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Beechy on course for the double


Following a hard fought ninety minutes Beechfield United Saturday Morning Senior Team remained on course for a trophy winning double when they booked their place in the final of the Steeles Shield thanks to a 2-0 home win over North Manchester.
After securing their third successive First Division title seven days earlier the Beechy players were in a buoyant mood prior to the semi-final tie and a solid all-round display plus a goal in each half was enough to earn United a fully deserved victory.

Straight from the kick-off United were under pressure and keeper Mike Heyworth was heavily involved as the visitors created several decent chances in the opening quarter-hour.

Slowly Beechy found a more fluent attacking rhythm and Roy Owen almost gave United the lead then Phil Heyworth forced an acrobatic save from the North Manchester keeper. During another period of forceful attacking from North Manchester several crosses delivered into the penalty area caused United problems but both Man of the Match Dave Harrison and Chris McCartney won the majority of the aerial duels.

Chances were on offer for Phil Heyworth and Max Leonard just before North Manchester had a goal disallowed for handball. On 42 minutes United took the lead after a defenders error following a throw-in to the visitors was punished by leading goalscorer Max Leonard who neatly slotted the ball past the keeper from close range. North Manchester enjoyed a long period of possession early in the second half forcing United to rely on the counter-attack and the pattern of the match was similar to the first half and Beechy’s one goal lead was constantly under threat but some brilliant defending denied North Manchester an equaliser.

During a tense finish United got their second goal in the 84th minute via a well timed tackle by Phil Heyworth who won possession and after racing forty yards unchallenged created the perfect angle and hammered the ball low into the corner of the net. In the final United will play either Alkrington Dynamos or AFC Middleton.

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