REPORT | Taddy Forced To Trophy Replay

Simon Collins made three changes to the midweek County Cup victory over Eccleshill as Aaron Hardy, Pete Davidson and Harry Coates all earned recalls. As for the hosts, former Leeds United striker Liam Dickinson was handed a debut with ex Manchester United winger Febian Brandy also starting.

The Brewers certainly made the brighter starts of the two sides in Manchester with Casey Stewart, Lamin Colley and Aiden Savory all posing a threat in the early stages. Stewart fired over from range before Billy Whitehouse whipped a brilliant ball across the face of goal but his teammates were flat-footed in the penalty area.

Casey Stewart is certainly a player who has a huge future ahead of him after returning from a summer trial with National League side Harrogate Town, his diminutive footwork befuddles opposition defenders week in week out and this encounter was no different. He felt he should have had a penalty on 16 minutes after feeling a nudge from behind but the referee waved away.

With the blustery effects of storm Callum swirling around the ground, it made for a difficult match for both sides. It took Droylsden almost half an hour to put together their first dangerous attack, Febian Brandy’s cross had to be tipped over by Ingham before Domaine Rouse sent a free header wide of the mark.

Brandy, who has perilously dropped down the divisions after his spell at Old Trafford, certainly looked the Bloods’ best route to goal as his tricky wing-play caused problems. On 31 minutes he skipped into Albion’s penalty box with a neat nutmeg before blasting across the face of goal with Dickinson a fraction too late onto the scene.

Two minutes later and the Brewers had an even bigger shout for a penalty kick only to be turned away again by Mr Conor Porter. Aiden Savory used his strength accordingly and sent Stewart racing into the penalty area before being clattered from behind by Javan Vidal but you got the feeling that Stewart’s honesty went against him.

After a bright spell by the home side Taddy soon regained control of the cup tie and Lamin Colley was next to go close for Simon Collins’ side. Jake Rose played a lovely through ball with the outside of the foot setting Colley in behind but his effort was tipped onto the post by Bloods stopper Chris Thompson.

Albion should have been ahead and less than 60 seconds later their best chance of the half was wasted. Aiden Savory the provider once again as he poked Casey Stewart clean through on goal and with acres of green grass in front of him, he might have had too much time to think about it as he curled off the outside of the upright.

Into the second half and Tadcaster continued to threaten as Aiden Savory was inches away from sliding home Billy Whitehouse’s drilled cross.

The hosts’ persistence on playing out from the back was almost their undoing as Pete Davidson pressed Domaine Rouse deep in his own half before pinching the ball back in the Droylsden box but the finish from eight yards out was a wild one.

However Taddy did in fact break the deadlock on 69 minutes and it was that man Casey Stewart. Lamin Colley was first denied by Thompson but Aiden Savory clipped to the back post where Stewart simply helped into the empty net.

The Brewers were defending well against a very lively and powerful front three but there’s something about Droylsden, there always seems to be late drama and this match was no different. Rouse’s cross found Dickinson who was allowed to control it down with his chest into the path of substitute Brandon Zibaka who drilled under the challenge of Paddy Miller.

Tadcaster had one last push to win their first ever FA Trophy tie but a trio of corners came to nothing. The two sides will replay on Tuesday night at the i2i Stadium.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 1-1 Droylsden

Droylsden: Thompson, Antoine-Clarke, Smith, Baird, Hollins, Vidal, Brewster©️ (Doyle 76), Rouse, Dickinson (Marsh 70), Brandy (Zibaka 81), Gonzales

Unused: C. Smith, Ford

Tadcaster: Ingham©️, Barkworth, Hardy, Rose, Coates, Miller, Whitehouse (Howarth 82), Davidson, Savory, Stewart, Colley

Unused: Mycoe, Walters, Langton, Barrett