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Ryton AFC Reserves 3 -1 IJLW Brazil

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26/03/2005
North East Amateur Shield Semi-Final

IJLW Brazil
Wilkinson, Walker, Churchley, Kennedy, Katirai, McGowan, Creighton, Haigh, Ho, Goodliff, Bull.
Subs not used: Freath.

A bumper crowd saw Brazil’s cup hopes end for another season despite a brave performance in the face of adversity. Playing a 3-5-2 formation designed specifically to counteract Ryton’s league-topping form, Brazil started well giving Ryton none of the time or space they thrive on. The five man midfield also allowed Brazil to give some support to Les Goodliff and Matty Bull up front. With 20 minutes gone, the critical moment of the game occurred when Bull reacted badly after a foul on him went unnoticed. A verbal tirade directed at the referee resulted in Brazil’s top scorer being dismissed for foul and abusive language.

Regardless of the setback, the ten men of Brazil continued to work hard for each other and actually took the lead. Jonny McGowan broke into the box and was bundled over from behind as he brought the ball under control leaving the referee no alternative but to award a penalty. With the regular penalty taker off the pitch, Goodliff stepped up and confidently smashed Brazil into the lead. A strong team effort, with no Brazil player losing out in a 50-50 situation, kept the lead against the numerically advantaged, top of the league, home side right up until seconds before half time, when a fine volley from the edge of the box levelled the scores.

In the second half, Brazil were under almost constant pressure; with Ryton having corner after corner. Brazil defended them well, despite being a much shorter team so it was ironic when the home side took the lead from a short corner. As Brazil napped at the front post, the ball was taken into the box and the cross was met by a powerful header into the top corner. Some of Brazil’s players were tiring fast but Mark Freath’s broken toe ruled him out of making an appearance. Although Goodliff was very isolated up front, the man of the match’s pace and strength almost got Brazil an equalizer. He got onto the end of a long ball, past the last defender and stabbed the ball past the goalkeeper. As the ball bobbled towards the goal, however, the defender managed to get back and knock it round the post.

Despite Ryton’s incessant pressure, they did not get many clear goal scoring opportunities, thanks to the way Brazil defended as a team, all working hard for each other. Lee Wilkinson’s rushed clearance presented Ryton with their best chance when it rebounded to a striker off the back of McGowan’s head. Brazil’s goalkeeper atoned for his error though with a brilliant save. On another occasion, when Wilkinson was beaten, Dave Churchley sprinted back onto the line to clear with his head. The third and decisive goal came from a low strike into the bottom corner of the goal following a half-cleared corner, with about ten minutes remaining.

IJLW Brazil 0 – 8 Fitzgerald’s Whitley Bay

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30/08/2003
John Hampson Memorial Trophy Semi Final

IJLW Brazil
Andrew, Davison, Churchley, Toms, Kennedy, Hinks, M McClure, Bancroft, Haigh, Harrison, Goodliff.

With nine players unavailable for Brazil, meaning they had no substitutes, it was never going to be an easy task against a team from the division above. Things started well, however, as Brazil won the toss but from then on Fitzgerald’s were on top throughout. Brazil looked jaded from their mid-week exertions in the quarter final but, despite the excuses, there was no denying that Fitzgerald’s were simply a superior side. They dominated the match right from the start. Brazil had very little possession and rarely threatened the Fitzgerald’s goal. The first shot was a 45 yard volley by Dave Churchley but from that range it never really troubled the goalkeeper. Shaun Haigh cut inside from the left but his right-footed effort was blocked by a defender. Les Goodliff put over some good in-swinging corners but they were all defended well by the tall Fitzgerald’s team. In between these brief highlights, Fitzgerald’s were busy scoring goals at the other end.

With the score at 4-0, Alan Bancroft moved to centre back and Steve Toms swapped with him and moved into midfield. Straight away a good piece of skill by Toms took him away from two Fitzgerald’s players but his shot from the edge of the area was far too high. Fitzgerald’s scored twice more before the break, including a penalty.

Brazil began the second half better and had a fifteen minute spell where Fitzgerald’s hardly had a chance. Brazil’s best opportunity to score fell to man of the match Mark Harrison but the lanky striker blazed well over the bar from close range. A couple of good one-on-one saves by Al Andrew, some hard tackling by Mark Kennedy and goal line clearances by Harrison and Churchley helped to keep the score below double figures but Fitzgerald’s still managed to inflict Brazil’s second biggest defeat ever.