- Home
- Club Info
- The Teams
- About The club
- Contact
Beechy were away to Swinton Ladies and it was only in the second half they got a tighter grip on the game to ease their way to a 4-1 victory. On their uneven grass pitch Swinton Ladies kicked-off the match and the hosts made a fast start that forced several hasty clearances from Beechy defenders Shauna Smith, Bethany Hill and Sian Anderson. Play was rather scrappy within the midfield area but when Beechy managed to get their passing game into gear Crystal Barker, Stacy Partridge, Sophie Wainwright and Sophie Addison created some good attacking play. Swinton Ladies forced the games first corner then when the action switched into the hosts defensive half of the pitch following a solo run on the right flank Sophie Addison fired the ball at the keeper. A couple of minutes later Crystal Barker won possession and quickly moved the ball onto Sophie Addison and her intelligent pass found Aimee Greenwood who was just offside before she slotted the ball into the net.
Early in the contest the hosts were winning the majority of the 50/50 challenges around the pitch and at the end of a swift counter-attack a powerful strike by Swinton's No11 struck the top of the crossbar. Beechy took the lead in the 19th minute thanks to great play in central midfield by Crystal Barker who's inch perfect through ball between two defenders set-up Aimee Greenwood and the Beechy No7 added a low and accurate finish for the opening goal. Always looking a threat via the counter-attack Swinton Ladies forced a couple of vital saves from Beechy keeper Abi Thirsk who had another accomplished ninety minutes. Nicola Campion and Mia Pemberton replaced Sophie Wainwright and Emily Walmsley when Beechy's team coaches made the first of several roll-on-roll off substitutions in the game. Still lacking any real sparkle the match moved steadily from end end as Beechy continued to operate in bottom gear.
The Swinton Ladies keeper who was voted the homes teams Player of the Match by Beechy's official's was in action again making two smart saves prior to Beechy having two goals disallowed for offside against Aimee Greenwood and Becky Topping. From midfield Crystal Barker produced a terrific solo run and exchanged passes with Aimee Greenwood before she hammered the ball just over the crossbar. When play resumed in the second half Beechy's Player of the Match Sophie Addison made a brilliant diagonal run and was unlucky to see her effort flash wide with the keeper stranded. Nicola Campion forced a corner in the 48th minute and following the flag kick taken by Mia Pemberton the Swinton Ladies keeper rescued the hosts with a brilliant save to deny an effort on target from Aimee Greenwood. Suddenly another period of scrappy play developed and at the end of more counter-attack's by Swinton Ladies Abi Thirsk displayed her goalkeeping skills once again.
Both Nicola Campion and Mia Pemberton found themselves in good shooting positions and an effort by the latter looked to have beaten the keeper but the ball was deflected for a corner. Swinton Ladies No14 and No8 were always at the heart of the hosts most threatening attacks as they pushed hard to find an equalising goal. Beechy's central defenders Shauna Smith and Bethany Hill dealt confidently with crosses from both flanks just before before United lost the ball in midfield and taking advantage Swinton Ladies via their only goal of the game made it 1-1. Quickly forgetting the setback Beechy regained the lead two minutes later after Becky Topping won the ball on the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross that was met by Crystal Barker who added a powerful right footed finish. Swinton Ladies maintained a good work ethic but Beechy suddenly looked more self-assured and after the hosts keeper had produced yet another impressive save a spectacular goal by Stacy Partridge gave Beechy a 3-1 lead.
Emily Walmsley and Crystal Barker after a spell off the pitch re-joined the action just before Bethany Hill limped off due to a slight injury. The hosts created a few more useful counter-attacks that again featured their No14 but Beechy dealt with Swinton Ladies threat of another goal and Shauna Smith was a key figure in the back four. Stacy Partridge and Becky Topping both saw their attempts to increase the lead even further just miss the intended target. During a lengthy attacking surge several offside decisions spoiled further good moves prior to Beechy adding their fourth goal that included a touch of Brazilian magic when Nicola Campion backheeled the ball and Becky Topping completed the scoring seconds before the whistle for full time.