IJLW Brazil 1 – 1 West Jesmond

11/03/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell (Hetherington 80), Paterson, Creighton, Freath, Haigh, Day, Katirai (McGurk 70).
Subs not used: Bull

Although West Jesmond, with the wind behind them, dominated possession in the first half, they failed to really break through the Brazil defence. They were restricted to snap shots and long range efforts but did come close when a sharp shot from the edge of the box came back off the crossbar. The hosts had no clear openings in the first period but both forwards, James Katirai and Rob Day, worked half chances for themselves and Mark Freath saw a hooked volley just clear the crossbar. Dave Churchley could only get a glancing contact with a header as he dived at Day’s corner from the right, and couldn’t direct the ball goalwards.

After the break, Brazil came out stronger and starting causing a lot more problems for the visitors’ defence. Day was lively as usual and West Jesmond’s slow defence really struggled to cope with his pace and movement. As the game progressed, Matthew Creighton started to find his passing range. A sublime through ball found Shaun Haigh’s run in from the left but the Brazil skipper’s shot couldn’t beat both the goalkeeper and the post. Day had a couple of shots with his left foot and was getting closer to the target each time until he hit the crossbar.

At the other end, Lee Wilkinson, who had dominated his area well all afternoon, was called on once to make one-on-one save with his feet before West Jesmond did take the lead. A quick break down the right wing resulted in Brazil’s defenders being outnumbered in the box. The visitors took advantage of this advantage by playing the right pass at the right time to leave their big Bosnian striker with a simple finish.

With time running out, Brazil weren’t going to be happy to settle for no points so they brought on a midfielder for a defender and pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser. Haigh, who was superb throughout the match, was fouled 35 yards out from goal, slightly left of centre. After a short discussion, Brazil’s captain left the free kick to Churchley and took up position alongside Bryan Walker on the edge of the Jesmond box. Churchley swung the ball into the box. The free kick was immediately greeted with shouts of “Great ball, Dave” from Craig Ellis, the only other Brazil outfield player that had not pushed forward. Brian Clough, Jesmond’s goalkeeper, was deceived by the flight of the ball and the late curl and remained rooted to the ground as it sailed over all the heads on the edge of the box and snuck inside the far post. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle later described the goal as “a stunning free kick from player/manager Dave Churchley”.

Although Brazil can’t be too disappointed with a draw against a side pushing hard for promotion, they certainly had the better of the chances. West Jesmond must have been disappointed that they couldn’t create more chances with all of their possession but must have been extremely relieved to have escaped with a point, given the number of good chances that Brazil had.

“It was a game of two halves and we definitely had the better chances” commented Ewan Paterson, on reflection of the match.

Proctor and Gamble Cobalt 2 – 6 IJLW Brazil

25/02/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Mitchell, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Hetherington (McGurk 55), Creighton, Freath, Harrison, Day, Bull.

For the second week running, Brazil made the perfect start and scored within 10 minutes. Mark Freath’s superb through ball found Rob Day in the box. As he skipped past the defender he was tripped leaving the referee no alternative but to award the visitors a penalty. Matty Bull stepped up and, as usual, the ball hit the back of the net. The lead didn’t last long, however, as the home side were also awarded a penalty. Brazil were playing by far the better football and deservedly regained the lead just before the break. Bull, Brazil’s dead ball expert, swung in lovely free kick from the right, behind the defence but out of reach of the keeper. Brazil had men queuing up to get on the end of it at the back post but, luckily, it was Day that got to it ahead of Mark Harrison. He smashed it into the roof of the net with his left foot.

