In the Greater Manchester Women’s League Beechfield United Ladies were at home against Division One champions Chorltonians Ladies.
When the match kicked-off Beechy fielded three key players who were carrying slight injuries following last week’s double header with Reddish North End.
The action flowed back and forth as the teams produced some lovely football with both sets of defences restricting the number of scoring opportunities.
On the quarter-hour mark Beechy’s Hannah McAdam suffered a thigh injury and eventually had to be substituted. In the twenty eighth minute a Chorltonians player made a surging run deep in to the Beechy half with Shauna Smith in hot pursuit and though the United player made a timely tackle to win the ball it somehow ended up in the back of the net and Chorltonians had the lead.
Both teams forced numerous corners but there were no further goals due to first-class displays from both keepers. The second half started just like the first as both sets of players continually worked hard to get control of the contest with Beechy anxious to score a vital equaliser.
Chorltonians wasted a golden opportunity to go 2-0 up when Gemma Winterburn was guilty of a rash challenge in the area but after the referee blew to award the penalty the ball flew into the net. From the resulting spot-kick the ball was hit straight into the arms of Beechy keeper Rachel Howarth who for the second time in seven days saved a penalty.
In the last five minutes United had a couple of decent chances to equalise from corners taken by Vicky Kerr and on one occasion a glancing header from Shauna Smith flew just wide of the far post.
When the final whistle went Chorltonians celebrated a 1-0 victory but the Beechy Ladies knew they deserved a least a draw following a superb all-round display.
Player of the Match was Lauren O’Neil.
The players involved were : Rachel Howarth, Lauren O’Neil, Shauna Smith, Gemma Winterburn, Samantha Smith, Hannah McAdam, Sue Howard, Vicky Kerr, Rebecca Watkins, Sophie Wainwright, Debbie Wright, Faye Cassidy.
