POSTED: December 08 2020 18:29:35. By Keith Long - League Cup Victory For Beechy Ladies


Beechfield United Ladies were back in action following the four week lockdown with a home game against Bolton Ladies Greys and they celebrated a 6-2 victory.

In this League Division 2 cup tie Beechy made a terrific start to the contest when they took the lead within two minutes. Nicola Campion and Mia Pemberton combined down the left flank and a pinpoint cross by the latter was met by Aimee Greenwood who after timing her run into the area fired the ball home for the opening goal. Both Crystal Barker and Becky Topping had chances to increase the lead prior to Bolton Ladies forcing their first corner of the match and following the flag kick there was a piece of great defending by Stacy Partridge who under pressure cleared the ball out of the danger zone. In the 9th minute Beechy were rewarded with their second goal through Nicola Campion who controlled a pass from Crystal Barker and after going past the visitors keeper United's No9 added an accurate low finish. Bolton Ladies appealed for offside but the goal stood and quickly forgetting the setback the visitors created a few promising counter-attacks.

Briefly the visitors forced some essential defending from Beechy's back four of Sophie Addison, Bethany Hill, Shauna Smith and Rachel Griffin. Beechy keeper Abi Thirsk had a fairly comfortable start in the game while Bolton Ladies No1 who was constantly involved looked in good form. Bolton Ladies won another corner and had a chance to reduce the arrears when Abi Thirsk was forced to palm the ball across the area but the visitors No11 fluffed her attempt from close range. At the end of a superb counter-attack Becky Topping cleverly worked her way into an ideal shooting position but she blasted the ball wide of the target. Bolton Ladies best player their No17 had a goal disallowed for offside during another attacking spell from the visitors. Hannah Walker replaced Rachel Griffin in the left back position but despite enjoying a great share of the ball Beechy weren't firing on all cylinders though the players remained totally focused.

Crystal Barker who was voted Player of the Match had the knack of finding room in midfield to make some penetrating runs and she sent a great forward pass onto Beck Topping and her effort curled the wrong side of the post. Then Stacy Partridge delivered a brilliant long ball that sent Mia Pemberton racing into the visitors penalty area but Beechy's No18 couldn't add the required finish. Continuing to compete hard but fair Bolton Ladies made a couple of substitutions in quick succession and the visitors again went close to getting themselves a goal. Controlling a rebound off an opponent Sophie Addison evaded a strong challenge before firing the ball just off target with only the keeper to beat. Mia Pemberton gave Beechy a 3-0 lead when she won possession on the right flank and after easily gliding past a visitors defender saw her thunderous strike hit the underside of the crossbar and rebound over the goal line. Bolton Ladies including their Team Manager disputed the goal but the referee was well positioned on the pitch and confirmed that all of the ball had crossed the line and into the net.

Beechy made a couple of changes at the start of the second half with Emily Walmsley and Sophie Wainwright taking over from Nicola Campion and Mia Pemberton. Making a positive start in the second period Bolton Ladies created a few half chances but three long range efforts failed to really test Beechy's goalie Abi Thirsk. Another powerful surging run from the halfway line by Crystal Barker took her into the penalty area but she fired the ball straight at the keeper. After fifty five minutes Bolton Ladies reduced the arrears through their lively No9 who was gifted far too much time and space to take aim at the target and fire the ball high into the net. When the visitors grew in confidence the game suddenly became more open with play rapidly moving from end to end and both Bethany Hill and Shauna Smith produced some superb defending before Beechy quickly restored their three goal advantage. Via her second goal of the game Aimee Greenwood added a great finish after being set-up superbly by Beck Topping who angled the ball between two defenders. Ninety seconds later another great passing move resulted in Beechy going 5-1 up when Sophie Addison beat the visitors offside trap waited for the keeper to make a move and curled the ball into the net. Sophie Wainwright was involved in several attacks down the right wing as Beechy looked to add to their goals tally following some well crafted moves.

Bolton Ladies scored their second goal in the 70th minute after a move from left to right and after Abi Thirsk had used her foot to force the ball away it rolled into the path of the visitors No17 who promptly dispatched it into the unguarded net. Hannah Walker who had a decent game was replaced by Danielle Farrand and finding a much more fluent rhythm Beechy created some great attacking soccer. Several moves were ruined due to offside but one top-class attack almost ended with a goal when Becky Topping and Aimee Greenwood exchanged passes but Emily Walmsley fired the ball over the crossbar. A couple more substitutions by Bolton Ladies didn't alter the flow of the game in the last quarter-hour as Beechy kept the ball much better with Stacy Partridge a key figure in midfield. After forcing a fine reaction save from the visitors keeper a couple of minutes later Crystal Barker carved out the opening for Emily Walmsley to casually slot the ball beyond the keeper for the sixth goal and complete the scoring in the 80th minute. The visitors keeper was kept busy in the final few minutes and a terrific piece of defending by Bethany Hill denied the Bolton Ladies No9 the chance of a late third goal for United's plucky opponents.



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