Beechfield United Football Club

POSTED: February 13 2019 13:10:41 By Keith Long - 2-0 Down 1st Team Recover to Earn 2-2 Draw

Thanks to a superb second half display Beechfield United 1st Team fought back from 2-0 in their home game with Walshaw Sports to earn themselves a creditable 2-2 draw. Within the first sixty seconds United were on the attack and Jamie Sinnott had an effort on target blocked by Walshaw's No5. Early free kicks were awarded to both teams and Beechy keeper Rob Harrison made his first real save in the fourth minute. United won their initial corner when the ball bounced off a Walshaw defender and following Jamie Sinnott's flag kick Man of the Match Luke Johnston headed the ball wide and minutes later another chance went begging when Marcus Belcher met a Mike Rogerson free kick and glanced a header past the post. Walshaw Sports went ahead after thirteen minutes when the visitors won a free kick and taking advantage of slack United defending their No8 fired the ball high into the net from the edge of the area. There was some no frills defending from Mike Rogerson, Marcus Belcher, Luke Johnston and Carl Ravenscroft as Walshaw came close on a few occasion to getting a quick-fire second goal.

Jamie Sinnott was victim of a few late reckless tackles and after one incident the referee failed to show a warranted yellow card. After making another confident save Rob Harrison quickly threw the ball to Mike Rogerson and United's right back sent it forward onto Louis Duff and he jinked past the visitors No3 before forcing a save from the Walshaw keeper. Awarded yet another somewhat generous free kick Walshaw Sports increased their lead and once again Beechy were punished for poor defending when the Walshaw No10 made it 2-0 via a decisive finish. As they worked hard in an effort to reduce the arrears United continually found it difficult to breakdown a well organised Walshaw Sports back four. The best chance of a goal close to half time arrived when Louis Duff created an opportunity for Jamie Sinnott who's effort flashed just wide. Beechy made an impressive start to the second half and the Walshaw keeper was soon in action saving a low drive from Louis Duff.

At the end of the visitors first real attack after the break Walshaw's No9 with a clear sight of the target blasted the ball high over the crossbar. Brilliant defending by Luke Johnston and Marcus Belcher denied Walshaw a third goal and slowly United started to dictate the pace of this Premier Division match. Producing some first-class attacking football Beechy started to open up the visitors defence and Jamie Sinnott wasted a fairly easy chance when he volleyed a pass from Jordan Jones-Waite over the crossbar. A swift counter-attack won Walshaw a free kick but again the visitors No9 was off target with a close range effort. United continued to enjoy a greater share of the ball and with Chris Ferris, Steven Erskine and Ethan Birds winning their share of the midfield battles a goal wasn't too far away. Substitutes Mike Phythian and Kurtis Lee were introduced into the action inside the last twenty minutes and following a brief stoppage United were quickly back on the attack.

Beechy reduced the arrears on seventy nine minutes after Steve Erskine's excellent perfectly weighted pass was instantly controlled by Jordan Jones-Waite who found the unmarked Jamie Sinnott and Beechy's No9 via a top-class finish hammered the ball past the helpless Walshaw keeper. A key moment in the game arrived when Rob Harrison produced an outstanding one-handed save after a powerful shot by Walshaw's No11 looked to heading for the bottom corner of the net. The visitors forced successive corners but United defended superbly and play was soon back the visitors half and after racing onto another great Steven Erskine pass Kurtis Lee wasted a decent chance. The Walshaw No3 was guilty of a rash challenge on Jordan Jones-Waite inside the area and the referee immediately awarded United a penalty and taking the spot-kick himself Jordan confidently made it 2-2. During the last few minutes both Kurtis Lee and Jordan Jones-Waite could easily have guaranteed Beechy what would have been a deserved victory.