A Look Back to December 1997
When I did my first match reports for Beechfield United FC back in 1997 I had no typewriter so they were hand written and sent via fax to the Salford Advertiser Sports Desk. Fourteen years later things are much easier thanks to the e-mail facility. So lets look back to 1997 and see the details of the last games played that year which took place on Saturday 20th December.
Playing their final match before the Christmas/New Year break Beechfield United’s First Team had to settle for a 2-2 draw following a Lancashire and Cheshire League Division 3 away fixture at St Margaret Mary. On a narrow pitch that didn’t help United’s style of football Beechy went a goal down but they increased their work rate and quickly got back on level terms. Andy Wilson and Nathan Brady were involved in a superb move and Mark Willis delivered a curling cross for Paul Worley who dived between two defenders to head the ball into the net. United stepped up a gear in the second half and severely tested the St Margaret Mary’s defence and they held firm until Worley and Steve Edwards combined to set-up Dave Goodwin who put Beechy 2-1 up. More chances were created but United failed to add to their tally and against the run of play conceded a soft second goal late in the game. The 3rd Team produced their best display so far this season in the away game at Moston Brook. A willingness to work hard for each other was a big feature of Beechfield’s performance and that made Manager Barry Minshull one happy man. There were several candidate’s for the Man of the Match Award including Andy Howells, Darren Minshull and Steve Foster. Goals by Dave Leighton and Duncan Roden secured United a fully deserved 2-1 victory.
Beechfield United Football Club is a Community Charter Standard football club in Swinton, Manchester - providing coaching, playing and development for all players from under 7s through to open age.