MATCH REPORT: Tadcaster Albion 2-3 Spennymoor Town (Pre-Season)

A frenetic first half saw Evo-Stik side Spennymoor Town take a 2-3 lead into the break and in the end was enough to defeat The Brewers in their final pre-season match before the league campaign starts next Saturday at home to Maltby Main.

Tadcaster manager Billy Miller made three changes from the loss to Harrogate Town as Josh Greening, Matt Heath and Nick Black came in for David Brown, Andy Milne and George Bissett.

It was the home side who started much the brighter on a wet afternoon in Tadcaster on Yorkshire Day as Liam Ormsby’s early effort curled comfortably over the mark.

The Brewers then almost broke the deadlock in the fifth minute as Josh Greening was set away down the left, he then cleverly cut inside his man and thrashed a right-footed shot towards the far corner which whistled just wide of the goal.

Just three minutes later however and Tad’s electric start had gotten better when they took the lead. The ball was played across the penalty area from the right-hand side to Greening who cheekily let it run through his legs to Jimmy Beadle who struck one first time which was deflected onto the post and just managed to roll across the line (no goal line technology in non-league I’m afraid). At first I personally thought it was Joe Thornton’s goal who followed it up and made sure it was in however it was later confirmed that it was Jimmy Beadle’s goal.

The visitors had quality all over the pitch and were certain to work their way back in the game, and this they did soon after. Gary Stevens in the Albion goal had to be aware when Liam Henderson found himself in space on the edge of the area and struck well but his shot was well beaten away.

Having said this, Town levelled the match in the 23rd minute as Shane Henry rocketed a free-kick into the top corner from 19 yards.
The Evo-Stik side grew in confidence and pushed more bodies forward and just five minutes later they were in the lead. Trialist B sprung the offside trap and cutely dinked over Stevens, and just six minutes later the same player had his second goal of the game as again he raced in behind and impressively smashed a shot into the bottom corner.

Trialist B would have had his hat-trick if it wasn’t for Stevens spreading himself sufficiently after Thornton’s risky pass back allowed the striker to be set free.

The pulsating first half wasn’t done just yet as Tadcaster netted a second goal in the 43rd minute. Liam Ormsby clipped in a free-kick from the left which was met by Matt Heath who powerfully headed in his first goal for the Brewers.

Half-Time: Tadcaster Albion 2-3 Spennymoor Town

Often when you get first halves as action packed as this one then the second half is usually the opposite and this was the case again.
In the 53rd minute however it looked as though Tad had a cracking shout for a penalty when the huge figure of Matt Heath was hauled down however the referee waved away.

Spennymoor came out in the second half and retained possession impressively although on the other hand Tadcaster defended and frustrated them well and limited them to virtually no chances.

With 16 minutes left on the clock Taddy upped their tempo and pushed forward more for the equaliser and had two big chances to do so. Firstly a Paddy Miller corner was cleared out to Jimmy Beadle who struck an absolute corker from 30 yards which smashed off the post, the Town goalkeeper didn’t bother moving. The second chance was even better as substitute George Bissett played a perfect ball over the top of the defence which was met by the run of Josh Greening who was clean through on goal, the goalkeeper came out, and Greening shimmied and clipped a shot agonisingly over the crossbar and that was how it ended.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 2-3 Spennymoor Town