It was almost four months to the day that the Brewers succumbed to a 2 – 3 defeat at home to Parkgate who at the start of the return match sat one place above them in the league table. Storm Eowyn had thankfully disappeared from South Yorkshire for the return match but had been replaced by fierce sunshine, a goalkeeper’s nightmare. Tadcaster were at full strength with new signing Lewis Shillito on the bench.

Parkgate quickly showed their intent in the first minute when Sam Green, having moved swiftly to remove the threat of a dangerous ball in the box, saw his clearance go straight to striker Nicholson whose shot was thankfully wide. Taddy saw their first foray into the Parkgate half with a good cross from Kieran Greenway but there was nobody in the area.

The visitors made amends on 5 minutes with a pin point cross from Andrew Shepherd to Oli Norman but keeper Greaves pushed his shot over the bar. Then moments later as Albion played out of defence the hosts seized the chance but Nicholson’s shot was just wide: Ditto on eight minutes with Gordon ‘s effort off the mark.

On ten minutes Junayd Cassius-Gill showed his skill down the right flank but his cross was cleared before the front men could react. Nevertheless, Greenway was unlucky to then see his lob plucked out of the air by a well-positioned Greaves. On the quarter hour Nathan Heaton found Cassius-Gill in space but the shot was blocked. Greenway’s drive from the right was spilled by Greaves but there was nobody to take advantage.

At the mid-point of the opening half, Norman went close from Charlie Owen’s throw whilst at the other end it was Owen again timing his tackle perfectly as Nicholson broke through the Brewers defence. With eight minutes remaining to the break Heaton charged down the right flank finding Elliot Andrew in space but his shot was well off target.

As halftime beckoned all the hard work was effectively nullified when Tadcaster gave away a goal; A long ball from Greaves caught the Albion defence by surprise leaving Gregory to lob the stranded Green as the ball landed in the back of the net. From Albion’s point of view, an awful time to concede after a strong performance thus far. 1 -0.

Worse almost came before Referee Chappell blew for the break when Gregory ran through the away defence but Green was off his line in an instant to claim the ball.
Poor marking doubled Albion’s task on 52 minutes when ex Brewer Josh Hardcastle ‘s cross into the box, having been totally missed by Nicholson, dropped at the feet of Ferreira who smashed it home into the far corner of the net. 2 – 0.

With Luca Bolino on for Holmes, Tad were looking more and more dangerous on the right flank and as they pressed forward were awarded a penalty on the hour when Norman had rounded the keeper. Elliot Andrew fired the shot towards the top right-hand corner but Greaves read it correctly with an amazing save; nevertheless, the Brewer’s striker blasted the rebound giving the Parkgate shot stopper no chance whatsoever with his second shot. 2 – 1.
Bolino was unlucky not to draw his side level on 61 minutes but the shot agonisingly a fraction wide. Parkgate had a chance on 67 minutes but a point blank save from Green thwarted Ferreira’s strike.

On 68 minutes Tad should have had another penalty when Bolino had his feet whipped away as he ran through the Parkgate defence. Both Referee and Assistant referee decided there was no foul much to the dismay of the team and travelling supporters.

Mick O’Connell made a double substitution with twenty minutes to go, with Steve Smith and Sam Kitchen on for Shepherd and Norman followed swiftly by Thirkell making way for Shillito. On 77 minutes Parkgate were reduced to ten men following a second yellow for Lumley setting up a terrific finale to this pulsating encounter

With five minutes remaining of normal time Shillito was almost there but at full stretch he could not convert close in. Heaton looked to have found a way through from a Shillito corner but again it was scrambled away. Heaton then had a shout for a penalty waved away by Mr Chappell before he booked the Taddy player for simulation.

Parkgate survived the four minutes added time to take all three points.

The loss sees Tadcaster drop to fifth from bottom but Goole, Winterton and Frickley all lost. Knaresborough’s 2 – 1 win at Barton will have eased their fears as is the case for Eccleshill who took all three points from Handsworth with a single goal – they are three points below Tad but have four games in hand.

On Wednesday we travel to Campion for a quarter final in the West Riding County Cup, Kick Off 7.45 pm whilst next Saturday we welcome high flyers Penistone Church to the Young Guns Arena KO 3.00 pm.

Green, Heaton, Owen, Thirkell © (Shillito), Holmes (Bolino), Ibrahimi, Cassius-Gill, Shepherd (Smith), Andrew, Greenway, Norman (Kitchen), Sub Not Used, Wilson.

Report and Photos from John Clothier