked out Day’s run into the box. His shot was hard and accurate but well saved by the goalkeeper.
BT, despite having the majority of the possession, rarely threatened the Brazil goal. Their best chance of the half came when Mark Freath’s excellent sliding challenge in the box was adjudged to be a foul by the otherwise very good referee. Justice was served when Lee Wilkinson, dropping to his right, comfortably saved the weak spot kick.
Bull was deservedly name as the man of the match.
29/10/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Echevarria (Freath 60), Paterson, Oiller, Harrison, Smith, Bull.
Subs not used: Cuggy.
With Brazil struggling for numbers again three new players were blooded as only 11 men were available for the start of the match. Craig Ellis and Matt Oiller both made good, solid debuts and Carlos Echevarria made his first appearance of the season. Ellis’s appearance shattered Mark Freath’s record as Brazil’s oldest player in a competitive match.
Brazil were the better side from the start but chances were few and far between. Good work by Matty Bull gave Paul Smith two chances but he couldn’t hit the target. Probably the best chance of the half fell to Bull but Brazil’s leading scorer shot just wide of the post. At the other end, Inter Dental rarely threatened although they were quite unlucky to have their penalty claims turned down when Lee Wilkinson clashed with the striker who had just got the ball first.
The second half followed a similar pattern to begin with but Mark Harrison’s increasing influence on the game began to show. The introduction of Freath, contrary to doctor’s orders following the removal of his tonsils, gave the hosts a timely boost. Bull crossed into the box, Smith battled with two defenders and set up Harrison who topped off a fine second half performance with his first goal of the season. Smith was involved in the crucial second goal as well as he was fouled 25 yards from goal. Bull stepped up and curled the free kick into the top corner. This goal took Bull’s tally for the season into double figures.
Ewan Paterson, playing through the pain of a back injury, rounded off Brazil’s biggest win of the season. The little winger scored his second in consecutive matches when he ran onto Bull’s cross from the left and volleyed it into the bottom corner.
Inter Dental had a few opportunities but, although neither of them had one of their better games, it was quite a comfortable afternoon for Bryan Walker and Dave Churchley at the centre of Brazil’s defence.
An excellent save late on was enough to earn Wilkinson the man of the match award.
Other news:
Don’t forget Tom Mitchell’s comedy sketches will be appearing on ITV1 show “Shoot The Writers” at midnight on Thursday night. This will be preceded by a live show at the Establishment (upstairs in @ Home), Moseley Street, Newcastle on Tuesday evening. Doors open at 2030 and the show starts at 2100. I hope to see you there!
15/10/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Mitchell, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Paterson, Freath, Honeywood, Ho, Smith.
With one player stranded in Athens and three others dropping out on the morning of the match, Brazil’s squad was depleted to just 10 men. Playing a 4-4-1 formation, Brazil were under pressure right from the start but defended solidly and stoically throughout the team. Unsurprisingly, it was the hosts that took the lead but it was in a somewhat fortunate manner. A shot that hit the post could have gone anywhere but it rebounded straight to West Jesmond’s striker in the crowded penalty area.
Chances were few and far between for the visitors but they did get themselves back into the game before the break. Bryan Walker over hit his attempt to play a 40 yard free kick into the box, so it turned into a shot. The keeper looked to have plucked it from the top corner but, as the players began to turn away, he somehow fumbled it and spilled it at the feet of the alert Ewan Paterson. Brazil’s smallest player levelled the scores just minutes before half time.
A soft goal immediately after the break put West Jesmond back in control and it needed Brazil to be at their most resolute in defence to keep the score down, especially after a heel injury to Mark Freath (not old age) stopped him from being able to run. This included an excellent double block on the line by Paterson.
Paul Smith had worked extremely hard as the lone striker. Some good build up play in the midfield gave Smith a chance but his shot was saved comfortably. With time running out, Brazil could have stolen a point. A counter attack up the left flank set Steve Ho free into the box. His shot was hard and on target but within reach of the large Jesmond goalkeeper.
