REPORT | Taddy Extend Unbeaten Run But Have To Settle For A Point On Derby Weekend

The visitors, who sit level on points with Albion, pegged their opponents back twice in a titanic tussle between two Evo-Stik East promotion challengers.

Simon Collins was forced into making one change to last week’s win at Spalding as James Hodges deputised in goal for captain Michael Ingham who was suffering with a dislocated thumb.

With both on impressive unbeaten league runs, it was Brighouse who started the brighter on a dreary December afternoon. Harry Coates, Paddy Miller and co were having to do more defending than they’d hoped in the first ten minutes as all of the action was coming in Albion’s half.

The contest didn’t need much spicing up with it being an important Yorkshire Derby, but it certainly sparked into life on 11 minutes when a somewhat overzealous challenge from Jack Walters led to a large confrontation. Walters certainly got the ball first but it was the follow-through that was the dangerous part but after referee Leo Howard was berated by both teams, a yellow card was brandished with the defender possibly a tad fortunate.

Nevertheless order was quickly restored and Taddy struck first with a marvellous team move. Joe Lumsden set Casey Stewart running clear into the penalty area, he then returned it back to the number nine who unselfishly squared to Billy Whitehouse and he side-footed through the legs of Jordan Porter.

Five minutes later and it should have been two for Taddy as Joe Lumsden timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and latch onto Jack Walters’ pass but Porter saved well. The Brewers had rode the early Brighouse pressure and were starting to cause their opponents all kinds of problems with the impressive Casey Stewart and Joe Lumsden looking fierce on the front foot.

However, several promising attacks never materialised which allowed Vill Powell’s side to equalise on the half hour mark. A clever reverse flick from Mohammed Ibrahim set Aaron Martin bursting into Albion’s box before dinking over the advancing Hodges. It was almost a quick-fire double for Brighouse too as Hodges missed his clearance allowing for Ibrahim to audaciously hook goalwards from the right-hand touchline but fortunately for Taddy, Harry Coates was on-hand to head over.

With the half drawing to a close and the light descending, Billy Whitehouse could have sent his side into the break in front but he blasted a good opportunity over the bar from the edge of the penalty box. The final noteworthy moment of the first half fell to Town though as Ibrahim miscued his shot after Rhys Jenkinson pulled back.

Taddy were looking to regain the lead in the second half as Joe Lumsden almost set himself a one v one chance 12 minutes in but his control agonisingly sneaked away to the goalkeeper. One of the most interesting battles on the park was without doubt centre-back Harry Coates against centre-forward Aaron Martin. Both giants were constantly coming together in the air making for an almighty clash of the titans and 23-year-old Coates was putting in a tremendous display winning countless amounts of huge headers.

With the second half 20 minutes old, Tadcaster grabbed the lead for a second time after Joe Lumsden blocked James Hurtley’s clearance allowing the striker to be played clean through by Whitehouse and Albion’s top scorer made no mistake giving Porter the eyes before sliding into the back of the net. The goal spurred Taddy on even more as they began to look increasingly likely to net a third which would have all but wrapped up the victory. Joe Lumsden was charging at the Town back-line again three minutes later but his through ball forced Casey Stewart slightly wider than he’d liked before firing into the side-netting.

The biggest moment of the match arguably arose in the 73rd minute as a mistake from Hurtley gave Billy Whitehouse the freedom to run clean through on goal but he could only slide wide of the mark with Lumsden wanting the ball squared. Simon Collins’ side were pushing hard for a crucial third goal and they came incredibly close soon after when Pete Davidson’s blast was cleared off the line before Chris Howarth’s follow-up was blocked.

All of these missed chances came back to haunt Albion as Martin teed up Zeph Thomas who lashed into the back of the net with ten minutes remaining. Just like when the Brewers scored, it reignited serious belief into the away side as top scorer Aaron Martin missed a glorious chance at the back post heading over the mark. This wasn’t to be Town’s last big chance though as the contest took another tantalising twist with a penalty kick awarded to the visitors after a rash challenge from Jack Walters. Substitute Jack Normanton stepped up but, more drama unfolded as James Hodges made it a terrific save down low to his left to ensure that Taddy didn’t leave the pitch empty handed.

A brilliant full-blooded contest!

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 2-2 Brighouse Town

Tadcaster: Hodges, Barrett, Walters, Rose (Roper 87), Coates, Miller, Whitehouse, Davidson©, Lumsden, Howarth (Savory 87), Stewart
Unused: Barkworth, Hardy, Mycoe

Brighouse: Porter, Field©, Wright, Jones (Haigh 59), Harris, Hurtley, Jenkinson (Robinson 71), Heeley, Martin, Ibrahim (Normanton 78), Thomas
Unused: Seth, Ibrahimi