Beechfield United Ladies played their second (9v9) game in the Women’s Summer League against Didsbury Ladies without their regular keeper and kicked-off the contest minus two recognised defenders who were held up in traffic on the motorway.
But Beechy who celebrated a 2-0 victory made a dream start taking the lead in the second minute when following a goalmouth scramble Sophie Wainwright forced the ball into the net.
Creating a constant flow of fast attacks United kept the pressure on their opponents and both Gillian Wallis and Sophie Wainwright came close to getting Beechy a deserved second goal. Didsbury Ladies gradually enjoyed more of the ball and almost found an equalising goal but United defended superbly plus stand-in keeper and Player of the Match Briony Bradbury easily dealt with several efforts on target from the Didsbury forwards and Beechy confidently held their 1-0 lead at the break.
Lauren O’Neill and Samantha Smith who had arrived late following the problem on the motorway played in the second half and as the match continued to be fairly entertaining both teams played some first-class football as they created numerous goalscoring opportunities.
Eventually Beechy were rewarded with their second goal when Rachel Griffin made a diagonal run from the left flank and hammered the ball low into the corner of the net.
United’s squad was: Rebecca Watkins, Sophie Wainwright, Gillian Wallis, Sue Howard, Crystal Barker, Rachel Griffin, Shauna Smith, Samantha Smith, Lauren O’Neill, Briony Bradbury, Jane Gadsby.