Early in the second half P&G again levelled the scores and again it was from the penalty spot. This time however it was a much more dubious decision. Brazil responded by bringing on Ste McGurk for his first match since returning to Brazil from New York as Harrison switched flanks. The visitors continued to dominate and soon restored their lead. As a corner was cleared, Dave Churchley chipped the ball back into the box. Bryan Walker flicked it on to Day who finished neatly past the advancing keeper. The result was made safe a few minutes later when Freath (who had a superb game, despite feeling the effects of the common cold) burst forward towards the P&G goal. He negotiated a couple of challenges before being the vicitim of a truly awful late sliding tackle. Luckily for Brazil (and Freath in particular) he got back to his feet relatively unscathed and justice was served when Bull curled the free kick over the goalkeeper for his second goal of the game.

After that the game died out as a contest but Brazil continued to play some lovely football. McGurk beat his man before picking out day with a good low cross. Day, in the right place at the right time again, completed his hat trick (Brazil’s first of the season) with his only left foot. The scoring didn’t finish there. Brazil went on to score a sixth (the second time they’ve scored six at P&G) and record their biggest win of the season. Bull looked like he’d lost the ball but somehow managed to get it back off two defenders and get goalside of them. He resisted the temptation to shoot for his own hat trick and instead unselfishly picked out the unmarked Day who bagged his fourth of the afternoon. This goal was man of the match Day’s 10th for Brazil, meaning that he is only Brazil’s fourth player ever to reach double figures in the four years since the club joined the Tyneside Amateur League.

On the same day, the draw was made for the quarter finals of the North East Amateur Shield. Brazil were handed an away tie at Gateshead Three Tuns.

Other News 1:
It’s now official that Ryton AFC Reserves will never be allowed to play again in the Tyneside Amateur League. The League received a letter from Durham FA confirming that Ryton had no right to appeal against the decision to expel them from the league.

Other News 2:
In June, Brazil’s vice-captain, Bryan Walker’s girlfriend will be running the Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK, as will long-time Brazil fan, Kate Hessey. If you would like to sponsor them you can do so by following the following links:
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/clifford
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/katehessey

Wardley Durham Ranger 1 – 3 IJLW Brazil a.e.t.

18/02/2006
North East Amateur Shield 1st Round

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell (Hetherington 75), Paterson, Honeywood (Burgon 65), Creighton, Haigh, Day, Bull.

The visitors started superbly and took an early lead with some real Brazilian style passing football. Matty Bull played the ball out wide to the left, Shaun Haigh’s low cross was perfect for Rob Day to run onto and bury the ball past the home keeper. As expected, Wardley had their moments and equalised midway through the opening period but Brazil continued to play the better football and created the better chances. Haigh’s left-footed shot hit the inside of the post and Matthew Creighton also hit the post with a header.

After the break, Brazil withstood some good pressure from Wardley and defended superbly, biding their time. Craig Ellis, Dave Churchley, Bryan Walker and Tom Mitchell all had excellent games in front of James Katirai (Brazil’s eighth goalkeeper of the season) who made a couple of fine saves and won the man of the match award. As the half progressed Brazil started to dominate again. Karl Burgon made his debut and showed signs of his class with some lovely passes, particularly out to the left wing where there was a lot of space. Creighton hit the woodwork for a second time when he tried an audacious effort from just inside Wardley’s half. The keeper was stranded out wide after a poor clearance and the ginger midfielder saw the open goal. His shot was on target but just too high and it clipped the crossbar.

With time running out, Brazil certainly looked the most likely to grab a late winner. Bull swung in a succession of outstanding corners from the left and every time a Brazil player won the header; Haigh, Walker and Day all went close. In the last minute of normal time, Haigh ran into the box onto a low cross and hit a first time shot on target but it was too close to the keeper.

Brazil took their momentum into extra time and soon wrapped up the game. Some neat passes, Burgon to Ewan Paterson to Creighton, left the newly transferred player in space in the middle of the pitch. He made good use of his space and lined up a long-range shot which he fired into the top corner. A couple of minutes later, Brazil’s lead was made more comfortable. Creighton played a lovely ball out to the right for Day to run onto. He crossed to the back post where Bull was running in to poach his 30th goal for Brazil in his 50th match. Before half time, Day could have finalised the result following a move which was almost a replay of the opening goal but this time, as Haigh’s cross came into the box, he managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

It wasn’t plain sailing for Brazil as Wardley hit the crossbar with a 25 yard effort and then headed the rebound wide and, in the final period of the match, they missed a penalty. Brazil held on to record their first win of 2006 and move into the quarter finals of the Shield.

