Beechfield United Under 14’s Predators celebrated in style after winning the Timperley and District Junior League’s Division 1 title.
On Sunday 12 April at Stott Lane playing fields the Predators were in action against Broadheath Central Piranhas and despite producing a below-par performance Beechy secured the one point they needed to become champions courtesy of a 2-2 draw.
Playing attractive football was difficult due a strong gusty wind and adopting the long-ball tactic paid dividends for Broadheath Central who grabbed an early lead after only five minutes.
The Predators enjoyed a greater share of the ball and Man of the Match Dylan Meredith featured in lightning attacks down the left flank which kept the pressure on the vistitors and produced a deserved equaliser by Joseph Lydiate.
Beechfield had a few decent chances to take the lead but poor finishing let them down.
After a similar move that led to their first goal, Broadheath Central regained the lead when the ball was booted hopefully down the pitch and the visitor’s No 10 had both time and space to bring it under control and lob the ball over the keeper.
Quickly regaining their composure the Predators were soon on the attack forcing the visitors to do some more heavy defending and the pressure eventually produced a second equaliser for United with Joseph Lydiate again on target.
As the second half developed Beechy kept attacking at every opportunity but Broadheath Central defended superbly and continually foiled United’s attempts to take the lead.
United forced several corners and in open play there were good chances on offer for Brandon Kent, George Davies and Ethan Haynes but the Predators just couldn’t find a way to beat the Broadheath keeper who produced a great second half display.
The visitors managed only briefly to get the ball out of their own half and despite a non-stop wave of attacks in the last ten minutes the Predators had chances galore to score again. In the end one point was all that was needed for this jubilant U14 side to clinch the championship.
Next Sunday the Predators take on Young Kicks JFC, a team from the Tameside Junior League in the semi-final of the Manchester CFA Youth Cup.
