Tadcaster Albion 1-3 Harrogate Town (Pre-Season Friendly)

TEAM: Stevens (Lawrie 75 mins), Armstrong (Heath 68 mins), Milne, Stimpson, Bissett (Black 75 mins), Ormsby, Beadle, Claisse (Barrett HT), Brown (Greening HT), Miller, Thornton

Tadcaster Albion held their own against National North side Harrogate Town for the first half however the fitness and quality of the Sulphurmen showed with three second half goals.

It seemed as though the fixture was in some doubt after frequent heavy downpours, yes in July, but the Brewers’ penultimate pre-season friendly went ahead as the league season edges ever closer.

Manager Billy Miller made two changes to the side that lost at Scarborough Athletic with Joe Thornton and Jimmy Beadle coming back into the side.

It was another quiet start with very few chances and both sides battling hard to gain the ascendency but The Brewers carved out half a chance in the 26th minute as Joe Thornton was released through just left of the goal and the forward fired a strike goal wards however Peter Crook tipped it over the crossbar.

Gary Stevens was to have another busy night in the Taddy goal as he held shots from Lloyd Kerry and Royal Johnson impressively.
Approaching the half-time whistle and the visitors came a matter of inches to taking the lead as a deep cross found Louie Swain at the back post whose blast was deflected and Stevens could only get the faintest of touches however George Bissett smelt the danger and cleared it off the line.

Moments later and the home side came close to taking the lead as a poor clearance from Town fell to David Brown who diverted goal bound first time but Peter Crook just scurried back into his area in time to collect.

Half-Time: Tadcaster Albion 0-0 Harrogate Town

Miller made a double change at the break which saw the two Josh’s of Greening and Barrett replace Brown and Claisse.

After a somewhat quiet and cagey first half I think it’s safe to say that the start of the second half was completely the opposite as the i2i stadium endured a five minute period which was absolutely chaotic.

First of all Harrogate Town took the lead as Jordan Thewlis cut in from the left-hand side and struck a low blast into the bottom corner. Less than a minute later and Harrogate were then awarded a penalty as Stimpson brought down Thewlis. That man again stepped up to net his second however Stevens got down impeccably low to his left and pushed the spot kick away.

Just one minute later again and extraordinarily Harrogate were awarded another penalty kick (can’t comment for what, was too busy tweeting) however, Connor Bower stepped up this time and smashed it way over the crossbar, that’s two penalties in two minutes, none scored.
Think that was the drama over? Oh no, just a minute later again (I promise you this is not a joke) and Town did score their second goal of the game. Royal Johnson did well down the right and picked out the onrushing Louie Swain at the back post who blasted into the roof of the net.

Albion fought back into the match after that ridiculous five minutes and almost got one back with Paddy Miller using that wand of a left-foot to bend a free-kick up and over the wall but substitute goalkeeper Dan Atkinson did brilliantly to tip the ball wide.

Miller then turned provider as he cleverly took a free-kick quickly to slot in Josh Greening whose prodded effort floated over the mark.
Town’s fitness was prevailing as the time ticked by and Johnson raced clear shortly after but Stevens made himself big and saved well, the Taddy stopper was putting in another impressive display.

With six minutes left on the watch Town got their third of the friendly as Connor Bower made up for his woeful penalty by hammering home a rocket.

Tadcaster battled incredibly hard throughout the match’s entirety and were rewarded in the last minute as substitute Josh Barrett used his great strength to hold off Swain which allowed him to confidently slide the ball under Atkinson.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 1-3 Harrogate Town