POSTED: November 24 2022 13:52:30 By Keith Long
- U/18's Thunder 12/11/2022 & 19/11/2022
In the Bolton Bury and District League there was little joy for Beechfield United Under 18's Thunder following two tough games against very good opposition.
*On Saturday 12th November 2022 Thunder were home to top of Section B team Atherton Colls Juniors who won the game 3-1. The visitors made a very confident start against a slightly below-par Beechy outfit and totally dominated the first half. It looked like being a hard day at the office for Thunder when they found themselves 3-0 down ten minutes before half time. But Beechy gradually started to use the ball better and creating some decent goalscoring opportunities began the second half looking a different team. Ishor Bajagi and Dominic Lawton dictated play in midfield opening up the Atherton defence with some delightful through balls.
The hosts defended well against heavy Beechy pressure helped by great play on the flanks by the hard working Max Chidgey and Ryley Walker. Thunder were eventually rewarded with their consolation goal when Callum Snaith linked-up superbly with Miguel Gikundino and the latter delivered a great cross into the area for Joshua Jones to score his first goal for Beechy in only his fourth game.
Thunder kept the pressure on their opponents but once again Atherton Colls produced more solid defending while the hosts relied more on the counter-attack. The Atherton left winger who was involved in most of the action had a tough time against Thunder's Man of the Match Konstantin Hristova. With the last kick of the game Beechy had a goal disallowed due to a foul on the Atherton keeper.
*Seven days later Thunder were away at Shevington Sky who proved to be very physical opponents. Probably the strongest team in the division Shevington were very confident on the ball and constantly found gaps in Beechy's defence forcing Thunder's keeper to work overtime. The hosts made the vital breakthrough when a Shevington player was allowed far too much time and space to fire the ball into the top corner of the net. Beechy responded and frustrated their opponents by pressing high up the pitch and created numerous chance though the finishing touch was missing.
But eventually Thunder got a deserved equaliser via Miguel Gikindino who scored a brilliant individual goal when he ran from the halfway line beating several Shevington players before slotting the ball low past the keeper. In the second half Beechy matched their opponents and came close to taking the lead until Shevington gradually showed their best qualities scoring three goals in a ten minute spell. The hosts added three more goals before Thunder enjoyed a better period of possession in the final ten minutes during which they almost netted a second goal.