Parkgate 1-1 Tadcaster Albion

The Steelmen took a one goal lead into the half-time break after Jordan Turner fired low into the near post from 18 yards. The second half was well and truly dominated by Tadcaster and they finally equalised with three minutes to go as Jimmy Beadle smashed home a penalty kick. The Brewers had 14 shots on target over the 90 minutes and will still be wondering how they haven’t come away with all three points but credit to Parkgate who implemented their game plan and frustrated Taddy.

Manager Billy Miller made four changes to the side that lost to Sunderland RCA in the FA Vase in midweek with Carl Stewart, Andy Milne and George Conway coming into the starting line-up as well as Connor Sellars who also started to make his debut for The Brewers.

The afternoon’s events could have been oh so different if Jimmy Beadle’s fourth minute header was an inch or two lower. Jordan Armstrong was given the freedom and space to look up and deliver into Jimmy Beadle whose flicked header cannoned off the underside of the crossbar. The rebound almost fell back to Beadle for a tap in however Reece Wenley nodded it away from the Taddy skipper and towards the goal but the defender scrambled it off the line; it must have been close to rolling over the goal line.
Two minutes later and the visitors were extremely close again to taking the lead as Jason Mycoe tried his luck from distance and the effort whistled an inch the wrong side of the post.

Taddy were looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat in the FA Vase in the week as all of the focus can be on the league and the quest for promotion into the Evo-Stik.

George Conway was one of the four changes and the attacker had his first sight of goal in the 17th minute but his low shot from an acute angle was easily caught by Ben Brunt in the Parkgate goal.

After having a half chance, the aforementioned Tad man had a brilliant opportunity to give The Brewers the lead in the 19th minute. Carl Stewart was found in behind the Steelmen’s defence in an inside left position and the striker coolly pulled it back to the onrushing Conway whose side-footed strike from eight yards out was again stopped by Brunt.

The home side then took a surprise lead in the 23rd minute, Ben Thornton clipped a ball into Jordan Turner who cryuff flicked past Andy Milne and fired low to the near post which snuck past Gary Stevens in the Tadcaster goal.

The home side started to become more confident as the half went on and they came close to a second with eight minutes to go until half-time as Jordan Turner was set free in behind but the striker chipped wide after Stevens charged out and pressurised the number 10.

Ben Brunt was keeping Taddy at bay as once again the Parkgate stopper pulled out a top save. Captain Jimmy Beadle struck a corking left-footed effort from the edge of the area which was well beaten away by Brunt.

With a minute until half-time, Tadcaster had another certain goal cleared. One long free-kick from Gary Stevens was inadvertently flicked backwards by Wenley which flew nicely in behind and into the path of Carl Stewart who diverted the bouncing ball past Brunt and towards the goal. However, before the ball could cross the line it was hooked clear by Ryan Hall keeping Parkgate in the lead, much to the frustration of the travelling Tad Army.

Half-Time: Parkgate 1-0 Tadcaster Albion

It was clear how the second half was going to go right from the very off. The home side had planned to sit deep, soak up the pressure and really frustrate Taddy and it was down to the visitors to break them down.

Just two minutes into the second half and The Brewers had a super chance to equalise and get right back into the match. Jimmy Beadle had the ball at his feet inside the penalty area with back to goal and the skipper rolled it back to the unmarked Jason Mycoe but the midfielder struck underneath the ball and comfortably over the mark.

Carl Stewart who was given his chance to lead the line for Tadcaster today was working hard and looking dangerous, he then came close just short of the hour mark. Dan Clayton pinged a terrific ball over the top to set Stewart away whose control was perfect but his lobbed effort was a Tad strong shall we say.

Taddy were throwing everything at Parkgate at this point, when I say everything, I mean literally everything. Usually you would think it’s only a matter of time until Tadcaster did find the back of the net, but I think on this occasion it was more a feeling of ‘it’s not our day is it?’

Chances came and went as Baker’s close range shot was blocked, Stewart’s volley flew over and Anderson’s header was stopped on the line as time ticked on and tension grew stronger.

It was primarily a case of attack versus defence in the second half however, with Taddy pushing forward that much it did leave them somewhat expose if Parkgate did get out and propose a counter attack. This they did in the 68th minute as Lebrun Mbeua broke clean through on goal but Gary Stevens did superbly to charge out and thwart Mbeua.

Jordan Armstrong was up and down the right-hand side as ever, putting in countless amounts of crosses in the danger area but still, Taddy could just not get the ball past Ben Brunt and over the white line.

Adam Baker, Josh Greening and Josh Barrett were all brought off the bench to try and unlock the door and break down a stubborn Parkgate side. Greening was straight into the action and had a glorious chance to equalise in the 73rd minute as a fortuitous ricochet led to the striker playing a one-two with Carl Stewart allowing him to have a clear shot on goal, or not, as Reece Wenley stretched out a leg and got the slightest of touches to take it agonizingly wide.

From the resulting corner came a moment of controversy. Josh Greening curled in a high cross to the back post which was caught by the wind and met by a first time side-footed volley from Adam Baker into the opposite corner, only for the linesman to raise his flag as apparently the set-piece went out of play and came back in.

Jordan Turner then came close to doubling the lead for the home side as he dragged a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

It was Jason Mycoe’s turn to come close again for Taddy and Brunt who had done so well in goal for Parkgate nearly dropped a clanger. Josh Barrett composed and pulled back to Mycoe who cut inside his man and struck high into the near top corner to which Brunt got to but fumbled onto the top of the crossbar and over.

With four minutes to go, Tadcaster finally had the perfect chance to equalise as they were awarded a penalty kick. Dan Clayton arrowed that same ball over the top to Carl Stewart who cleverly flicked upwards to which was met by the arm of Reece Wenley and the referee pointed to the spot.

Captain Jimmy Beadle picked the ball up and placed on the spot, waited, and hammered the penalty down the middle which proved to be just too powerful for Ben Brunt. You can’t say this was not deserved as The Brewers were not just knocking on the door, they were virtually booting it down!

Into the dying stages and there was still time for one more huge chance for Taddy to snatch the victory. Gregg Anderson put his foot on the ball and whipped in an inviting cross to say the least which was met by that man Beadle again but the skipper failed to make true contact and his header bounced wide.

In the 94th minute, the Taddy Army thought that they had completed a dramatic turnaround as Mycoe pinged a beautiful ball across to Adam Baker who got the better of his man and rolled across the six yard box where Stewart miskicked and Andy Milne was waiting to tap in but he also miskicked and Beadle couldn’t force it over the line and somehow it was cleared and that was that.

Full-Time: Parkgate 1-1 Tadcaster Albion

With Worksop Town and Cleethorpes Town both losing, a point isn’t that bad, Tadcaster Albion are top of the league for Christmas!

Team: Stevens, Armstrong, Clayton, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Sellars (Baker), Ormsby (Barrett), Stewart, Beadle ©, Conway (Greening)
Unused Subs: Black & Thompson