REPORT | Taddy Suffer Home Defeat To Radcliffe

Corey Roper gave the Brewers an early lead but a host of missed chances in the first half proved to be costly.

Ben Jago’s looping header made it one-all before Louis Myers nodded the Borough to all three points in the second half.

The defeat for Taddy leaves them needing help from teams around them as well as winning their final four matches, three of which being on the road.

Taddy boss Michael Morton made two changes to the goalless draw at Colne as Tom Young deputised for Michael Ingham who is away with the i2i International Academy and Josh Barrett returned in defence.

In the eagerly anticipated spring sunshine, the Brewers got off to a bright start with Will Annan’s dangerous cross in the very first minute almost fell kindly for Billy Whitehouse.

Taddy were free-flowing and looked pleasing on the eye in every venture forward. With just five minutes on the clock, the home side really should have been ahead as Whitehouse side-footed off target after a lovely move featuring Aiden Savory and Pete Davidson.

Five minutes later and another sighting at goal came and went for Morton’s men as the Hull City loanees combined. Ellis Barkworth, who was making his first start at home, drilled a brilliant diagonal ball creating a one v one for Will Annan and after a shimmy and a shake, the winger drove wide of the mark.

Nevertheless the Taddy fans had to wait a mere three minutes for the opening goal as a corner kick found its way out to midfielder Corey Roper on the edge of the box who controlled and blasted his first goal of the season sweetly into the bottom corner.

Enigmatic winger Billy Whitehouse was causing the Manchester based opposition serious problems in the opening minutes as he beat his opposite number once more but Aiden Savory was just pipped to the loose ball.

The Brewers continued to flood yellow shirts forward in the scorching spring sunshine but after another neat move Pete Davidson volleyed Savory’s cross off target.

Whitehouse’s unrelenting work-rate almost proved dividend on the half hour mark as his pressing deep in the corner saw the ball pop out to the winger allowing him to drive into the penalty area but again, Aiden Savory diverted narrowly wide.

The visitors’ first noteworthy sighting at Taddy’s goal arose in the 38th minute when a loose ball was gifted to Louis Myers who soared powerfully beyond Josh Barrett but Tom Young stood tall and saved the fierce strike.

Seconds later and Radcliffe were level though as Ben Jago’s looping header from 12 yards out beat Tom Young to level the match.

It was an intriguing first half contest as the Brewers could have restored their lead instantaneously after Billy Whitehouse was threaded in behind but his close range stab at goal was well thwarted by Boro stopper Connor Keane.

The elusive and in the end match winning third goal came eight minutes into the second half when some miscommunication between defence and goalkeeper allowed Louis Myers to gallivant in behind and beat Tom Young to the bouncing ball heading into the back of the net.

Jon Macken’s Borough were revitalised in the second half and were louder as a unit geeing each other on winning the vast majority of second balls.

Michael Morton’s side had to go for it at this point and improve, and they did up the pressure somewhat, but only slightly as Radcliffe continued to defend well as a unit.

The introductions of Casey Stewart and Conor Sellars didn’t have the desired effect as Albion huffed and puffed in the second half failing to test goalkeeper Connor Keane.

Taddy weren’t necessarily throwing the kitchen sink at Radcliffe but more nudging the sink in the right direction as Josh Barrett was sent up top switching to a back three.

Centre forward Aiden Savory had a few half-hearted penalty appeals at referee Darren Whatling following a number of tussles with Rick Smith but appeals they stayed.

However Tadcaster’s only mentionable chance arose deep in stoppage time when a trademark marauding run from Harry Sheppeard built excitement around the ground before Casey Stewart cut inside a trailing defender and saw his curling effort deflect agonisingly wide.

Full-Time: Taddy 1-2 Radcliffe Borough

Tadcaster: Young, Sheppeard, Hardy, Roper, Barkworth, Barrett, Howarth (Stewart 65), Davidson, Annan (Sellars 74), Savory©️, Whitehouse

Unused: Mycoe, Langton

Radcliffe: Keane, M. Williams (J. Williams HT), Fallon, Jago, Smith, Grogan (Daniels 40), M. Russell, Bove, Myers (Smith-Cunnington 69), Hooper, Wood

Unused: Nicholas, Seol