It was a bitterly chilly night as the two teams faced each other again, this time in the West Riding County Cup. Back in mid-September it was a 1- 0 win for the Division One side in the Northern Counties East League Cup, since when Horbury, in only their third year at Division One level, have opened up a substantial lead in the league having amassed an eight point gap with fifty points from 20 games. Only once have the lost at home.

As usual, Tadcaster started on the attack with Andrew Shepherd just wide from well outside the box whilst on ten minutes Hines split the Horbury defence but keeper Hagreen manged to push Luca Bolino’s strike away . Ellington’s corner found Holmes from whom Dan Thirkell bundled the ball into the net amidst confusion in the area. 0 - 1 .

The Brewers kept up the pressure and on fourteen minutes doubled their tally. Green’s clearance found Bolino who having skilfully dribbled beyond his defender crossed the ball into the six-yard box where Hines was perfectly placed to hook it into the net. 0 - 2

The hosts fought their way back but Tadcaster soaked up the pressure. Green was alive to everything Horbury threw at him, Angell having the best chance on 33 minutes on the end of Mole’s through ball but shot straight at the Albion shot stopper. At the other end Ellington’s shout for a penalty, having been brought down in the box, was waived away by referee Hakimy.

Play was held up for five minutes just the before half time whistle when Ben Tweed looked to be in real trouble from a 50/50 confrontation and as he was helped from the pitch it was clear he would play no further part in proceedings as he was subbed for Alex Charlesworth.

The first half , however, still had more to unravel: Horbury appealed for a penalty just before the whistle although the referee would have none it , there was a suggestion that Linesman raised his flag. In the consternation which ensued Horbury Assistant manager Darren Hepworth was red carded. When play eventually resumed Sam Green brilliantly tipped the deflected free kick away to safety.

As the second half got under way Horbury came straight out looking for a way back: Cusworth’s shot was parried by Green and although Mole caught the ball on the volley, Charlesworth cleared the danger.

It took Green two attempts to foil a 35-yard thunderbolt but on 53 minutes Horbury had another opportunity to reduce the deficit when Kyeremeh pounced on a knock back from substitute Swain but cleared the cross bar.

Tad got themselves back in to the game after the ten-minute opener to the half and on 57 minutes added a third to the score when Ellington drove down the left flank before checking onto his right side and from eighteen yards launching a stunning curler into the top right-hand corner. Another goal of the season! 0 – 3.

On the hour mark Mick O’ Connell refreshed the team with a triple substitution of Hines, Shepherd and Ellington making way for Fatlum Ibrahimi, Junayd Cassius-Gill and Kieran Greenway but still the hosts looked for a way back.

On 68 minutes a long ball out of defence saw Bojang head beyond Green but as it trickled forward the Taddy keeper somehow scrambled it off the line to safety. Three minutes later Green saved another Cusworth effort, this time with his feet. At the other end Sam Kitchen turned defence into attack putting Bolino away but Andrew ‘s eventual shot was wide.

With 12 minutes to go James Knowles took over from Andrew to bolster the defence but then the result was sealed as Cassius-Gill shot for goal only for the ball to deflect off a defender and beyond Hagreen 1 – 4

Horbury got a last-minute consolation when sub Hobson finally found the net for the hosts

Just what was needed before Albion travel to Bottesford Town this Saturday for another league match, KO 3.00 pm. They are two places below Tadcaster in the league but only a point behind with two games in hand.

Green, Wilson, Holmes, Thirkell ©, Tweed (Charlesworth), Kitchen, Shepherd (Cassius-Gill), Bolino, Hines (Ibrahimi), Ellington (Greenway), Andrew (Knowles)

Report and Photos from John Clothier