06/05/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Paterson, Creighton, Honeywood, Freath, Haigh, Katirai, Bull.
Subs not used: Sharples, Davison.

With the ground hard and uneven and the grass quite long, conditions were not conducive to a good game of football. The match started quite evenly with neither side finding a way past either defence on the small pitch. Unsurprisingly, it was a mistake that led to the first goal. Surprisingly, it was a mistake by the (otherwise) excellent referee. A shot from well outside the box went wide of the box and straight out of play without anyone getting a touch. The referee must have thought that it had taken a deflection or that Lee Wilkinson had got a hand to it as he gave a corner. A free header put the home side ahead. A few minutes later, the same player scored again from another corner from the same side.

Brazil responded well and created some chances of their own. Matty Bull won the ball off his brother (who was playing in defence for New York), beat the next defender and laid it off to James Katirai. His shot was well struck but blocked. Ewan Paterson gained possession and fed Matthew Creighton on the edge the box. His attempted lob left the New York keeper stranded but the ball came back off the crossbar. A deep corner by Bull was turned back into the danger area by Katirai. Bryan Walker met the ball firmly with his head but couldn’t keep it down.

After the break, Brazil continued to have the better of the game. Bull and Creighton both went close with free kicks before it looked like Shaun Haigh would continue his recent excellent goal scoring form. A superbly timed run beat the offside trap and, with just the keeper to beat, Brazil’s skipper looked odds on to score. Just as he was about to shoot he was carelessly hauled to the ground from behind by a defender. A red card was almost inevitable for the initial offence but it became even more certain after the defender reacted badly to something Katirai said. The New York player raced over to Katirai (his ex-team mate) pushing, hitting and threatening him. Katirai conducted himself superbly and didn’t react at all. Mark Freath and Dave Churchley quickly separated the players before any damage was done. The New York player was dismissed.

Brazil were starting to dominate with their numerical advantage until Bull went over on his ankle and was forced out of the game for a while. This lost Brazil’s momentum and New York grabbed a third on a counter attack. After Bull was back on the field, he nearly scored a late consolation. He got on the end of Wilkinson’s long clearance but saw his first time shot rebound back off the inside of the post.

After the game, New York’s dismissed defender was still looking to start a fight with Katirai (or anyone else that spoke or was even nearby) but Brazil’s players just left him to rant on on his own.

The most exciting Player of the Year race in Brazil’s history edged in Bull’s favour as his man of the match for this game takes him one clear of Churchley and Creighton with just one match left to play.

29/04/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Garry, Churchley, Walker, Harrison, Paterson, Creighton, Mitchell, Haigh, Allen, Dunkley.

With several regular players unavailable and two dropping out on the day of the match, Brazil did well to get 11 men on the field. Mark Garry reclaimed his record as Brazil’s oldest ever player and Guy Allen and Paul Dunkley became Brazil’s 99^th and 100^th players to either register or play for the club in the four seasons since they joined the Tyneside Amateur league.

The opening exchanges were fairly even but the wind, sun and slope favoured the visitors and justified their increasing possessional dominance. James Katirai was twice called upon to make good saves before an incredible refereeing faux pas turned the match. As the cross bounced and bobbled just inside the edge of the Brazil box, the defender lunged at and missed the ball. The forward also lunged at and missed the ball and crashed into the back of the defender, sending both players to the ground. At this point, both sides were happy to continue playing on but the referee’s whistle was blown. A couple of Forest Hall players started arguing against what they thought was free kick given to Brazil, as they were still in a promising area of the pitch, but the referee bemused everyone by signalling to the penalty spot. Katirai was only centimetres away from bringing justice to the situation, as he dived to his left. Forest Hall then scored another controversial goal to double their lead. As one forward pulled the Brazil defender away from the ball by his shirt, the other forward ran onto the free ball and smashed it into the net. A third goal followed for the visitors, before half time, as they put away and unmarked header from a corner.

With the change of ends it appeared that Brazil may have a change of fortunes as they struck back immediately after the interval. Matthew Creighton’s sliced shot fell kindly for Shaun Haigh. After a poor first touch on his thigh, he redeemed himself by firing the ball into the top corner with his left foot to continue his goal scoring run. After this, however, it just got embarrassing as wave after wave of Forest Hall attacks overwhelmed an outnumbered Brazil defence. Brazil would have had a consolation goal late on but, after beating two defenders, a bobble on the pitch defeated Dunkley and he shot high and wide.

Creighton was man of the match again.

05/04/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Rothwell (Smith 45), Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Ellis, Freath, Creighton, Haigh, Katirai, Bull.

