Our visit yesterday to Beverley was one of the few NCEL games which survived the poor weather of late. Strangely our first visit to Norwood Park last season saw the teams again battle very wet and windy conditions only to suffer a 4 – 2 defeat. This campaign saw us open the season against the Beavers with the narrowest of home wins 3 – 2.

Beverley were straight at Taddy from the whistle and it was four minutes before we got into their half. Interceptions by both Callum Hudson and Spencer Harris stopped the hosts from an early lead.

The Brewers first meaningful attack came on twelve minutes when Oli Norman charged down the left flank only to be hacked down in the box, but referee Shepherdson saw, nothing amiss. Noel Kfonkeu, on the end of a superb pass from Aaron Pilkington, was first to test Overton between the sticks but the Beverley keeper made a good save. Charlie Owen tried his luck but went inches wide.

Just as the visitors seemed to have settled, Beverley opened the scoring on twenty-one minutes when a cross from Sani into a packed six-yard box left just enough space for Snelgrove to steal in with a close-range conversion. 1 – 0.

Albion battled back. On the half hour mark Matty Mulhearn volleyed a chance wide but on thirty-four minutes the equaliser arrived; Harris put Kfonkeu away down the left and having slipped beyond two defenders he shot for goal. Experienced Beaver’s Captain James Piercy got a foot to it but as the ball spiralled into the goalmouth, Oliver Green burst through to power head Taddy level. 1 – 1.

That goal lifted the Brewers. Green almost doubled his tally minutes later but was inches wide whilst Joe Billet found Charlie Owen ready and waiting in the box, but his shot was an easy take for Overton.

All square at the interval was a good reflection of the teams’ respective performances.

It was a positive restart for Tadcaster and on 49 minutes Green doubled his score; collecting the ball left of the eighteen-yard area he ran in and out of two defenders before producing a low drive beyond Overton which rattled the far post before going in. 1 – 2.

Nfonkeu went wide almost from the restart, but the hosts then turned up the pressure and brave defending was vital. Skipper Charlie Owen was fouled from the back just on the edge of the Tadcaster box and had to be carried from the pitch to play no further action in the match. Jayden Clarke-Thompson immediately replaced him.

On the hour Nathan Heaton cleared off the line as tempers rose. Alfie Scales and Piercy were both cautioned as it became a “backs to the wall” scenario for the visitors.

Despite brave defending an equaliser seemed inevitable and it arrived on seventy minutes after a flurry of corners. Lovick’s cross was met in the six-yard box with a flying header from substitute Knaggs. 2 – 2

Ryan Qualter, clearly looking for another goal, rang more changes: Cassama replaced Heaton and new man Ashton Peltier took over from Norman. It almost worked as Oggie Green was straight through, but the Assistant Ref was well placed.

Beverley threw all they had at Taddy, but the visitors remained strong and focussed right up to the eighty eighth minute when Billet, battling to clear the ball, was penalised for a foul on the 18-yard line. Sani struck a low hard shot to the right-hand corner, but Alfie Scales correctly read it saving with his outstretched left hand before diving on the ball and safety.

Despite five minutes added time it ended 2 – 2. The players were exhausted and to be fair, so were the Tadcaster supporters! A tough battle of the highest quality between the second and third placed teams in the league.

The result sees Tadcaster drop to fourth in the NCEL one point behind Beverley over whom we have three games in hand and Handsworth, again a one point deficit, over whom we have two games in hand.

Next Tuesday we host Campion at the Young Guns Arena KO 7.45 and on Saturday it’s the home return match against Eccleshill United KO 3.00 pm

Scales, Billet, Pilkington, Mulhearn, Heaton (Cassama), Hudson, Nfonkeu (Thompson), Harris, Green, Owen ©, (Clarke-Thompson) Norman (Peltier): Unused, Okoro

Report and Photos – John Clothier