REPORT | Lumsden Ends Albion’s Goal Drought In Owls Draw

Josh Batty nudged the visiting Owls in front just before the break but was later cancelled out ten minutes into the second half by Joe Lumsden. After a spirited second 45 showing, the Brewers were contained to just a point by a well-organised Cleethorpes side.

Albion made one change to the side that were left frustrated by a draw at AFC Mansfield last week as Billy Whitehouse replaced Casey Stewart on the right-hand side. It was a frenetic opening to the contest as Taddy threatened as early as the third minute. Aiden Savory picked out Joe Lumsden’s run down the left channel who teed up Pete Davidson inside the penalty area but his fierce effort was well blocked by Oli Donald. Two of the aforementioned Albion players linked up again two minutes later as Davidson hooked in behind setting Savory away but a hefty touch saw the opportunity diminish.

Town’s first attempt on goal arose on 12 minutes as James Hodges was forced to make a reaction save to keep out Paul Walker’s shot after a free-kick fell kindly for the defender. The widely-talked about winger Billy Whitehouse had his first chance to impress four minutes later out-powering Sam Topliss driving into the box before seeing his deflected shot parried away by Theo Richardson.

Taddy were in the ascendency and adamant that they should have been awarded a penalty soon after when Pete Davidson’s succulently sweet volley looked to be blocked with an arm by Walker, but there was nothing doing for referee Daniel Bennett. The ball did hit the back of the net on 22 minutes as Josh Batty headed home only for Bennet’s assistant to raise his flag.

The Owls were starting to find their feet on a swirling afternoon in Yorkshire, Taddy though were starting to let frustration get the better of them after a few questionable decisions from the man in the middle led to frequent squabbles. However once the game restored some kind of parity and normality, Albion really should have opened the scoring. The confident and direct Whitehouse beat Topliss all ends up once again before curling a cross right on the money for Joe Lumsden who just failed to make contact from six yards out. This miss was soon made to pay as Cleethorpes did in fact break the deadlock on 42 minutes. Owls skipper Alex Flett cleverly burst down the right inside the box evading Roper and Walters before pulling back to Josh Batty who couldn’t miss from two yards.

Into the second half and Batty had a chance to double his side’s lead after being precisely picked out by Tim Lowe but Hodges stopped well. Two minutes later and Albion were appealing for handball in the box again as Whitehouse’s half-volley was blocked by Topliss with raised arms, but again, a shake of the head from Mr Bennett. The Brewers were beginning to push hard for an equaliser but the Owls continued to look a threat on the break as Hodges was called into action again. A loose giveaway from Savory allowed Alex Flett to carry the ball 60 yards before shifting to Batty who’s deflected effort was well pounced on by Hodges.

With Taddy having drawn a blank in their last three outings, they were a desperate for a goal of any kind, and it did eventually arrive ten minutes into the second half straight from the save by Hodges. After passes from Walters and Savory the ball made its way to Billy Whitehouse on the right who continued to give Sam Topliss a difficult afternoon bursting beyond him in the box and unleashing a rasping down only for Richardson to superbly save low. Nevertheless the Owls stopper couldn’t only parry the shot and Joe Lumsden was on-hand to squeeze home his 16th goal of the season.

The long-awaited goal seemed to galvanise the Brewers, roared on by the vocal fans on the terraces who were clearly enjoying the entertaining spectacle. Joe Lumsden almost pinched a long ball beyond the onrushing Richardson before Whitehouse blasted off target from distance, but Taddy were buoyed by their leveller with confidence only increasing. Half-way through the second half and Lumsden went close again as Walters delivered, Savory cushioned but Taddy’s top scorer saw his effort comfortably pushed clear by Theo Richardson.
One-way traffic was the continuous theme as time ticked by with Tadcaster pushing hard for the lead. A slight flick from Lumsden took a Whitehouse cross off the head of colossal defender Harry Coates before a deflection off of Savory just didn’t fall to a yellow shirt. Casey Stewart was introduced with 12 to play and he almost provided an immediate impact after Lumsden threaded the attacker in but his first touch agonisingly carried into the goalkeeper.

That man Lumsden went perilously close again on 85 minutes when Whitehouse crossed a corner into the front man who audaciously volleyed first time only for it to be hacked clear off the line. The Owls were severely under the cosh and clinging on to a point at this stage, but a rare opportunity brought an exertion of noise from the travelling fans as Oli Donald volleyed over the crossbar.

Nevertheless Taddy had one final opportunity to take all three points and they thought they had them in the second minute of injury time. Billy Whitehouse the provider once again clipping onto the head of Harry Coates who’s header looked destined to ripple the net, but a fortuitous deflection off Lowe saw the ball diverted over.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 1-1 Cleethorpes Town

Tadcaster: Hodges, Hardy, Walters, Roper, Coates, Miller, Whitehouse, Davidson©, Lumsden, Howarth, Savory (Stewart 78)
Unused: Barkworth, Mycoe, Rose

Cleethorpes: T. Richardson, Lowe, Topliss, J. Richardson, Walker, Donald, Taylor (North 64), Flett©, Batty, Collins (Disley 78), Oglesby (Robertson 73)
Unused: Gray, McKay