Retford United 0-1 Tadcaster Albion

Tadcaster were the better side throughout the match’s entirety on non-league day however the winning and only goal of the game finally came in the 89th minute courtesy of Josh Greening.

Brewers boss Billy Miller made four changes from the side that lost to Goole in the County Cup in midweek with Gary Stevens, Jordan Armstrong, Nick Black and Josh Greening all back into the starting line-up.

It was clear from the outset that The Badgers were looking to frustrate the league leaders by gathering numbers behind the ball and making the pitch as congested as possible.

Adam Baker was the man to have the first sights at Retford United’s goal as Nick Black’s cross was controlled by the winger and hit powerfully towards goal but a good block by Craig Laight denied the strike hitting the target and testing goalkeeper Richard Watson.

The home side tried to hit Taddy on the break and they came close after quarter of an hour as Brad Kerr’s audacious volley whistled just over the crossbar.

However it was the visitors who were still in complete control and came close again five minutes later as Matt Heath, who already has four goals this season from centre half nearly made it five but his header bounced just the wrong side of the post.

The best chance of the half fell to Josh Greening after 25 minutes as Liam Ormsby curled a ball over the top to Greening who cut back inside onto his favoured left-foot but his close range shot was well saved by Watson in the Retford goal.

Taddy were huffing and puffing but that one Josh Greening chance was the only clear cut opportunity created as defender Andy Milne wrestled with his man and also headed over with half-time approaching.

There was one final slice of noteworthy action in the first half as midfield veteran Mark Wilson appeared to quite clearly stop Adam Baker’s strike with his hand however the officials didn’t see it.

Half-Time: Retford United 0-0 Tadcaster Albion

The second half started in the same vein as the first with Taddy pushing forward to break the deadlock and just five minutes into the half that man Greening was set free in behind down the right but his shot was right at the keeper.

Mark Waters spurned a rare half chance for the Badgers just two minutes later as the midfielder spun and shot in one movement however the effort was comfortably wide of the mark.

Eleven minutes into the second half and Retford’s chances of getting anything from the match became even slimmer as they were reduced to 10 men. Josh Greening pounced upon a ball played in behind Retford’s back-line and when the attacker touched the ball away, he was completely wiped out by Craig Laight (you could say he was Laight…..) and as Greening was last man the referee had no choice but to issue the red card.

Credit to the home side though they kept plugging away and could have taken the lead on the hour mark but Gary Stevens made himself big and thwarted Jason Bradley’s one-on-one strike to keep it goalless.

I promise you I am not a parrot but as The Brewers pushed harder to take the lead it was Josh Greening again who had a good chance to find the net. Adam Baker charged in from the right flank and rolled it sideways to Greening fifteen yards but his shot was far too tame to trouble Watson.

Into the final ten minutes and the travelling Taddy fans behind the goal were starting to think ‘is it our day?’ Jordan Armstrong knocked a cross in towards substitute Carl Stewart who rose and flicked a header goal wards unbeknown to him that the goalkeeper was coming flying out who in the end got nowhere near anything however Stewart’s header trickled agonizingly wide as the TSC watched on with hope and nervousness.

There was to be late drama at the Jones & Co Stadium with 89 minutes on the watch as Taddy finally wore down Retford’s back-line and found the back of the net. The ball was flicked up in the air, Carl Stewart headed downwards into a dangerous area and yes, you guessed it, Josh Greening popped up and slotted it into the bottom corner to keep Tadcaster top of the league.

Full-Time: Retford United 0-1 Tadcaster Albion

Team: Stevens, Armstrong, Clayton (Conway 71), Milne, Heath, Mycoe, Greening, Ormsby (Claisse 85), Black (Stewart 71), Beadle ©, Baker
Subs Unused: Beestin & Woodhead