Tadcaster Albion returned to action after 33 days without a match due to the horrendous weather with a 3-1 victory over Brigg Town courtesy of a hat-trick from Captain Fantastic Jimmy Beadle.

Boss Billy Miller made four changes to the side that drew with Parkgate all the way back on the 19th December. Conor Sellars, George Conway, Andy Milne and Carl Stewart dropped out for Matt Heath, Adam Baker, Josh Greening and the new signing Jonathan Greening.

It took just five minutes for The Brewers to create a serious goal scoring opportunity as Josh Greening picked up a loose ball in his own half, carried the ball over 40 yards and played it through to Jimmy Beadle who struck left-footed from inside the penalty area but off target.

Taddy got off to a positive start, however with only seven minutes gone; they were enraged to not be awarded a penalty kick. First Jordan Armstrong was bundled down but all in the ground agreed it wasn’t a foul but following this Josh Greening poked the ball away and looked to be impeded, it looked fairly obvious however the referee wasn’t convinced.

If Beadle’s first chance in the opening minutes was a good chance, his opportunity in the 17th minute was a glorious chance. Jonathan Greening took a quick corner to Liam Ormsby who set himself and curled in a deep cross to which Matt Heath stretched his neck muscles and headed across goal where Beadle was waiting five yards out. The keeper was now out of action as he went for the cross, all Beadle had to do was hit the target but he leathered it on the volley with his left-foot and somehow sent his shot into the side-netting.

The home side had their first real attempt on goal after 23 minutes as Paul Grimes tried his luck with a curler from 19 yards to which Stevens comfortably pushed over his goal. From the resulting corner The Zebras came close once more as the set-piece was cleared back out to Captain Anthony Bowsley who smashed low and hard from an acute angle but Jordan Armstrong stayed attached to his post and was able to hook clear.

Central defender Gregg Anderson was the next man to come close as he glanced over from close range but moments later The Brewers squandered another big chance to take the lead. Beadle cleverly flicked the ball in behind the Brigg defence to the on rushing Josh Greening whose goal bound shot was terrifically saved by stopper Jody Barford.

There was a fear that the recent lack of match time would affect Taddy’s performance however this didn’t appear to be the case as it was fast and as flowing as ever. With half-time approaching, The Brewers were pushing hard to break the deadlock and had another super chance to do so. Jason Mycoe played it to Josh Greening who naughtily let it run through his legs to Adam Baker whose cross was cut out, a shot direct at goal may have been the best bet in hindsight.

Into the 45th minute and Taddy did take the lead as left-back Dan Clayton whipped in an absolute beauty of a cross to Jimmy Beadle who headed into the top corner expertly, it must have been the freshly shaven head.

Half-Time: Brigg Town 0-1 Tadcaster Albion

The home side came out in the second half and attacked Taddy from the off. All in attendance must have thought the match was about to be levelled up as a couple of ricochets fell kindly for Paul Grimes inside the area but Matt Heath put in an exceptional last ditch tackle to deny the striker a shot at goal.

Substitute Connor Sellars came close to scoring his first for the club with a powerful strike which whistled inches wide of the mark however, The Brewers did double their lead in the 62nd minute and it was that man again, Jimmy Beadle. Jordan Armstrong had the ball at his feet on the right-hand side, looked up and floated it into the box and Jimmy Beadle glanced it into the far corner. Believe it or not that is two goals inside the penalty area for Jimmy, unusual for him.

Just two minutes later and Jimmy Beadle completed his hat-trick and he certainly saved the best till last. The Tadcaster skipper couldn’t quite control a cute flick from Greening but Beadle quickly turned and contested Oliver Fisher for the ball. Beadle of course outmuscled the Brigg full-back and then hit an absolutely stunning strike from 23 yards which dipped into the far corner.
The home side rallied and did in fact pull a consolation goal back with 10 minutes remaining. Elliott Broughton slotted in substitute David Dean who rolled the ball through Gary Stevens’ legs and into the back of the net.

Into the last 10 minutes and Taddy nearly netted a fourth as Jonathan pulled it back to brother Josh Greening but the attacker struck narrowly over the target.

The Brewers sat deep in the final stages which allowed Brigg to push hard to score a second but Gregg Anderson and Matt Heath were defending terrifically and that was how it ended.

With all the problems Tadcaster and Tadcaster Albion have had from the floods over Christmas, the three points put a few smiles back on the faces of Taddy fans.

Full-Time: Brigg Town 1-3 Tadcaster Albion

Team: Stevens, Armstrong, Clayton, Heath, Anderson, Mycoe (Sellars 51), Ormsby, Jon Greening, Baker (Stewart 82), Josh Greening, Beadle (Black 76)
Unused Subs: Milne & Barrett