Guilty of their worst performance so far this season Beechfield United Saturday Morning Senior Team suffered a 2-1 defeat following their away game with Torpedo Chorlton.
Though Beechy remained as league leaders they still have some tough games to play and cannot afford to drop any more points if they are to retain their First Division title.
At Hough End Playing Fields situated in Fallowfield a poor pitch was only partly to blame for United’s lacklustre display. Both Daniel Eckersley and Mark Carney produced some solid defending when Torpedo Chorlton made a confident start to the match.
At the end of United’s first positive attack Roy Owen found himself unmarked just inside the area and though his first time effort appeared to have beaten the keeper the ball hit the top of the crossbar. At the other end Torpedo Chorlton’s No 11 had his teams initial decent scoring opportunity but he only managed to fire the bouncing ball wide of the target. The badly rutted pitch caused numerous problems for both teams and United’s attempt to play their normal short passing game failed to impress Manager Graham Rothwell and Assistant Paul Harrison.
Another half chance for Beechy arrived following a long throw-in by Max Leonard but somehow Damon Whitbread side-footed the ball the wrong side of the post. Daniel Eckersley was a key figure in United’s back four as Torpedo Chorlton’s unorthodox style of play continued to cause Beechy massive problems. Within seconds of the restart the home teams use of the long ball tactic was soon in operation but in the 49th minute United had the luxury of scoring the opening goal.
After another long throw-in Torpedo Chorlton failed to clear the ball out of the danger zone and from twenty five yards Damon Whitbread hammered it past the keeper into the corner of the net. United suddenly played with more self-belief but their revival was somewhat brief as they lacked the enthusiasm displayed by their opponents and in the 59 minute following a couple of tactical changes United gifted Torpedo Chorlton their equalising goal.
Facing more pressure from their opponents Beechy continually gave the ball away far too easily and lacked the required commitment to regain possession.
Both Wes Pierce and Max Leonard wasted a couple of good chances but overall United’s shortage of flair and imagination contributed to their downfall.
Keeper Declan Oliver made a brilliant save to keep it at 1-1 prior to United winning a corner in time added on but the flag kick was wasted and the ball was booted downfield. Using his pace the Torpedo Chorlton number 10 forced a corner and after being left unmarked in the area took advantage of some awful defending by Beechy and easily headed the ball into the net for his teams match winning goal.
