20/11/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Davison (McCartney 45), Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Paterson, Creighton (Stephenson 70), Freath, Haigh, Thompson, McGurk.

Brazil’s worst performance of the season brought their winning streak to a devastating end as they lost convincingly to the league’s bottom team. The hosts took an early lead as an unopposed midfielder smashed the loose ball into the goal. P&G were first and second to almost every ball but, despite their dominance, didn’t manage to create too many good chances, particularly with James Katirai quick to come off his line. He was left helpless for the second goal though as the forward, untracked, ran in from the wing to get on the end of a through ball and be left with a one-on-one chance that he couldn’t (and didn’t) miss.

Although Brazil were generally slow and sloppy, they did manage to have a couple of efforts on the counter attack. Shaun Haigh’s long throw was flicked on by Mark Kennedy, allowing Mark Freath to head wide. Dave Churchley couldn’t direct his header from Steve McGurk’s corner. McGurk and Freath then both made shooting chances for themselves but both dragged their shots wide of the far post. Twice Haigh raced onto a loose ball and fired over the crossbar. Late on in the half, McGurk and Ewan Paterson both had half-chances snuffed out by some good defensive blocks.

The introduction of Chris McCartney at the interval seemed to liven Brazil up for a while as he helped to take some control away from the home side’s midfield. Brazil still looked unlikely to score, although Haigh’s volley wasn’t far wide. When P&G’s substitute striker made it 3-0, Brazil went 3-4-3 in an attempt to get more men in the attacking third of the pitch. McGurk and McCartney both had long-range efforts comfortably saved and Churchley’s 40-yard free kick swerved wide of the upright. A superb run around four defenders by the veteran Freath was only spoiled by his shot being two inches the wrong side of the post. Chris Thompson’s late effort produced the save of the match as the keeper managed to push the ball out from the bottom corner.

As time ran out, Bryan Walker went up front as Brazil switched to an unusual 2-4-4 formation in the desperate hope of getting at least a goal from the game. Churchley’s resolute defending earned him the man of the match award.

Other news: Maximo Park’s debut single ‘The Coast Is Always Changing’/’The Night I Lost My Head’ is out this week. It’s available from RPM in Newcastle.

02/10/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Paterson, Freath, Creighton, McGurk, Bull, Katirai.

Ryton had the wind, sun and slope advantages in the first half. This gave them the edge possession-wise. Brazil defended well throughout the first half, however, and didn’t allow any good chances. Lee Wilkinson made a couple of saves, Dave Churchley headed away a powerfully struck shot and Bryan Walker put in a commanding performance, which earned him the man of the match award. At the other end, Brazil played some pleasing football to carve out a couple of chances but it appeared that no-one (with the exception of Matty Bull) was willing to have a shot.

The goalless score line at the break gave Brazil the confidence to believe that they could take something out of the game, but three Ryton goals in a ten minute period put an end to the match as a contest, but not as an event. Before the goals, Ste McGurk had come extremely close when a long range effort with his weaker right foot was tipped over the bar.

Ryton’s fierce tackling got more dangerous and, from some of his decisions, you might have thought that the referee was a pseudophake. Having threatened to break Matthew Creighton’s jaw, Ryton’s players were then heard to boast that they only needed one more goal to go top of the league. Brazil soon put an end to that hope when McGurk’s diagonal through ball was met by Bull (having managed to beat the offside trap) who finished well into the far corner.

25/09/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, McClure (Freath 45), Churchley, Kennedy, Davison, Paterson, Creighton, Mitchell (Marquiss 65), McGurk, Harrison, Thompson.

It took three soft goals to give in-form Killingworth the points against a plucky Brazil side. The hosts saw most of the ball early on but Brazil were quick to pressurize them all over the pitch and didn’t allow them any good chances. As the game progressed chances inevitably came and Al Andrew (Brazil’s first ever married player), making his first appearance of the season, made a couple of good reaction stops from close range. Brazil passed the ball well out of defence and through the midfield but they were quite prosaic in the final third and never really looked threatening.

Just as it looked like as if the first half would end goalless, Brazil’s first real mistake was made. A hopeful cross into the box found Killingworth’s right winger marked by two Brazil players. Somehow he managed to get between the Brazil men, get the ball under control, take a couple of touches and shoot into the bottom corner all without a challenge being made.

The second half saw more of the same; Killingworth dominated but struggled to turn their possession into goals. A great battling effort from Brazil was wasted when two more sloppy goals were conceded in a couple of minutes midway through the half. Firstly the unmarked player at a short corner was allowed to dribble unchallenged into a shooting position and secondly a horrendous mix-up gifted an open goal to the striker.

Brazil’s best chance of the match came late on when an excellent move saw Ewan Paterson run into the box and shoot over the bar. John Marquiss showed some skilful touches, on debut, but failed to make a real impact on the game. Man of the match was Matthew Creighton for his fine performance in the centre of the park.

