Following a below-par performance Beechfield United suffered a second successive heavy defeat in the FBT Manchester Football League when they lost 5-2 at home to Elton Vale FC.
United were forced to make a few team changes with defender Luke Johnston taking on the role of stand-in keeper. There was lively opening period to this Division 1 contest and both teams adopted a risky offside tactic that kept the referee busy with his whistle. Beechy played some very good football in the first fifteen minutes and Alex Hunter and Dave Leach had decent chances to give United the lead before Vale opened the scoring in the 25th minute. It was a slightly lucky goal for the visitors when the ball deflected off a United defender and left the Vale number nine with a simple close range finish.
Moving the ball around with both speed and accuracy the visitors kept the pressure on United’s back four of Ryan Williams, Patrick Beckett, Rob Lockley and Carl Ravenscroft. Vale’s No 11 saw a fine effort hit the post then following some dreadful defending Beechy gifted the visitors a second goal just after the half hour mark. Four minutes later United found themselves 3-0 down after another piece of awful defending and definitely needing inspiration from somewhere. Beechy were thrown a lifeline on 40 minutes when clever play by Steven Erskine set-up Brad Sixsmith who produced an excellent finish from 20 yards to reduce the arrears.
But close to half time Beechy received a further setback when they conceded another soft goal and leading 4-1 at the break Vale were certainly in the comfort zone. Making a ragged start to the second half United put pressure on themselves by conceding far too many unnecessary free kicks in their own half. But Beechy slowly found renewed confidence and after forcing some resolute defending from their opponents were rewarded with a second goal courtesy of Jamie Sinnott. United believed this could be the start of a rousing comeback but Vale had other ideas and maintaining a decent share of the ball completed a miserable ninety minutes for Beechy with a fifth goal in the closing stages.
United’s Saturday Morning Senior Team secured a fourth successive victory while at the same time earning themselves a hat-trick of clean sheets. At Salford Sports Village United expected a tough challenge from opponents Alkrington Dynamos and Beechy collected the three points via a hard earned 1-0 win. There was a confident start from both teams with Scott Foulds and Man of the Match Danny Browne instrumental in several quick and accurate passing moves.
Dynamos number seven had the visitors first shot on target but United keeper Martin Marlow was rarely troubled throughout the first half. Forced to work harder off the ball Beechy temporary lost their attacking rhythm and briefly allowed Dynamos the opportunity to dictate the pace of the game. But in the last ten minutes of the half United played with a bit more freedom and efforts by Roy Owen and Max Leonard almost gave Beechy the lead. Making a couple of tactical changes at the start of the second half United had some vital defending to do before their match winning goal arrived. In the 54th minute Scott Foulds and Chris McCartney were involved in the move that ended when substitute Chris Lucas fired the ball low past the keeper from just inside the area. Dynamos immediately went in search of a quick-fire equaliser and both Andy Lord and Daniel Eckersley produced some superb defending when under pressure. Showing more aggression Beechy threatened to score again and twice Max Leonard had efforts saved by the brave Dynamos keeper.
