It was a damp night on Tuesday when Tadcaster visited Beechnut Lane for their first away game of the season. The “Colls” were second in the league last year with a reputation for a no-nonsense style of play. Taddy were at full strength.

Tadcaster started on the front foot with Casey Stewart’s free kick following a foul on Donald Chimalilo cleared, as was his effort from the rebound. Alex Wiles was close with just 3 minutes on the clock.

Michael Dunn slipped past Josh Barrett and although the dangerous cross was cleared it was a warning that the hosts wide men would cause problems with their pace. Johnathon Margetts was almost through on 4 minutes but it was defended well

All eyes were on ex Brewer, Joe Lumsden, but his first effort was both wide and offside. Michael Ingham was equal to Gavin Rothery’s header on 11 minutes after another quick-fire run by Dunn this time down the right flank.

Taddy’s first real chance fell to Alex Wiles on the quarter hour mark after a break down the left but Jameel Ible’s challenge was well timed. Pontefract immediately broke back but Lumsden’s effort was just wide. Ible then headed over as Ponte pressurised the Brewer’s defence.
Tadcaster could well have opened the scoring on 21 minutes when a long ball from Ingham was latched onto by Jake Day behind the Colls defence but his shot, with the goal at his mercy, was off target. The hosts again broke back and once more Lumsden was wide.

The deadlock was, however broken on 23 minutes when Scott Brown was perfectly placed to receive a cross from the left and his bullet header from 10 yards gave Ingham no chance. 1 – 0

The Brewers were still recovering when Dunn put through a powerful ball across the goal line but it eluded everyone. Lumsden headed straight to Ingham on 27 minutes.
Lebrun Mbeka put Margetts away with an exquisite pass out of defence but his first touch was too long and the shot under pressure, off the mark

Play was held up for some time whilst Mbeka received treatment after a coming together in the Taddy box. He eventually struggled back to his feet but was soon down again. It really looked as if he would need to be substituted but the big mid fielder is made of sterner stuff than that!

Day was through on 40 minutes from a pinpoint Margetts pass but could not get his shot away – there were shouts for a penalty but referee Tomlinson would have none of it. Ingham was magnificent foiling a 20 yarder from Rothery. Then Mbeka was floored again with 4 minutes of the half remaining but still bravely carried on. Margetts was through right on the whistle but was adjudged offside

1 – 0 was a fair reflection at half time but Tadcaster had weathered the storm and were looking more than capable of levelling things after the interval

Curtis Woodhouse swapped Alex Wiles, who had picked up a knock, for Jake Rose as play resumed and as anticipated the visitors were relishing the fight. Lumsden again headed wide whilst Andy Milne cleared from a corner

With tempers on the pitch becoming frayed and Rose enjoying a long talk from the referee, Day had another chance on 57 minutes; a long Jack Walters free kick cleared the Ponte defence but the shot, under pressure, was wide.

With the match getting very physical, Chimalilo , who had not stopped running at the home defence for the first hour, found himself on a one on one with Mackowski but the keeper saved with his legs. Day hooked a long throw from Mbeka but it was the wrong side of the upright. Margetts left foot effort was deflected on route but needed more power.

Taddy threw just about everything at Pontefract as the clock wound down but there was just no way through. It was not pretty football, quite the opposite, but everyone on the pitch knew they had been in a battle royal. The Taddy back four were, throughout the physicality of the game, calm, controlled and effective. It ended 1 – 0

And Lebrun Mbeka? – he finished the 90 minutes strongly despite a gash on his leg!

Tadcaster face an away trip to near neighbours Frickley Athletic in the Preliminary Round of the FA cup this Saturday - Kick Off 3.00 pm. Then on Bank Holiday Monday its back to league business again as Pickering Town come to Ings lane, again starting at 3.00 pm

Ingham ©, Barrett, Walters, Mbeka, Evans, Milne, Stewart, Wiles (Rose), Day, Margetts, Chimalilo Subs not used; Burn, Vass, Lufudu

Attendance 267

Report from John Clothier Photos from Keith Handley and Mathew Appleby