POSTED: December 21 2020 11:10:43 By Keith Long
- Xmas/New Year Bonus For Beechy Ladies
Earning themselves a Christmas/New Year Bonus were Beechfield United Ladies who played their last fixture of 2020 in the Greater Manchester Womens League.
Due to Beechy's pitch being unavailable their home game with Curzon Ashton was switched to the Astroturf Pitch at Ordsall Leisure Centre. Beechy who led 2-0 at half time upped the tempo in the second period and celebrating a 7-0 victory go into the New Year with a three point lead at the top of the Division 2 table. Sixteen players were available for the game and straight from the kick-off Beechy were on the attack and there was an early chance of a goal for Aimee Greenwood but an alert Curzon defender cleared the ball from inside the area. A first time clearance by Hannah Walker resulted in Beechy taking the lead in the 4th minute when Sophie Wainwright and Becky Topping exchanged passes and the latter curled the ball beyond the keeper for 1-0. Looking for an immediate equaliser a few counter-attacks from the visitors forced some confident defending from both Bethany Hill and Shauna Smith.
Curzon's keeper saved a powerful strike by Stacy Partridge after Beechy's No8 had produced another trademark solo run then Crystal Barker's terrific pass found Stacy and she casually set-up Becky Topping who forced another fine save from the visitors keeper. After twelve minutes Stacy Partridge hammered the ball at the target and it clearly looked as if it had gone over the keeper and into the net but the referee's decision was it had dropped onto the roof of the net. Beechy keeper Abi Thirsk who had a fairly easy ninety minutes comfortably dealt with a few overhit passes as Curzon pushed hard again to get back level with their No7 heavily involved. Aimee Greenwood supplied a superb through ball onto Crystal Barker who was unlucky not to force the ball past the keeper who made a fine diving save. Gradually winning more of the ball in a sometimes crowded midfield Beechy forced a succession of corners before a tactical change was made when Nicola Campion replaced Emily Walmsley.
Following another counter-attack according to the referee a Curzon defender cleared the ball off the line but though several Beechy players claimed it had fully crossed the line the match official didn't reverse his original decision. Another piece of skill from Aimee Greenwood carved out a chance for Sophie Wainwright but the Beechy No6 saw her effort miss the target then Becky Topping controlled a inch perfect through ball from Sophie Addison and fired the ball inches wide. Hannah Walker and Sophie Wainwright were replaced by Sian Anderson and Mia Pemberton who took the corner that led to Beechy going 2-0 up via Aimee Greenwood after thirty eight minutes. More solid defending from Sophie Addison, Bethany Hill and Shauna Smith ruined Curzon Ashton's hopes of reducing the arrears before the players went off the pitch for the half time break.
The visitors made a confident start to the second half and passed the ball much better but they rarely managed to get a direct shot on target. Becky Topping, Sophie Addison and Aimee Greenwood combined down the right wing and it was the latter who ended the move when she fired the ball just wide. On fifty four minutes Nicola Campion scored Beechy's third goal when she was gifted an easy finish following a mix-up between the the Curzon keeper and a visitors defender. A rare corner to Curzon resulted in a half chance for their No6 after Beechy's defenders had failed to deal with a bouncing ball inside the area. Goal number four arrived in the 62nd minute following a terrific move involving Becky Topping and Nicola Campion that created the opportunity for Player of the Match Sophie Addison to skilfully beat two opponents before coolly slotting the ball past the keeper. The biggest cheer of the match was reserved for Sarah-Jane Hobson who scored her first ever goal for the team when she made it 5-0 after receiving an inch perfect pass from Nicola Campion.
Just two minutes later as they continued to dominate possession Beechy were rewarded with their sixth goal when Nicola Campion was on target again with her second goal of the game. Nearly all the action was in Curzon's half of the pitch as Beechy kept the ball moving quickly around the artificial surface and when the visitors looked for a consolation goal once again their forwards got no joy against United's well organised back four. Substitute Jodine Beveridge got her chance to shine in the game when she replaced Nicola Campion and on seventy eight minutes a spectacular strike from twenty yards by Crystal Barker made it 7-0 and completed the scoring. Beechy's first game in the New Year is a home game on 10th January 2021 versus Greater Manchester Football Club Women.