POSTED: December 02 2022 21:23:54 By Keith Long
- Hat-Trick Of Wins For Beechy Ladies
Beechfield United Ladies made it three wins on the trot following their 5-2 home victory over Mancunian Unity Development Team on Sunday 27th November 2022.
*Thanks to the three points Beechy moved up to second place in the Greater Manchester Womens League Division One table. Making a fast and confident start Mancunian Unity forced some early defennding from Beechy and on one occasion Julie Ward made a vital clearance from around the penalty spot. In reply a slick Beechy move between Stacy Partridge, Aimee Greenwood, Becky Topping and Amie Barratt almost produced the opening goal. An effort by Amie Barratt flashed wide of the target the Aimee Greenwood was inches away from getting on the end of a great cross from Jess Lawson. Another well worked move involving Stacy Partridge, Becky Topping and Jess Lawson was ruined when the referee deemed that Natasha Herity was in an offside position when she received the ball.
Unity's No11 forced a rare save from Beechy keeper Mya Holmes after the visitors had created a quick counter-attack down the right wing. Beechy took the lead in the 14th minute after Aimee Greenwood won a corner and following an accurate Stacy Partridge flag kick Natasha Herity volleyed the ball low past the keeper and into the net off the post. The visitors continued to work hard in all areas of the pitch but Beechy maintained a greater share of the ball and created more stylish moves as they searched for a another goal. Beechy's back four Kirsten Elrick, Alice Mosley, Megan Mirfield and Julie Ward were well organised as they limited the visitors to just a few goalscoring opportunities.
Natasha Herity and Jess Lawson combined in a neat quick passing moves and from outside the area another effort by Amie Barratt was just off target. After twenty five minutes Beechy went 2-0 up via Becky Topping who neatly controlled a pass from Jess Lawson and fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net. When Unity attacked through the midfield twice in succession great defending by Alice Mosley blocked shots on target from the visitors No18. It was Alice Mosley who scored Beechy's third goal in the 32nd minute when she timed her run into the area to meet a corner taken by Jess Lawson. The Unity goalie was in action three minutes later making a diving save to keep out a shot on target by Amie Barrett who had received a crossfield pass from Aimee Greenwood.
Following a quickly taken throw-in Unity reduced the arrears but Beechy produced a quick response and took a 4-1 lead when Jess Lawson hammered the ball over the keeper from about thirty yards. An excellent long pass by Natasha Herity created a chance for Amie Barrett who deserved a goal but Amie's effort whizzed past the post. During the last action of the first half a last ditch tackle by Megan Mirfield denied the Unity No10 the chance of a direct shot from outside the area. When play resumed after the break Beechy were quickly on the attack and good play on the left wing by Aimee Greenwood set-up a chance for Stacy Partridge who's fierce drive dipped over the crossbar. Unity relied more on the counter-attack but maintaining a tight grip on the contest Beechy added goal number five on fifty six minutes. A foul on Julie Ward won Beechy a direct free kick and with her nineteenth goal of the season Jess Lawson executed a fabulous finish from the dead ball situation. Beechy kept creating chances but conceded a second goal after sixty one minutes when a speculative effort by the Unity No8 caught Mya Holmes by surprise and eventually the ball bounced into the net.
A great solo run by Jess Lawson who collected a pass from Kirsten Elrick forced a corner and a close range header by Alice Mosley was just off target. Two minutes later Kirsten Elrick's deep cross earned Beechy another corner but this time the Unity keeper safely caught the ball during a goalmouth scramble. Good defending from Megan Mirfield and Julie Ward dealt with long balls hit deep into Beechy's half as the action drifted from end to end. A brilliant pass from Stacy Partridge was superbly controlled by Natasha Herity who's first time volley drifted off target then Natasha turned provider when she created a chance for Stacy. Though Unity threatened to score again Beechy dictated the pace of the game in the last ten minutes and a swerving effort from Amie Barrett hit the post then a superb strike by Stacy Partridge rattled the crossbar. Julie Ward had the chance of a goal but fired the ball wide just before the final whistle.