Tadcaster Albion 4-1 Pickering Town

Taddy got back to winning ways on a Friday Night Football Special at the i2i stadium after a 4-1 demolition of Pickering Town.

Josh Greening started things off with a tap-in before two Jimmy Beadle penalties and a neat finish by Adam Baker all but ended the contest after just 33 minutes.

Manager Billy Miller made two changes to the loss at Barton Town Old Boys with newly appointed player-assistant manager coming in along with a first start for Jason Mycoe.

It is rare to have a fixture on a Friday night but with the return of several players and a former manager with Pickering Town, there was a special feel in the air at the i2i stadium.

The home side looked to get amongst the goals from the outset as Adam Baker breezed past two, cut inside but just curled his shot off target after just four minutes played.

Taddy broke the deadlock after just 11 minutes as Jordan Armstrong, who seems to have a brilliant in-sync connection with fellow right sided man Josh Barrett was set away by the full-back and Barrett's cross took a slight deflection which fell nicely for Josh Greening who had the simple task of tapping into the net.

The Brewers were meaning business in the first half as Josh Barrett and Adam Baker on the wings were absolutely tormenting the two Pickering full-backs as they just couldn't live with the pace, power and trickery of the Tad wide men.

Jimmy Beadle, who was playing in a more advanced role nearly made it two as a cross was cleared out to the edge of the box in which the on rushing Beadle caught it as sweet as you like which unfortunately whizzed just over the crossbar.

With most side's in FA Vase action this weekend it was a chance for Tadcaster to get some more points solidified and with 20 minutes gone it was 2-0. It was Baker again who picked up the ball on the half-way line and stormed past two Pickering players as he carried the ball 30 yards and played Josh Greening through. Greening flicked past and back through the goalkeeper but as he played it back to Baker he was clearly wiped out by a late challenge and a penalty kick was given. After the disappointment of missing a late penalty last week, Jimmy Beadle had the bottle to pick the ball up and step up again, this time he scored, only just however as Arran Reid got a huge touch on it and probably should have kept it out.

As mentioned earlier, Adam Baker and Josh Barrett were having terrific games and the two combined to get Tad's third goal of the night. Barrett used that raw pace and power that he is gifted with and follows it up with a delightful through ball to Adam Baker who finished superbly into the bottom left-hand corner.

The home side were then awarded a second penalty kick as Josh Barrett's pace again causing problems as he was brought down by Joe Danby which gave the officials no choice other than to give a penalty. Once again Jimmy Beadle stepped up and blasted the spot-kick into the back of the net, Beadle is now the club's top goal scorer with 8 goals.

Half-Time: Tadcaster Albion 4-0 Pickering Town

The second half started much slower than the first as the intensity seemed to drop, although when you put in a first 45 like Taddy did then it is difficult to replicate that standard for 90 minutes which allowed the visitors back into the game as they had their best spell of the match.

One of many former Tadcaster men appearing for Pickering came close six minutes into the half as George Bissett struck a low powerful shot just wide of the mark.

However just a minute later and The Brewers really should have made it goal number five for the evening. Half-time substitute George Conway who came on for the yellow carded Baker was sent clean through on goal, he cut inside one defender who tracked back, he cut inside a second and then pulled the trigger but unfortunately the shot was in the end blocked and the chance was spurned.

With 25 minutes left on the watch, Pickering Town pulled a goal back through Ryan Cooper and credit to them, 4-0 down at half-time, they could have come out and possibly rolled over but they didn't, Marshall must have gotten stuck into them at the break and got them going again. They could have pulled a second goal back minutes later as another former Brewer Danny Gray's shot was deflected inches wide.

Official Attendance at the i2i stadium on a cold Friday night..............579, absolutely incredible, we would like to say a massive thank you to each and everyone of you.

A stagnant second half but nonetheless the sensational first 33 minutes was all that it needed for Tadcaster Albion to win the match and return back to the top of the table for the time being.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 4-1 Pickering Town