Taddy Surrender Three Goal Lead At Droylsden

Tadcaster boss Billy Miller named an unchanged side from the team that exited the League Cup to the hands of Scarborough Athletic in the week.

On a clear day in Manchester, it was the home side that began the contest on top with Gregg Anderson having to brilliantly block Scott Metcalfe’s strike inside two minutes.

Metcalfe came close again ten minutes later curling a free-kick narrowly wide almost catching out Hallwood in the Taddy goal.

The Brewers were struggling to get a foothold on the match as Droylsden continued to smell blood and press for the opening goal.

Skipper Domaine Rouse shifted onto his left-foot before striking inches wide of Hallwood’s left-hand upright from the edge of the area.

Nevertheless, despite the Bloods’ early efforts, it was the Brewers who struck first in the 23rd minute and what a fine move it was.

Rob Youhill burst in-field and played a superb outside of the foot through ball to Tom Corner who fired across goal for Josh Greening to tap in his tenth goal of the season.

Five minutes after Taddy took the lead came one of the defining moments in the match as goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood took a nasty knock to the face and received treatment for almost ten minutes.

We all know the stipulation with head injuries in the modern day game and despite Hallwood wanting to continue, physio Lucy Lendhill couldn’t take any risks and the player had to be substituted.

The problem however was that there was no substitute goalkeeper on the bench for the Brewers therefore, striker Carl Stewart, who has played in goal before opted to pick up the gloves.

When play did eventually get back underway, roles were reversed as Taddy were revitalised and Droylsden were second best.

Liam Shepherd went close twice in the space of a couple of minutes volleying narrowly off target after picking up the pieces from the corners.

Ten minutes were added onto the end of the first half following Hallwood’s nasty collision and half-way through the allotted time Taddy doubled their lead.

With Droylsden’s full-back’s pushed high up-field and the two central defenders exposed, Dan Thirkell struck over the top of the back-line into an area for Tom Corner to latch onto.

Goalkeeper James Coates started to race off his line for the ball but decided to retreat.
Tom Corner pounced on the loose ball, drove into the penalty area, cut inside Clayton McDonald with ease before coolly stroking beyond Coates giving the Brewers a healthy lead.

And it could have been even healthier as nine minutes into stoppage time Corner’s intended cross almost caught Coates out and crept in at the near post. The goalkeeper did just enough to push onto the upright and keep Tad within touching distance.

Having said that, six minutes into the second half Taddy did increase their lead and move three goals to the good.

Another ball over the back of the defence from Thirkell was picked up by Josh Greening who did the rest all on his own.

Greening chopped inside Rouse before surging into the penalty area, breezing beyond Dylan Smith and cleverly flicking past Coates with his weaker right-foot to put Miller’s men in complete control.

You would think when an outfield goalkeeper goes in goal the opposition would be instructed to shoot on sight.

However it took the Bloods until the 63rd minute to have a shot at goal and incidentally it resulted in a goal.

Luke Daly’s clipped free-kick was headed across goal and forced beyond stand-in stopper Stewart by Scott Metcalfe.

One goal back is a consolation, two goals back and it’s game on and this was the case at Butchers Arms as the pendulum swung back in the favour of the home side who were gaining momentum.

Substitute Dominic Smith saw his blast across goal somehow squeeze into the near post following a deflection off Josh Grant.

Droylsden’s tails were well and truly up at this point as Tad continued to invite pressure onto themselves dropping deeper and deeper.

The Bloods continued to pile the pressure on the Brewers and with fourteen minutes remaining they remarkable made it three apiece.

Liam Caddick couldn’t believe his luck when he turned past Stewart from close range after Josh Barrett kneed the ball into the face of Josh Grant falling kindly for the midfielder.

With five minutes remaining Carl Stewart made a good save with his left-foot to deny Metcalfe who was a threat all afternoon.

Droylsden fancied the win and continued to push bodies forward but Taddy did still look dangerous on the counter attack with the likes of Greening, Youhill and Sellars.

But in injury time the unthinkable happened with substitute Jamie Frost’s header somehow trickling into the bottom corner.

Droylsden jubilant, Taddy vexed.

There was one last chance for Taddy to salvage something as defender Josh Barrett was thrown up front but after the ball rolling kindly for him he dragged his shot wide of the mark.

Full-Time: Droylsden 4-3 Tadcaster Albion

Droylsden Team: Coates, Bianga, Holden, Smith, McDonald (Hall 50), Caddick, Daly, Bagshaw (Smith 58), Deegan, Rouse ©, Metcalfe (Frost 89)

Subs Unused: Farrell & Hasler-Cregg

Tadcaster Team: Hallwood (Stewart 38), Armstrong, Grant, Barrett, Anderson ©, Thirkell, Youhill, Sellars, Corner (Ibrahimi 78), Josh Greening, Shepherd

Subs Unused: Mycoe & Heath