For the second time in five days an under-strength Brazil team lost to by a single goal to a side they really should be beating. Scott Rothwell made his debut for Brazil, who took while to get going in their first evening game since August. Wardley had more of the ball in the opening period but Brazil’s defence was solid and didn’t let them get a clean shot on goal. In the second quarter of the game, Brazil started to get the ball down and play football. The best chance fell to the experienced Mark Freath but instead of shooting with his left foot, he tried to cut back inside onto his right and the chance was lost.

Two errors combined to gift Wardley a goal in the second half. Brazil fought back but couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed to get back into the game. Matty Bull worked tirelessly up front and had a couple of good shots well blocked around the edge of the box. Matthew Creighton’s long range free kick was well saved by the diving goalkeeper down at the foot of the right hand post. As darkness descended, Lee Wilkinson made a couple of very good saves. Player/manager Dave Churchley was man of the match.

01/04/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Katirai, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Kennedy, Dixon, Paterson, Creighton, Marquiss, McCourt, Bull.

In the only Tyneside Amateur League match to survive the weather, Brazil had to make some last minute phone calls to get eleven players together. The pitch, which was on the verge of being unplayable, was not conducive to Brazil’s slick, flowing, passing game so it was no surprise that they struggled early on, as they came to terms with the conditions. The home side took the lead with a break down the right. James Katirai saved the first shot but could only parry it to Gateshead’s second striker who put his side ahead. Katirai made a good save with his face after a shot bounced unevenly off the ground and some very good defending from Craig Ellis helped to keep the score down.

Midway through the half, Brazil began to find their feet and the passes started to connect. Matty Bull got onto the end of Jim McCourt’s flick on, burst past the defence and fired the ball into the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. A couple of minutes later Bull broke free again. This time he wasn’t offside and his powerful right footed shot beat the keeper easily but they way the pitch dropped away down the slope meant that the ball crashed against the crossbar. The deserved equaliser didn’t take too long in coming though. Dave Churchley’s free kick set Bull free down the right. His perfect cross was met on the volley by the left foot of John Marquiss who had ghosted in at the far post. Before the interval, Brazil took the lead from the penalty spot. Bryan Walker’s throw into the box was about to be flicked on by Mark Kennedy but two Gateshead defenders jumped on his back and shoved him to the ground. Bull buried the spot kick straight down the middle of the goal.

The second half was always going to be difficult for Brazil; playing uphill, into the wind with the sun in their eyes and no substitutes. Brazil had a few chances (Bull brought a good save out of the keeper with a left-footed shot from a tight angle and McCourt twice had time to shoot in the box but missed the target) but as they tired Gateshead brought on three fresh players and made the advantage tell. The hosts were forced to work hard for their victory and Brazil were left to think about how things could have been different. Ewan Paterson’s endeavours in the muddy centre of the pitch earned him his first man of the match award of the season. Scouts from Wardley Durham Ranger were present at the match but they will have learnt little ahead of Wednesday’s encounter as it will be a very different Brazil side on that occasion.

25/03/2006
Tyneside Amateur League Division 2

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Ellis, Churchley, Walker, Mitchell, Paterson, Creighton (Kennedy 70), Freath, Haigh, Katirai (Harrison 45), Day.

The withdrawal of Matty Bull before kick off with a staircase injury rocked Brazil but they still went out full of confidence. It was just an off day though with Brazil seeming to be second to almost every ball. Rob Day and Matthew Creighton both went close for the visitors but it was Wallsend that took the lead. This boosted their confidence and they were passing the ball around as if they had an extra man on the pitch. A poor refereeing decision gave the hosts a two goal cushion with a penalty.

In the second half Brazil were better but still only second best. Whilst Wallsend passed the ball around well and enjoyed going forward they still looked very vulnerable at the back. On another day, Day could have scored five or six but on this occasion he didn’t. The highlight of the game was a superb run by Shaun Haigh but at the end of it he was caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross and the result turned out to be a good example of neither.

A third goal wrapped up the victory for the hosts but, to their credit, Brazil continued to work and look for the elusive goal. Ewan Paterson’s superb corner fizzed across the six yard box but three Brazil players couldn’t get a touch. Day continued to cause the defence all kinds of problems and force the keeper into a number of good saves. Towards the end, Lee Wilkinson managed to get enough of a block onto a shot to enable Dave Churchley to get back and clear it off the line to stop the score line from becoming embarrassing. Bryan Walker was man of the match.

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.

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.

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 80^th 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.