The final goal wrapped up the victory for the home side. Al Andrew was unlucky as a sharp reaction save rebounded straight to Jesmond’s big Bosnian striker.
Dave Churchley was the man of the match on the weekend after his birthday.
08/10/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Mitchell, Churchley, Walker, Paterson, Freath, Armstrong, Harrison (Dibb 55), Haigh (Cuggy 75), Goodliff, Bull.
A below-par performance by Brazil saw their unbeaten run come to an end against a team they really should have beaten. A goal in each half was enough for New York who did just enough to win a poor match that was refereed poorly. It wasn’t that Brazil didn’t create chances – they had a lot more efforts at goal than New York did – but every shot was either off target or too close to James Katirai, Brazil’s ex-reserve goalkeeper who joined New York in the summer.
Matty Bull was man of the match.
Other news:
Tom Mitchell’s comedy troupe will be performing in Newcastle soon. Here are the details:
Belly Rub presents ‘You came, then’ at the Establishment, (upstairs in @ Home) 36 Moseley St, Newcastle. 01/11/05. Doors open 8.30pm. Show 9.00pm £4/£3 concessions (NUS card).
Some of Mitchell’s sketches will also be appearing on TV, 03/11/05, midnight, ITV1. The show’s called ‘Shoot the Writers’.
01/10/2005
NFA “K. B. Sheet Metalwork” Minor Cup 1st Round
IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Dibb, Churchley, Walker, Paterson, Cuggy (Harrison 60), McGowan, Freath, Ho (Smith 75), Goodliff, Bull.
Sub not used: Love
A strong Brazil side played well and thoroughly deserved the win. Midway through the opening period, an excellent run past three defenders by Mark Freath set up a chance for Les Goodliff. The big, bald striker made no mistake tucking the ball away to give the home side the lead. Ten minutes later, Brazil scored the crucial second goal that was missing in the lacklustre draw the week before. Good work by Goodliff set Jonny McGowan free down the right. His accurate cross into the box was met decisively by Matty Bull who smashed the ball into the back of the net. Minutes later the visitors got themselves back into the game when a 30 yard screamer flew into the top corner.
Brazil continued to dominate and created numerous chances at Craster’s end whilst defending solidly at their end. Bull’s deep free kick was met powerfully by Bryan Walker’s head but it just cleared the bar. Goodliff’s powerful running gave him several chances that he hit just off target.
The victory was sealed when Dave Churchley’s 50 yard pass sent Goodliff clear. His first touch took him past the keeper who then jumped into him and knocked him to the ground. The referee had no choice but to award a penalty. Bull stepped up and gave the hosts an unassailable lead to send them into the 2nd round.
Despite playing in one of his least favourite positions, the versatile Ewan Paterson was outstanding at left back. Goodliff’s pace, presence and persistence meant that he was the man of the match.
24/09/2005
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2
IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Paterson, Churchley, Honeywood, Mitchell (Dibb 75), Harrison (Cuggy 70), Hinks, Freath, Ho, Smith (McGowan 55), Goodliff.
Brazil not playing particularly well against a poor side, made for a pretty uneventful match, most noticeable for Brazil playing with their fourth goalkeeper and third captain of the season already.
Brazil defended solidly, with debutant Simon Honeywood slotting in fairly comfortably at centre back. The closest the visitors got to scoring in the first half was a scramble following a corner which was comfortably cleared off the line by Ewan Paterson.
Brazil deservedly took the lead midway through the half following some good work by Les Goodliff and some bad work from the P&G keeper. Paul Smith was in the right place at the right time to tuck away his first goal for Brazil.
Despite the home side’s dominance, they couldn’t find the crucial second goal and they eventually paid the price when P&G’s perseverance paid off. Despite the offside flag going up immediately, the unpredictable referee allowed the goal to stand. They could have even snatched an undeserved late victory had it not been for two excellent saves by Al Andrew, in his first match for a year. Andrew was named man of the match.