Beechfield United Football Club

POSTED: February 20 2020 15:46:40 By Keith Long - Reserves Angered By Bizarre Decision

For their latest fixture Beechfield United Reserves travelled to play Walshaw Sports A team and Manager Mark McWilliams was able to field a strong line-up as Beechy focused on getting three points to keep themselves in the Division 5 title race.

The match was spoiled due to the arrival of Storm Dennis that delivered fifty mile an hour winds and driving rain. The ball was constantly blown off the Astroturf Pitch and it took United until the 80th minute before they broke the deadlock. Beechy's central defender Louis Lawrence won the ball to break up a Walshaw attack and quickly moved it onto Keenan Switzer who found Callum Davies and United's leading goal scorer ran clear before slotting the ball past the keeper. While the Beechy camp were celebrating their 1-0 lead real drama unfolded when Louis Lawrence indicated he had to come off the pitch and as the referee and United's players stood waiting for the substitution to take place Walshaw Sports decided to restart the game. There was no whistle or verbal indication from the referee but a Walshaw striker sent the ball backwards to one of the hosts defenders who from the halfway line (wind assisted) hammered it into the net.

Beechy keeper Jason Rodgers made no attempt to make a save because like his teammates and manager instantly expected that the match official would order a restart but to everyone's amazement he awarded Walshaw an equalising goal. If the referees dreadful decision wasn't bad enough United knew their opponents had drafted in players from their reserve and 1st team squads but there was one consolation for the Beechy lads they stretched their unbeaten run to seven games. A brilliant performance for Zack Booth earned him the Man of the Match award.