Simon Collins made four changes to the team that won handsomely at Wisbech Town with Josh Barrett, Jack Walters and Mitch Langton all returning to the starting line-up plus there was a first start of the season for Paddy Miller after recovering from a calf injury sustained in pre-season.

The higher-ranked Albion made a positive start at the i2i Stadium as Aiden Savory’s skilful attempt was comfortable for goalkeeper Dominic Smith before Billy Whitehouse couldn’t keep his snap shot down after some interplay.

Taddy were then gifted a penalty kick on 20 minutes after Eagles skipper Sam Bradley was adjudged to have brought down Aiden Savory after Casey Stewart slid the number nine through. Referee Andy Smith waved play on but his assistant thought otherwise as he flagged profusely on the dugout side and after a discussion, penalty was the verdict. Contact was certainly minimal but the most controversial aspect was that the challenge was most definitely three yards outside of the penalty area, nevertheless Billy Whitehouse stepped up and netted his fifth of the season.

Eccleshill deserve a lot of credit for the application they showed and the way they played and they levelled proceedings five minutes later. Jack Walters couldn’t get enough of a touch on Thomas Rose’s raking ball forward which allowed for Jake Thompson to compose himself before carefully side-footing past Michael Ingham.

Casey Stewart was being his usual self gliding past opposition players for fun and he almost restored his side’s lead two minutes later when jinking into the penalty area and letting fly but Smith was equal to it once more.

Taddy were guilty of some lackadaisical finishing as another clear-cut chance was passed up on. It came in somewhat fortunate circumstances after Langton sent Whitehouse racing down the right and the chasing Ben McCready pulled up abruptly with the dreaded hamstring leaving the winger with acres of space only for Lamin Colley to somehow fire over from four yards.

However Colley soon made amends as he restored Albion’s lead on 37 minutes. Another dose of tricky jinking from Stewart had the visitors all at sea as Lamin Colley instinctively turned in his fizzed cross.

With the first half almost over, Mitch Langton went remarkably close to scoring his first of the season after Stewart was instrumental in setting up another attack but the midfielder drove narrowly wide.

Taddy looked to kill the game off at the start of the second half and they should have had some breathing space two minutes in when Colley’s delayed shot was blocked by Andrew Cooper and Whitehouse’s follow-up effort was sliced wide.

The build-up and approach play was very good from Collins’ side but that cutting edge in the final third wasn’t quite there as Casey Stewart nonchalantly scooped over from six yards out.

Eccleshill’s endeavour couldn’t be faulted though as they continued to look lively, Levi Maturine springing in behind only for his rushed attempt to be sent straight into the arms of Ingham.

With the second half only ten minutes old, the game was brought to an abrupt halt as Eccleshill’s Jake Thompson dropped to the floor in serious pain. The player went down off the ball in innocuous fashion as he suffered from a serious back injury. After three or four minutes had elapsed, Tad’s physio Lucy Lendhill went on to offer her support alongside Eccleshill’s physio and great credit should go to both as they took extreme care. We hope Jake makes a full and speedy recovery and it isn’t as serious as first feared. Play got back underway after Thompson was stretchered off following an eleven minute stoppage.

As both sides tried to get back up to speed after a long and patient wait, towering forward Chris Lever sprung the offside trap but again the finish was a poor one, straight at Michael Ingham.

The Brewers dominated possession as expected at the i2i and they eventually added a two-goal cushion on the stroke of the eleven minutes added time. Ellis Barkworth took over from Whitehouse on a storming overlapping run down the right before pulling back to an unmarked Casey Stewart who wasn’t going to miss from close range.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 3-1 Eccleshill United

Tadcaster: Ingham©, Barkworth, Walters, Rose, Barrett, Miller, Whitehouse, Langton, Savory, Stewart, Colley

Unused: Mycoe, Coates

Eccleshill: Smith, Storr, McCready (Alali 35), Cooper, Bradley©, Mathers, Thompson (Hargreaves 67), Flaherty, Lever, Rose, Maturine

Unused: Basi, Bentley