IJLW Brazil 3 – 4 Blyth Waterloo

11/02/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Hull, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Paterson, Freath, Creighton, Katirai (Norouzi 70), Haigh, Day, Bull.

Adrian Hull made his long-awaited debut in goal for Brazil, who also welcomed back James Katirai and Matthew Creighton after several disagreeable months at New York.

Brazil looked good when they got the ball down on the ground but went behind when Waterloo’s striker was left unmarked at a corner. Rob Day levelled the scores when he tackled the last defender and fired the ball past the keeper. Brazil could have gone ahead when Shaun Haigh’s excellent through ball found Matty Bull’s run just outside the box. Brazil’s top scorer shot early and his shot beat the keeper but was just wide of the upright. Two more defensive lapses gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage but Brazil fought their way back into the game with a goal just before half time. Bryan Walker’s accurate free kick into the box was volleyed goalwards by skipper Haigh. The keeper could only parry it and Bull reacted quicker than any of the defenders and tucked the ball into the corner of the goal.

A goal behind at the interval, Brazil were confident of getting something out the match having played the first half uphill, into the wind with the sun in their eyes. During the break, the wind changed direction and the sun went down behind the rugby clubhouse taking away much of the advantage the hosts were hoping for.

After conceding an early goal, Brazil dominated the second half and had several chances. Bull’s clever short free kick set up Mark Freath whose shot was dragged just wide of the post. As Brazil cleared a corner, Freath picked up the ball deep in his own half and carried it upfield towards the Waterloo goal. Just as he was getting within shooting distance he was hacked down from behind. The caution handed out to the Waterloo chopper was no consolation for Brazil not scoring from the chance. A poor goalkick, straight to Day, gave the little striker a chance for his second goal of the game which he took well despite being fouled from behind during his approach to the goal.

Man of the match Creighton couldn’t quite earn his side a point in his comeback game as his last minute long range effort was well saved at the near post.

IJLW Brazil 0 – 3 Wardley Durham Ranger

04/02/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Haigh, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell, Hetherington, Paterson, Honeywood, Harrison, Day, Bull.
Subs not used: McClure

In a similar type of performance to the previous week, Brazil played some very good passing football but came off second best in the result. Without a recognised goalkeeper it was always going to be a struggle to keep a clean sheet and this proved to be the case, despite some fine saves by Shaun Haigh and Simon Honeywood (who took over the custodian duties after the second goal).

Brazil did create more chances than the previous week and should really have scored. Bryan Walker, Rob Day, Ewan Paterson and Matty Bull all missed the target from fairly close range.

The highlight of the contest was a run by Mark Harrison. Haigh rolled the ball out to the lanky winger who headed off upfield round (and through) several challenges. As he got into the box, the keeper came out and just managed to block his shot.

Dave Churchley was the man of the match for the second successive match.

Blyth Town Reserves 3 – 0 IJLW Brazil

28/01/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Marquiss (Elderkin 80), Mitchell, Paterson, Freath, Haigh, Bull.

Playing five across the midfield, Brazil dominated the early stages of the game and played some very attractive football when they got the ball on the ground. Although Brazil had the better of the play, chances were few and far between as Matty Bull was quite isolated up front on his own and he was fouled almost every time he received the ball. The closest the visitors came to scoring in the first half was from an excellent left wing cross by Shaun Haigh. Bull’s header was on target but didn’t have enough power to beat the keeper.

