Manager Michael Morton travelled to Prescot without six first team players in Adam Baker, Josh Greening, Josh Barrett, Lawrance Hunter, Jason Mycoe and Tom Corner.

Fraser Papprill was handed his first senior start partnering Andy Milne in the heart of defence as well as Casey Stewart making his first league start of the season.

Despite the long list of crocked first-teamers, Taddy made a positive start with Joe Pugh and Fraser Papprill threatening in the air.

Albion were enjoying the vast amount of space in behind Skem’s back-line as Casey Stewart had three yellow shirts to choose from when set free courtesy of an impressive diagonal ball from Papprill.

Stewart pulled back to the closest man which was Pugh but he saw his close range clip held by the keeper.

Roles were reversed a minute later when Pugh fizzed a low cross towards Stewart who just couldn’t find the desired contact to turn goalwards.

The positive signs did in fact show on the score board after 20 minutes.

Pete Davidson intercepted possession in Skem’s half before side-stepping Josh Wardle, cantering in on goal and blasting powerfully into the back of the net.

As soon as the man they call the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ picked up the loose ball you got the feeling that he was going alone and what a decision that was.

Taddy continued to look comfortable at the back and dangerous going forward with chances aplenty.

On 25 minutes Taddy broke from a Skelmersdale free-kick with Casey Stewart picking out Conor Sellars who’s sublime control took him in his path to race in behind.

However, just as Sellars wound up to pull the trigger, Phil Mooney did brilliantly to recover and put in a last ditch challenge that he had to get right.

Effervescent youngster Casey Stewart continued to cause the hosts problems with his trickery and he almost doubled Tad’s lead after driving agonisingly wide from an acute angle.

Nevertheless the lead was doubled on 31 minutes and Morton’s side were cruising.

Joe Pugh invitingly whipped a free-kick into the box with great pace making it increasingly difficult to defend and that proved to be the case as captain Andy Milne thundered in a header.

With the Brewers looking assured and Michael Ingham remaining untested in between the sticks, Skelmersdale pinched a goal back in the last piece of action of the half.

Taddy failed to clear a corner kick which led to a scramble in the box culminating with Tom Mitchell, who was on the floor, teeing up Josh Wardle who couldn’t miss from three yards.

As expected, the late goal gave Skelmersdale hope which spilled over into the start of the second half as they pushed for an equaliser.

Jordan Darr threatened two minutes into the second half when his cross/shot bobbled just wide after being narrowly out of Tyler Rufus’ reach.

With the home side pushing right up the pitch, this left a whole half for Taddy to potentially exploit.

And exploit they did when Corey Roper, who was another classy performer in midfield, pinched possession and poked to Davidson who set Casey Stewart away but he could only fire off target after being put under pressure by Mitchell.

Nine minutes on and a very similar opportunity arose, if not a better one.

Casey Stewart nicked the ball off Jack Fleming setting up a 4v2 in Albion’s favour.

Pete Davidson carried the ball into the centre circle but his intended through ball to Stewart was cut out by the last defender.

However with fifteen minutes remaining Taddy did score a third goal and effectively killed the game off as a contest.

Aiden Savory, who was absolutely outstanding all afternoon working tirelessly up top, cleverly manoeuvred his way in-field and in between two down the left before pulling back to Joe Pugh who guided low into the back of the net.

As well the front three impressing, the midfield three of Roper, Davidson and Conor Sellars were also shining.

Hungry, strong, commanding and classy are four words that spring to mind.

Rufus spurned a good chance to reduce the deficit for United instantaneously but the forward could only head wide.

The final ten minutes saw exciting U21’s stars Donald Chimalilo and Harry Sheppeard introduced.

One should have scored and one did score.

Persistent pressure from the fiery Chimalilo forced Skem to give make a mistake in the penalty area but the attacker couldn’t poke past Lee Callum Roberts from close range.

Two minutes later and Harry Sheppeard did find the net after Conor Sellars’ free-kick was spilled into the path of the youngster, only for the offside flag to deny him his first senior goal.

Full-Time: Skelmersdale United 1-3 Taddy

Skelmersdale: Callum Roberts, Mooney, Fleming (Randell 85), Roddy©️, Mitchell, Wardle, Darr, Molyneux, Rufus, Mahoney (Burey 73), Redmayne (Withe 63)

Subs Unused: Hill, Crane

Tadcaster: Ingham, Hardy, Howarth, Roper, Milne©️, Papprill, Sellars, Davidson, Pugh (Chimalilo 80), Savory, Stewart (Sheppeard 82)

Subs Unused: Young, Corner