Continuing their build-up towards the 2015/2016 season Beechfield United entertained Stalybridge Celtic Reserves and despite being given a stern test by Celtic’s youngsters Beechy won this Friendly Match 4-2.
Several squad players were unavailable so United were forced to play the whole ninety minutes with just eleven players. In the opening five minutes Celtic produced some quality attacking soccer and both Patrick Beckett and Luke Johnston rescued Beechy with some top-class defending.
Following a foul on Craig Massey United were awarded a penalty on 11 minutes but Alex Hunter’s spot-kick failed to beat the keeper and Beechy should have been at least 4-0 up before Celtic went ahead on the quarter-hour mark. A slick counter-attack resulted in a neat finish by the visitors No10 who was on target again three minutes later giving Celtic a shock 2-0 lead. As the fast action switched from end to end United started to created more clear cut chances and eventually reduced the arrears in the 25th minute when Steve Erskine was at the heart of a move through midfield and the Celtic keeper could only stand and admire a spectacular finish from Brad Sixsmith.
A surging run by Carl Ravenscroft set-up a decent chance for Craig Massey but after creating the perfect angle he fired the ball over the crossbar. United equalised after 41 minutes via a Lee Grimshaw close range finish though the ball deflected off a defender before finding the corner of the net. Three minutes into the second half Beechy went 3-2 up thanks to great play by Craig Massey who’s angled pass found Man of the Match Alex Hunter and with his left foot he fired the ball low past the keeper. With a stiff breeze in their favour Celtic used the long ball tactic this half so to combat the threat United’s back four of Mike Rogerson, Patrick Beckett, Luke Johnston and Andrzej Browne adopted the offside tactic and this really frustrated their opponents. Victory for Beechy was guaranteed when a Celtic defenders error was punished by Alex Hunter who completed the scoring in the 73rd minute.
