Away to Pennington FC a disappointed Beechfield United squad slumped to a 4-1 defeat but the score line failed to reflect their brilliant first half performance.
Jamie Sinnott and Alex Hunter were involved in some slick moves as Beechy made a whirlwind start and the Pennington keeper was soon called into action. Via the counter-attack and using the varied long ball tactic the home side attempted to unsettle United’s back four but Andrzej Browne, Rob Lockley, Luke Johnston and Carl Ravenscroft defended superbly.
There was a fast pace to this Division 1 contest and showing great movement off the ball Beechy continued to create chances and they made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark. Working hard to win possession both Craig Massey and Steve Erskine evaded strong challenges and the latter played the ball onto Matthew McNally who hammered it low past the keeper from 20 yards.
Displaying a high fitness level United outplayed their opponents and though Pennington had a goal disallowed Beechy should have been more than one goal up at the break. As expected United faced a strong attacking surge from Pennington early in the second half and playing down the slope on their pitch the hosts equalised in the 53rd minute.
Following an awful tackle on Jamie Sinnott the match official chose the wrong colour card as punishment for the Pennington player. United’s keeper Jordan Broxson who had hardly had a save to make was beaten again on 68 minutes when poor marking allowed Pennington’s number fourteen the chance to create the perfect angle and fire the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Despite being forced to defend deeper in their own half Beechy still looked a threat going forward and Craig Massey, Matthew McNally and substitute Patrick Beckett all came close to forcing an equaliser. United should have had a penalty for handball prior to Pennington taking a 3-1 lead then slightly against the run of play Beechy conceded a fourth goal after 84 minutes.
United’s Man of the Match was Luke Johnston.
