POSTED: October 07 2020 21:11:07 By Keith Long
- Beechy Ladies Return With Narrow 4-3 Victory
Beechfield United Ladies Team who disbanded at the end of the 2017/2018 season were recently re-established and re-joined the Greater Manchester Womens League. The Ladies opening Division 2 fixture on 4/10/2020 was away against AFC Bolton and Beechy celebrated a narrow 4-3 victory.
The first five minutes of the match was played at a frantic pace and AFC Bolton had an early chance to go ahead via a free kick but the ball went wide of the post. A few moments later Beechy were awarded a free kick taken by Stacey Partridge and Becky Topping ended the move when she hit her effort just off target. After eighteen minutes another free kick for the hosts resulted in AFC Bolton taking the lead when the ball bounced around in the penalty area and deflected into the net off a Bolton player. Beechy had numerous attempts to get back level, Becky firing the ball just wide then Emily Walmsley sprinted down the right flank and her cross was met by Aimee Greenwood who hit the ball wide. Another accurate cross by Emily found Nicola Campion and she set-up Becky for a first time effort that again drifted wide of the target.
Crystal Barker made a surging run from midfield and sent the ball onto Nicola who's effort went over the crossbar. Both teams continued to create decent chances but slowly Beechy got a tighter grip on the match and five minutes before half time equalised. A long throw-in by Shauna Smith led to Emily Walmsley supplying a pinpoint cross for Aimee Greenwood to fire the ball past the keeper. Just three minutes into the second half Beechy went 2-1 up when a throw-in taken by Stacey was picked up by Crystal who raced clear and easily beat the keeper. But Beechy's lead lasted for just two minutes after a shot on target dipped over Beth Hill's outstretched arms and into the net for 2-2. Thanks to good work from Sophie Wainwright and Crystal Barker Beechy regained the lead through Becky Topping who deserved her goal for all her previous efforts but once again AFC Bolton fought back and were rewarded with their third goal.
Beechy continued to press hard in search of the vital next goal with Nicola, Sophie, Becky and Crystal all getting shots on target that forced saves from the hosts keeper who also denied Stacey following a well executed direct free kick. Eventually Beechy got what proved to be their match winning goal when again Crystal Barker battled her way through the middle of the pitch into a perfect position to hit a great strike past the stranded hosts keeper. As play continued to switch from end to end Crystal sustained an ankle injury and had to be carried off the pitch. Beechy's back four of Rachel Griffin, Shauna, Stacey and Sophie Addison all produced some solid defending to keep AFC Bolton at bay when the hosts came close to forcing at least a draw in the last fifteen minutes. Voted Player of the Match was Shauna Smith.