On Saturday 5th May 2012 Beechfield United’s Saturday Morning Senior team celebrated after winning the Manchester Evening News Cup. Beechy beat Chadderton FC 1-0 following a tense final played at the home of West Didsbury and Chorlton. United who were last season’s beaten finalist’s were hoping to do better this year but they knew that Chadderton FC would be tough opponents because United had lost both Division One games when the team’s met earlier in the season. The first half was very tight with both teams defending heroically but it was Chadderton who created more scoring chances and Beechy relied heavily on keeper Dan Lee and central defenders Chris Lucas and Daniel Eckersley. United best opportunity to take the lead fell to Wes Pierce but the normally reliable midfield player fired the ball over the crossbar from close range. In the second half it was much the same story with United utilising a 4-5-1 formation to nullify more Chadderton pressure but after 75 minutes they reverted to their normal 4-4-2 system. Eight minutes later United’s match winning goal arrived following a mistake by the Chadderton keeper and it was Dean Quinn who punished the error when he headed the ball into the net from just outside the six yard box. Beechy managed to withstand Chadderton’s late push for an equaliser which included five minutes of injury time but they were still able to create a couple of counter-attacks and on one occasion Quinn fired in a teriffic shot which had goal number two written all over it but Chadderton’s keeper produced a truly outstanding save. Credit must go to the whole team for the way they battled and defended and during a Presentation Ceremony after the match the sponsors chose Dan Lee as their Man of the Match.
