Chapel Town created a few decent attacks but United’s back four of Peter Adams, Tom Carroll, Patrick Beckett and Mike Rogerson stood firm and provided good protection for stand-in keeper Steven Griffiths.
The referee was always close to the action and awarded numerous free kicks to Beechy and on 16 minutes United led 2-0 when a quickly taken free kick by Dave Leach caught the keeping unawares and he could only help the ball into the net.
United looked well in control and should have added at least three more goals before Chapel Town reduced the arrears when a long ball out of defence was controlled by their No 10 who was able to find the time and space to fire it into the bottom corner of the net. But less than two minutes later Beechy regained their two goal advantage when Lee Grimshaw hammered the ball across the area and arriving at the back post was Max Mian who got the final touch to score from close range.
After enjoying a greater share of the ball early in the second half, Beechy gifted Chapel Town their second goal in the 51st minute following some slack defending.
United lost their composure as Chapel Town adopted a more aggressive approach and after a red card incident Chapel Town were awarded a penalty and their No8 comfortably made it 3-3 with a coolly taken spot-kick. Suddenly United’s overall performance became ragged and wasting possession far too easily were punished in the 76th minute when Chapel Town went 4-3 up. Play was very scrappy as the action moved rapidly from end to end and United had a few half chances after forcing a series of corners.
Beechy received a stroke of luck when a Chapel Town defenders attempt to head the ball back to his keeper only succeeded in setting up the opportunity for Dave Leach who completed his hat-trick with a vital equaliser.
Slowly United looked more confident in the final ten minutes and after a goalmouth scramble developed the ball was won by Dave Leach who neatly curled it over the keeper and United led 5-4. During a frantic finish to the contest victory for United was guaranteed following intelligent use of the ball by Tom Carroll who’s perfectly weighted pass split open the Chapel Town defence and Man of the Match Dave Leach raced clear before completing the scoring via his fifth goal.
United’s First Team and Saturday Morning Senior Team had no fixture.
