POSTED: October 15 2020 22:24:15 By Keith Long
- Ladies Fightback From Two Goals Down
After conceding two goals in the first eight minutes Beechfield United Ladies fought back to earn a 4-2 victory following their home game with Bolton Ladies on Sunday 11th October 2020.
In this Greater Manchester Women's League Division 2 fixture Bolton Ladies took the lead via a superbly executed free kick by their No8. Beechy produced a few decent close passing moves in an effort to find a quick equaliser but following another free kick United went 2-0 down. A bad clearance by the Bolton Ladies keeper presented Nicola Campion with a gifted chance but Beechy's No9 fired the ball wide of the target. In the 11th minute Aimee Greenwood ran onto a pinpoint pass from Stacey Partridge though the quick thinking Bolton Ladies goalie sped to the edge of the area to boot the ball back downfield. After a brief stoppage due to an injury to a Bolton Ladies player Beechy won several throw-ins that forced some solid defending from the visitors. Beechy keeper Abi Thirsk showed her ability when she produced a great save to foil a fine effort from Bolton's No7 then neat and tidy defending from Rachel Griffin and Bethany Hill was vital when the visitors threatened to increase their lead.
After nineteen minutes Beechy won their first corner and Aimee Greenwood forced a fine save from Bolton's keeper then following another corner Beechy were awarded a penalty for handball and Becky Topping made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick to reduce the arrears. Despite conceding the goal Bolton Ladies still enjoyed a greater share of the ball and continued to make Beechy's defence work overtime and twice in quick succession Shauna Smith made vital first time clearances. The visitors No7 beat the offside trap when she raced onto an accurate long pass from Bolton's No4 but Abi Thirsk rescued Beechy with another brilliant save. Luck was on Beechy's side when an effort from Bolton's No9 bounced off the crossbar and Sophie Addison cleared the ball out of the danger zone. Beechy then made a couple of tactical changes when Emily Walmsley and Hannah Walker replaced Sophie Wainwright and Rachel Griffin. In midfield Player of the Match Stacey Partridge was in good form and continually involved in the action was at the heart of Beechy's best moves.
Close to half time long range efforts from the visitors No10 were easily dealt with by Abi Thirsk who showed great awareness and safe handling throughout the game. Beechy raised their game in the second half and looking better organised all over the pitch moved the ball around with much more confidence. Emily Walmsley's long accurate pass found Nicola Campion who watched as her first time shot dipped over the crossbar then a minute later Becky Topping suffered the same fate. More top-class defending from Bethany Hill and another great save by Abi Thirsk frustrated Bolton Ladies as they strived to add a third goal. Beechy's equalising goal was disputed by the visitors who claimed Nicola Campion was in an offside position when she collected an inch perfect pass from Bechy Topping and casually beat the keeper for 2-2. The fast action switched rapidly from end to end and Beechy's back four Sophie Addison, Bethany Hill, Shauna Smith and Hannah Walker soaked up the pressure when the visitors launched some powerful attacks.
The next goal was vital to both teams and it arrived with fifteen minutes left to play after Stacey Partridge sent the ball between two opponents and once again Nicola Campion added a clinical finish to give Beechy the lead. But Bolton Ladies didn't allow Beechy the opportunity to relax on their one goal lead as they kept attacking with real intent and more solid defending plus more excellent goalkeeping from Abi Thirsk kept the visitors at bay. Beechy's 4-2 win plus the three points was guaranteed following another counter-attack that led to Aimee Greenwood winning a throw-in and the ball eventually arrived at the feet of Becky Topping and she set-up Nicola Campion to complete her hat-trick and the scoring.