This result leaves Brazil joint 8th in the table, having played two of the top three teams already. They have however scored only once in the four league games. This is a worrying statistic that needs to be addressed if they are to gain a respectable league position this season.

11/09/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Davison, Churchley, Walker, Haigh, Mitchell, Paterson, Greenwood, Slack, Harrison, Bull. Subs not used: Hinks.

Despite the strong wind, it was very hot out on the pitch. Social had most of the early possession but Brazil defended well and didn’t allow the hosts any clear shooting opportunities. Most of Brazil’s chances in the first half were limited to quick breaks. Three times Peter Slack found some space behind the right back; twice he was unfairly stopped by the linesman’s flag and the other time he forced a save from the keeper. The linesman seemed to be Social’s most effective defender whenever the ball was played over the top for Matty Bull or Mike Harrison. Andy Greenwood had a couple of long range shots but failed to hit the target.

Midway through the first half, Social took the lead when slack marking at a corner gifted their tall striker a free header. Brazil fought back and Bull’s opportunistic long range attempted lob appeared to be going in until it was held up in the wind, allowing the keeper to make a save. At the interval Brazil were confident that they could still get something out of the game.

The game got stretched in the second half with Brazil’s tiring players defending too deep, despite the efforts of their skipper, Davy Churchley, to bring the line up. The visitors seemed to lack the urgency required to get back into the match and allowed Social to dominate proceedings. Churchley and, man of the match, Bryan Walker defended solidly but were helpless to prevent Social extending their lead.

All of Brazil’s second half chances fell to Bull. Several efforts from distance were just off target and the keeper pulled off a couple of excellent saves. Brazil’s best chance came from a defensive corner. The cross was overhit and Churchley carried the ball out towards the right wing. He looked up and saw Greenwood in acres of space and gave him the ball. Bull’s excellent run met Greenwood’s inch-perfect pass but his first touch took the ball wide and a defender recoverd to make a clumsy challenge, which he got away with.

With time running out and the result beyond doubt, Social’s star player broke from midfield and thought he was going to get a goal but he hadn’t reckoned with Brazil’s captain. Churchley sprinted across the pitch and made a superbly timed, strong sliding tackle and even came away with the ball. Brazil should have had a late penalty for a blatent push in Harrison’s back at a corner but Social’s manager inveigled the referee as he shouted from the touchline and nothing was given.

04/09/2004
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Davison, Churchley, Kennedy, Haigh, Bowman, Creighton, Mitchell, McGurk, Harrison.

With their squad gutted, mainly due to holidays, Brazil fielded three debutants (Ste McGurk, Mike Harrison and Mike Bowman) and still only had ten men. Playing a 4-4-1 formation, the hosts first priority was to try to contain Jesmond, and not give them many chances. This was achieved superbly, with the whole team working hard for each other, as the visitors didn’t have a shot on goal until the 40th minute. A careless, unneccesary challenge gave the referee no alternative but to award a penalty. Jesmond’s tall Yugoslavian striker hit the back of the net to give his side an undeserved lead going into the break. Before this, Brazil had come close to scoring on several occasions. Shaun Haigh’s long range effort was tipped over by the keeper. McGurk and Matthew Creighton both saw free kicks go just wide of the far post. Gary Davison’s fierce drive was deflected wide by a defender’s ankle. Dave Churchley connected with McGurk’s corner but, at full stretch, couldn’t keep his volley down. The closest of all, however, was the conclusion of an excellent, quick, fluent, passing counter attack. Tom Mitchell’s cross from the right was headed against his own crossbar, with the keeper beaten, by one of the Jesmond centre backs.

The second half saw more of the same, with Brazil creating chances and defending excellently. Harrison (not to be confused with the club’s lanky secretary of a similar name) impressed in the difficult lone-striker role and didn’t allow Jesmond’s defenders any time on the ball. Brazil had numerous corners but couldn’t make the pressure tell. As the game went on, the ten men tired and Jesmond, with a full compliment on the pitch, used their substitutes to good effect. The game got stretched and James Katirai was called into making a couple of saves. A superb run and left-footed shot by Mark Kennedy was just tipped over the bar but by now it was the visitors that looked the more likely to score. An excellent 90th minute save by Katirai kept the score to one, when he was faced by two strikers. Creighton’s performance in the centre of the park earned him his first man of the match award for Brazil.

Other news:
Part time Brazil player, Andy Greenwood is leaving Newcastle in less than a fortnight to start a new life in Preston. If you would like to see him off, wish him well or just get drunk with his friends then attend his wake next Saturday night (September 11th). Contact Gary Davison for details.

Maximo Park, the excellent band fronted by Brazil’s Paul Smith, have a couple of gigs coming up in Newcastle. They will be playing Exhibition Park on Saturday, September 11th and The Head Of Steam on Monday, September 13th. I personally recommend that you try to get along to see them.