5th October 2002
NFA Minor Cup 1st Round

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Charge (G Clark 45), Churchley, M McClure, Haigh, Hinks (Toward 70), Lambert, P Clark, Belcher (Goodliff 60), Paterson, R McClure.
Subs not used: Harrison.

The pre-match build up was a bit of a farce. The Methodists had no pegs for the goal nets and no pump for the match ball. Brazil supplied a pump and twigs were used to keep the nets in place. This caused the kick off to be delayed by 15 minutes.

The Methodists started kicking down the hill with the wind behind them and caused Brazil some trouble early on with the long ball over the top. Once Brazil had acclimatized to the conditions though they began to take charge of the game. It was the Methodists, however, that opened the scoring against the run of play. A long ball was met by the quick number 10 who lifted it over Al Andrew, who was left with no chance.

Brazil continued to dominate proceedings and started to create a few chances of their own. When Paul Belcher was felled just inside the penalty area, the referee, who was poor on the day, awarded Brazil a free kick rather than a penalty. Ricky McClure coolly slotted it into the far corner of the goal though to bring the scores level. It was R McClure’s 3rd goal in two matches. After the goal, Brazil created a few more chances. Paul Clark’s free kick was headed across the face of the goal by Dave Churchley but no-one managed to get on the end of it, Jon Hinks headed a Belcher free kick just inches wide and R McClure forced an excellent save from the Methodist keeper with a left foot drive from 20 yards.

The second half began as the first had ended, with Brazil much the better side. Again, however, it was the Methodists that scored first. This prompted Brazil to make an attacking substitution and shift to the 4-4-2 formation. It paid off as Les Goodliff scored with his first touch. Brazil then continued to press forward in search of a winner. Goodliff and R McClure both went close on a couple of occasions before one of the Methodist midfielders took off his shirt and walked off the pitch in disgust at the language being used by his team mate. The referee, quite correctly, booked the bare chested player before he was substituted by the Methodist manager.

Despite Brazil’s domination, it looked like the match was heading for extra time until the Methodists broke late on. The ball was lifted over the out-rushing Andrew and was headed goalward. Churchley managed to sprint back though and scoop the ball out from under his own bar.

Extra time passed without much incident, except for the booking of the Methodist number 10 for dissent. He was a rough player (as Churchley’s black eye showed), despite his speed and skill, and was lucky to stay on the pitch.

After 120 minutes of football, the outcome of the tie would be decided by penalty kicks. Brazil won the toss and opted to kick first.

This how the shootout panned out:
G Clark Miss; Methodists Goal 0-1
Lambert Save; Methodists Goal 0-2
P Clark Goal; Methodists Miss 1-2
Paterson Goal; Methodists Goal 2-3
Goodliff Goal; Methodists Miss 3-3
Sudden death:
Churchley Goal; Methodists Goal 4-4
R McClure Goal; Methodists Goal 5-5
M McClure Goal; Methodists Goal 6-6
Toward Goal; Methodists Save 7-6

Andrew celebrated as if he had just won the FA Cup and ran (yes, ran!) towards his team mates on the half way line. Brazil progress to the 2nd round and Goodliff was awarded man of the match. Celebrations continued long into the morning of the Sunday when Churchley and Mark Harrison, along with other squad members Rick and Stu Blair, were competing in the Great North Run.