The clouds rolled in just in time for rain to start as the players took to the pitch for Taddy’s fourth pre-season friendly, this time against Leeds United. Despite some of their squad being on tour in Australia, this was a strong visiting team with several well-known established faces and also Ben White on loan from Brighton and Helder Costa recently signed from Wolves.

The Brewers got the game underway but play was stopped almost immediately for treatment to Ben White following a clash of heads. Taddy were awarded a free kick on the left just outside the box but Casey Stewart’s cross eluded everyone.

From that attack, the hosts were very much on the back foot for the remainder of the half as United dominated possession of the mid field whilst their running on and off the ball up front was never ending. Ryan Edmondson was pivotal in the middle of their strike force marauding on the 18-yard line

Andy Milne cleared the first of Jack Clarke’s crosses from the right flank whilst Edmondson blasted over on 9 minutes from Mateusz Klich’s through ball. However, there was little Albion could do when Clarke, having outpaced Jack Walters, put a peach of a cross to Edmondson who gave Michael Ingham no chance from 6 yards. 0 – 1.

Almost immediately Costa went just wide from the edge of the box and on 21 minutes the “Whites” doubled their advantage; Costa again instrumental as he powered forward to Alioski who found Edmondson, the big man laying the ball off to Clarke who drilled it into the bottom corner of the net. Quite magnificent! 0 -2

Edmondson was wide as the half hour mark beckoned, and his shot on 33 minutes was well held by Ingham despite a deflection. The Tadcaster shot stopper foiled Alioski moments later with a close-range low drive.

On a rare attack Jake Day was denied by Alioski but despite a protest for a possible penalty, play continued. Then just before the whistle was blown for the interval, Robbie Gotts swivelled in the box and his curler from an acute angle hit the inside of the far post and rebounded into the opposite corner of the net. 0 - 3

Three down at half time was nothing more than Leeds deserved. Tadcaster needed to get more control in the mid field to take pressure off the back four and feed the front runners.

Whatever words of wisdom Curtis Woodhouse had given during the break, Taddy looked a different team from the restart. Jake Rose was on in place of Iwan Healey.

Donald Chimalilo charged into the United box to give Day a good sight of goal but the Brewer’s target man slipped as he shot giving an easy save for the trialist keeper Nevertheless, Day was not to be denied a second time in quick succession when Leif Davis put a short ball back and he coolly slipped the ball under the advancing keeper. 1 – 3 on 47 minutes

Nathan Keightley got a shot off on 50 minutes but inevitably the visitors hit back with Ingham twice denying Edmondson, the second time resulting in him picking up a knock and making way for Aaron Burn

Burn, magnificently saved a bullet from Edmondson from point blank range on 54 minutes after a run down the right flank by Clarke. However, in something akin the Tadcaster goal, Edmondson took full advantage of Josh Barrett’s back pass on 65 minutes giving Burn no chance, 1 – 4

Curtis Woodhouse brought on Fraser Hansen, Adam Jones and henry Rollinson on 68 minutes as Taddy continued to play some good possession football. Jason Mycoe replaced Stewart on 74 minutes

Edmondson completed his hat trick with quarter of an hour left on the clock, again benefiting from a Clarke cross before heading home.1 – 5

Play was interrupted in the 80th minute due to a power failure in the I2i Stadium vicinity but the referee decided there was still enough light to finish the game. Just as well for Owen Marshall who battled through five defenders before shooting wide - oh what might have been!

Tadcaster had shown real ability and team spirit against the Championship play-off contenders - Leeds are 6 steps above them in the football pyramid and not surprisingly , a different class. Lessons will have been learnt and legs will be sore but they did all their supporters proud on the night

The Attendance was 2437 – this would not have been possible without the help and dedication of many volunteers who should be congratulated for the part they played in the spectacle.

Taddy must now ready themselves for the visit of National North Curzon Ashton in the next pre-season friendly on Tuesday 23rd July KO 7.45 pm

Starting line up : Ingham, Barrett, Walters, Healey, Marshall, Milne, Keightley, Mbeke, Day, Stewart, Chimalilo

Report from John Clothier