Blyth took the lead against the run of play when the referee awarded them a penalty for a foul committed 2 yards outside the area. A second sloppy goal gave the hosts a two goal lead going into the interval.

Brazil started off the better side in the second half and went close to reducing the deficit twice. John Marquiss latched onto a loose ball just inside the box but his left-footed shot was just too high. Bull curled a free kick over the wall; the large goalkeeper had to be at full stretch to keep it out.

Brazil tired as the game reached the latter stages and the league’s leading goal scorer took advantage for the league leaders, by converting a goalmouth scramble.

The 80th minute was a good one for Brazil fans; it saw the return of original squad member Chris Elderkin after six years away from football.

Dave Churchley’s man of the match award put him back ahead of Lee Wilkinson in the all time records.

Forest Hall 7 – 0 IJLW Brazil

21/01/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Paterson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Mitchell (Honeywood 55), McGowan, Freath, Haigh, Goodliff, Bull.

Brazil’s woeful January continued as they travelled to Palmersville to face ex-Northern Alliance side Forest Hall. On a large pitch, Brazil started as the better side. There were some nice short passes in and around the midfield, particularly involving Jonny McGowan and Mark Freath, with Shaun Haigh finding a lot of space on the left. Up front, Les Goodliff and Matty Bull were looking to link up and were making good runs, but Forest Hall were defending well and they never quite managed to break free. The best chance came from Bull’s inswinging corner. McGowan had completely lost his marker at the back post but he couldn’t quite get enough contact on his header.

Brazil’s defence was kept busy but was holding out well with Craig Ellis (well supported down the right by Tom Mitchell) making a lot of tackles, Dave Churchley intercepting a lot of through balls and Bryan Walker winning a lot of headers. Ewan Paterson, playing in goal, was very quick off his line and dealt with most of the balls beyond the defence. When Forest Hall did finally get through on goal, Mark Kennedy slid in to tackle the striker and stop the shot but the ball fell kindly to the second striker who put the hosts one up. A second goal followed before the interval. The striker was several yards offside but the referee overruled the linesman and Brazil’s defender had stopped prematurely, anticipating the whistle.

As the second half progressed, Brazil were getting outnumbered in midfield so Simon Honeywood was introduced. With 28 minutes remaining and the score still 2-0, the referee limped off with a groin strain. After a lengthy delay one of Forest Hall’s substitutes (claiming to be a qualified referee) took over the whistle.

The longer the game went on, the more Brazil tired. Whether it was a lack of fitness or a lack of youth (Brazil only had 2 men under the age of 25), Forest Hall capitalised and started to overrun Brazil. As they poured forward in numbers, Brazil’s defence was often outnumbered and five more goals were scored. To be fair to Forest Hall’s referee, he was no worse than the neutral one but he did manage to incorrectly disallow a Brazil goal. Honeywood’s great through ball was smashed first time into the back of the net by Bull. The linesman flagged and the whistle was blown but the original match referee, who was standing alongside the Forest Hall linesman, protested in vain that Bull was not in an offside position when the pass was made.

Forest Hall’s long serving manager insisted that the man of the match should be one of Brazil’s back four. The accolade went to Walker.

Other news:
On 20/01/2005, at a special meeting of the Tyneside Amateur league, Ryton AFC Reserves were finally expelled from the league. They lost their league status by 20 votes to eight. At the same meeting (and completely unconnected to Ryton’s expulsion), Black Bull Benton resigned from the league. As Brazil beat Black Bull in the first league match of the season, they will now have three points deducted as that match no longer counts.

IJLW Brazil 1 – 5 Gateshead Three Tuns

14/01/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Mitchell (Ellis 45), Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Paterson, McGowan, Freath (Hetherington 70), Haigh, Goodliff (Ho 55), Bull.

