POSTED: October 07 2022 15:41:18 By Keith Long
- Defeat For Ladies Team After Below-Par Display
Following a below-par display in their Greater Manchester Womens League Division 1 home game on Sunday 2nd October 2022 with Tiki Taka a disappointed Beechfield United Ladies suffered a 5-3 defeat.
*Beechy kicked-off the match but it was the visitors who created the first worthwhile attack and after the Tiki Taka No17 raced into the area Monique Pollard produced an excellent well timed ball winning tackle. Both Alice Mosley and Shauna Smith had to make first time clearances when Tiki Taka counter-attacked down both wings. Maintaining a confident start the visitors created some very good football and Beechy struggled at times to get a foothold in the contest. Stand-in keeper Julie Ward made a couple of comfortable saves just before Beechy suddenly looked more confident going forward. There was a half chance of a goal for Stacy Partridge who got on the end of a pinpoint through ball from Becky Gregory.
Great defending from Alice Mosley, Megan Mirfield, Shauna Smith and Monique Pollard was vital as Tiki Taka created another spell of powerful attacking. The visitors opened the scoring through their No17 who looked to be in an offside position before she fired the ball past Julie Ward. When Beechy made their first tactical change Joanna Szaafranska who had a quiet game by her standard was replaced by Aimee Greenwood. A move down the right flank between Becky Topping, Becky Gregory and Amie Barratt carved out a chance for Jess Lawson who's first time effort dipped over the crossbar. Beechy's back four were forced to soak up another period of pressure before their equalising goal.
The referee awarded Beechy a free kick just outside the area and leading goalscorer Jess Lawson made it 1-1 with a well executed finish firing the ball into the roof of the net. Beechy produced some more solid defending before they took the lead after Aimee Greenwood punished an error by the visitors keeper when she set-up Jess Lawson who blasted the ball home from the edge of the area. Just before half time the Tiki Taka keeper redeemed herself by somehow saving an effort through a crowded penalty area by Amie Barratt. At the start of the second half Beechy made a few changes that saw Monique Pollard take over as goalkeeper from Julie Ward who was replaced by Kirsten Elrick while Krystal Hayward replaced Stacy Partridge.
Before Beechy could reorganise properly they conceded a second goal in the 47th minute when the Tiki Taka No10 added a decisive finish after a solo run from the halfway line. Minutes later the visitors went 3-2 up via their No18 then another piece of poor defending gifted Tiki Taka their fourth goal. During a quick tactical change Stacy Partridge became Beechy's third goalkeeper in the game while Julie Ward replaced Monique Pollard. Beechy reduced the arrears when Becky Gregory combined in a move with Amie Barratt who won a free kick and Jess Lawson supplied a stunning finish from the dead-ball situation when she completed her hat-trick.
Beechy went close to an equaliser after Becky Topping controlled a pass from Amie Barratt and forced a fine save from the visitors keeper. Player of the Match Becky Gregory worked non-stop in midfield as Beechy created a few chances in quick succession. As Tiki Taka continually threatened to increase their lead Megan Mirfield, Kirsten Elrick, Shauna Smith and Alice Mosley all made ball winning tackles plus Joanna Szafranska who was back in the action when she replaced Becky Topping in the latter stages. Stacy Partridge was kept busy dealing with overhit long passes as the visitors maintained a serious attacking threat.
Krystal Hayward almost added the required finish after an inch perfect pass from Amie Barratt and a couple of minutes later following a corner a powerful header by Alice Mosley flew over the crossbar. Beechy continued to search for an equalising goal but ran out of luck and bad defending gifted Tiki Taka their fifth goal and the three points inside the last few minutes.