POSTED: May 08 2021 22:56:24 By Keith Long - Another High Scoring Win For Utd's A Team


Thanks to a hard working display which included some top-quality goals Beechfield United A Team beat Leigh Genesis 5-1 in the Open Trophy on 1/5/2021.

Beechy had home advantage and during a lively opening period some good defending by Kyle Braithwaite, Bradley Hodges and Kurtis Lee denied the visitors the chance of taking an early lead. Two similar moves between Keenan Switzer and Callum Davies resulted in shots on target by the latter forcing fine reaction saves from the agile Genesis keeper. The visitors played with lots of energy all over the pitch and almost scored the opening goal following a free kick but Beechy keeper Joe Haye spotted the danger and made an excellent one-handed save. Beechy made the vital breakthrough in the 12th minute after a long ball into the area by Keenan Switzer caused a mix-up between a Genesis defender and their keeper leaving Callum Davies with a simple close range finish.

On the quarter-hour mark United raced into a 2-0 lead after another brilliant piece of skill by Keenan Switzer who's perfectly weighted through ball had the visitors appealing for offside against Sam Bolton who advanced into the area and hammered the ball into the net. Several long balls sent deep into United's half were confidently dealt with by Beechy's central defender Kurtis Lee who had a first-class ninety minutes. Zach Booth and Keenan Switzer exchanged passes in a quick 1-2 move but the latter saw his effort curl straight at the keeper then moments later Zar Jordan suffered the same fate. Leigh Genesis were an hard working outfit but their defence was severely tested by Beechy's fast counter-attacks and a third United goal seemed a certainty.

The visitors made a couple of tactical changes in an effort to get a better foothold in this cup tie but Beechy continued to dictate the pace of the game and went 3-0 up on thirty seven minutes. An excellent move involving Zach Booth, Kane Rowley, Keenan Switzer and Callum Davies easily opened up the visitors defence and Zar Jordan added an accurate close range finish. Three times in quick succession the Leigh Genesis keeper rescued the visitors with some heroic saves as United ended the first half with another powerful attacking surge. The visitors reverted to a 4-5-1 formation at the start of the second half while Beechy made a tactical substitution that saw Josh Main-Quinn playing in midfield and Kane Rowley moving into the back four.

Leigh Genesis were rewarded for a fast start in the second period when they reduced the arrears via a well worked move down the right wing. Joe Haye kept out a powerful strike by the visitors No9 but the ball rebounded to Leigh's No6 who fired it into the bottom corner of the net. Suddenly Beechy faced a more determined Genesis outfit but they remained well organised all over the pitch and after forcing a corner the referee spotted a foul on a United player and awarded a penalty and from the spot-kick Callum Davies hammered the ball into the roof of the net for 4-1. Two great last ditch tackles by Kane Rowley halted surging runs by the Genesis No11 and as the action moved rapidly from end the end a brilliant effort from Callum Davies hit the top of the crossbar.

Leigh Genesis made two more tactical changes which had an immediate effect on the visitors who enjoyed more of the ball and Leigh's No6 and No11 directed operations on the attacking front. But Beechy soaked up the pressure and added their fifth goal through substitute Tom McCandless who had returned to the squad following an injury and he completed the scoring in the 78th minute. Bradley Hodges and Zach Booth shared the Man of the Match award.

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