Brazil went into their 100th game since joining the Tyneside Amateur League with a strong, confident squad. There were very few chances early on with Brazil having slightly the better of the opening exchanges. Shaun Haigh’s throw-in was flicked on by Les Goodliff right into the path of Matty Bull. Brazil’s record goalscorer’s first time shot came back off the base of the post, with the goalkeeper nowhere near. Goodliff himself then went close. The big striker picked up the ball inside Gateshead’s half of the pitch and used his strength to fashion a shooting opportunity. The shot was too high to trouble the keeper.

After twice failing to clear the ball, Brazil gifted Gateshead the lead midway through the first half. A second goal followed not long later. Dave Churchley, Brazil’s first player to reach a century of appearances, blocked a shot but no Brazil player reacted to it allowing Gateshead’s winger to run on and score.

Brazil continued to be the better team and had a great chance to get back into the game. Haigh took a long throw into the box. As Mark Kennedy was about to flick it on, he was shoved in the back. Bull stepped up to take the penalty in his new boots. The ball hit the underside of the crossbar and came down onto the goal line. A Gateshead defender got back to the ball first and got it clear. Moments later, Jonny McGowan, who had a good game in midfield, burst into the box and crashed the ball against the bar. So Brazil went into the break with a two goal deficit after having been the better team and hit the woodwork three times.

The second half was a different story. Brazil tired, perhaps due to their lack of match practice with the extended winter break, and Gateshead started to dominate the game. As a corner came in, Al Andrew made a save and Ewan Paterson cleared off the line but still Brazil could not get the ball clear and it ended up in the back of the net. A rash challenge gave Gateshead an easy fourth from the penalty spot before a bizarre mix-up gifted the visitors a fifth. To Brazil’s credit, they still competed and won a few corners as they pushed forward. In the 90th minute, Bull put in a corner. As Haigh jumped to meet it he was pulled down by his shirt. Bull, the man of the match, made no mistake with his second penalty of the game.

Blyth Waterloo 5 – 3 IJLW Brazil

07/01/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Hetherington, Churchley, Kennedy, Haigh, Harrison, Paterson, Freath, Ho, Norouzi, Day.

Brazil’s 2006 didn’t get off to the best start as they only just managed to get 11 men to make up a team. After kick-off was delayed as the water was cleared from the goalmouths, the home side took the early initiative. Brazil were put under a lot of pressure playing into the wind and, despite managing to hold off for about 20 minutes, went behind to two goals in quick succession. Just when a third goal would have killed off the game, the hosts had a fantastic chance after Brazil failed to clear the ball from their box. Dave Churchley managed to get his head onto the ball as the shot was fired in but it was still heading goalwards at high velocity. Al Andrew made an incredible reaction save, deflecting the ball onto the crossbar.

Just as Brazil were thinking of changing things round, they started playing well and got themselves back into the game. Lively striker Rob Day played a neat one-two with Mo Norouzi (who shattered Brazil’s record for the oldest player by making his debut as a 37 year old), skipped past the last defender and blasted the ball into the back of the net. Before the half-time interval, Brazil levelled the scores. Mark Harrison was chopped down after launching the ball high into the area. The tackle was so late that the referee didn’t see it but this turned out to be to Brazil’s advantage as a mix up between the centre backs and the goalkeeper allowed the ball to drop to Day. He rounded his man and tucked the ball away with his left foot.

Brazil started the second half as the better side and had several chances to go ahead. Steve Ho hit three shots just wide off the target and Mark Freath’s curling 20 yard effort was well tipped over by the keeper. Day, the man of the match, almost bagged Brazil’s first hat trick of the season when he curled a free kick inches past the post after Freath had been brought down just outside the box.

Waterloo took the lead against the run of play so Brazil pushed more men forward and got a quick equalizer. Freath dribbled into the box and squared the ball into the path of the onrushing Harrison. The lanky striker, stretching, crashed the ball against the underside of the bar and over the line. With Brazil having not played a match for 4 weeks and no substitutes, they unsurprisingly became stretched late on. Two more goals for the home side flattered them and sent Brazil home disappointed.