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With both teams having 7 players the game was played as 7v7 to give both set of players a good run out and practice for next season.
Not a lot to get excited about with the first half, the team really struggled to adjust to the format against a team who have been playing their games 7v7 most of the season at this venue.
The team lacked the high intensity they normally put on teams and were slow to transition from attacking and defensive plays, Beechy were punished with 4 first half goals, 2 of which were unlucky deflections off our defenders. Half time, a quick chat about what they need to do in the second half to at least go home with some pride and the lads were back out.
The game restarted and the intensity was taken up a notch and we started to find our feet. Beechy pulled a goal back not long into the first half with a brilliant Chase Sixsmith run down the left wing, beating a couple of players then unselfishly cut back to place the goal on a plate for Harrison Spencer toreduced the arrears.
This gave the team a boost and we were back, Beechy now looked the better side and started to put Irlam under pressure, the team were pressing and chasing down every ball knowing we had the stability with Grayson Owen and George Kelly at the back along with Oscar Spencer behind them in goal giving their forward players nothing to feed off.
Beechy then pulled another well deserved goal back with Harrison Spencer making a run forward from centre midfield, cutting out wide and driving a low ball into the box, Antonio Emballo finishing with a fantastic first time finish to the left post earning Thunder a second goal. Beechy then stepped it up another gear.
Chase Sixsmith pulled another goal back with a signature Chase solo goal, picking up the ball and driving straight for goal with one thing on his mind, beating two players then having the pressure of two defenders chasing him down and calmly sending it home and bringing it to one goal behind. Yet again, this took the team up to another gear, now they could smell blood and the pressure they put on Irlam was far too much for them to handle.
Beechy chased everything down and played some fantastic football, knocking on the door over and over again, frustrating that play kept being stopped when the team were in a dangerous position, play was being stopped for players who had given up only for the restart to be back to our goalkeeper for a goal kick.
Third goal came from another great transitional play, a free kick was unfortunately awarded for a foul with no advantage played, George Kelly scored a long range rocket just as the ref blown to award a free kick for a foul in the build up.
Most teams would be unfortunate with this decision but this squad is spoilt for choice with free kick takers.
Harrison Spencer calmly placed the ball down and followed up with a rocket free kick to bring the game to all square.
Just when we thought we were at our peak, the team took it up yet again to another level, with seconds remaining it looked like a well deserved draw but the Beechy boys were not accepting the draw.
Some brilliant team football putting Irlam again on the back foot was rewarded with a long range worldie from George Kelly on par with his earlier long range effort, this sent the team and support wild who had been on the receiving end of Irlam celebrating every goal in the first half a wee bit over the top, what a way for Thunder to win the match with the very last kick of the game.
The team deserved that goal and win with one of the greatest comebacks and team turn arounds you’ll ever see in grassroots football against a really strong Irlam side.
MOM, Chase Sixsmith who worked his little legs off for the team all game and really put himself about.