Tadcaster recorded their first win in 5 matches, playing at home for the first time in 4 outings, beating playoff-chasing Penistone Church with a goal either side of half time. American striker Hayden Habetz scored on his debut in a highly impressive display against a side that, despite enduring a tricky winter period with one win, two draws and a defeat to Handsworth, are well in the fight for promotion.
A frantic start to the match saw Luca Bolino managing to get on the end of a high ball before cutting it back from the byline on the right only for Albert Ibrahimi to go down in the penalty area suggesting contact from their defender. Referee Bradley Triffitt thought not.
Their positive start continued following a defensive corner when Shepherd turned defence into attack with a great piece of vision to pick out Habetz to the left of goal. Moving the ball onto his left, his fierce effort rattled the crossbar – the glove of Penistone keeper Christopher Snaith may have aided the ball on its trajectory, denying his first goal in yellow.
It took the away side 11 minutes to show their first glimpse of quality which has earned them their say in the push for the playoffs. Leon Hurles Brook hooked the ball to Keiran Ryan who found winger Scrivens on the right. He bravely took on Charlie Owen and unleashed a shot that was deflected behind.
Andrew Shepherd was involved once again minutes later with a brilliant header before Bolino found himself in possession once more having darted inside and past Ryan Johnson. Rounding the goalkeeper, Snaith managed to recover just enough ground to disturb Bolino’s focus before the Brewers winger poked the shot wide at full stretch.
Tadcaster dominated the early stages, seeing much more possession that was often a reward for their intense pressing off the ball. Albert Ibrahimi created a 1-on-1 of his own by giving centre back Ryan Johnson little time on the ball before nipping in with a challenge. However, Snaith strode off of his line to similar effect and made a vital save to keep the two sides on level terms.
Approaching the half-hour mark, the game began to settle down as Shepherd, working tirelessly in the midfield alongside Sam Kitchen, robbed the ball from Brook roughly 25 yards from goal and sent a rasping shot just shy of the top left corner. Unease was building as chances were now stacking up.
On the stroke of half time, the Brewers managed to end one of their best first-half performances this season on a high. Despite the warning signs, Ibrahimi threaded a great ball to Luca Bolino running inside of Penistone skipper Daniel Howes before it was forwarded onto Hayden Habetz. Galloping out to meet the 20-year-old, Snaith saw the ball slotted under his body and into the net. 1-0.
Tadcaster showed no sign of slowing down in the second half, with Charlie Owen racing forward down the left hand side after Bolino intercepted a pass while on the defensive. Owen’s low cross found Habetz only to be denied a second goal by some fine reflexes at the near post from the goalkeeper.
Moments later, disaster struck for Penistone on the halfway line as Ryan Johnson went in high and with too much force on Junayd Cassius-Gill who had chipped the ball over the defender’s sliding foot, which was baring studs as contact was made. The away side were now chasing the game with 10 men.
Penistone responded admirably following the red card. Most strikingly, changing to a back-three system making use of wingers Samuel Scrivens and Nathan Keightly with enough players in the centre to frequently cause an overload. Top scorer Keightly who first threatened the back line, receiving a neat through ball from Keightly and forcing a well-timed challenge from James Knowles inside the box.
Sam Green was forced into a fine save at his near post by Scrivens, who has 10 goals in 24 league games, on a dangerous run inside from the right before managing to hit the target with a powerful shot.
The Brewers stood firm in defence of their lead. Although their physicality persisted throughout the 90, their passes into the final third during the second half were inconsistent at best. Scrivens was moving forward again, beating the challenges of both Shepherd and Knowles before steaming into the penalty area from the right, yet a fairly wild finish let him down.
Luca Bolino decided to take matters into his own hands, much like Ibrahimi in the first half, chasing down a short back pass from substitute Mackenzie Stocks. Penistone keeper Snaith’s attempted challenge caught Albion’s top scorer, prompting the referee to blow for a penalty. Bolino made no mistake, firing into the bottom right to score his second penalty in the space of a week. 2-0.
Keiran Ryan led another move forward from the 10 men of Penistone, delivering a ball in from the left. A headed clearance fell as far as Coduri but he was unable to get the shot away. Lewis Shillito was then in on goal up the other end, and Snaith made a good save to keep the substitute at bay.
Time was quickly ticking away for the away side, who were set to remain 4 points off the playoff places having played 3 games more than Hallam in 5th place. After turning away confidently from Nathan Heaton, Keightly went close to scoring his 20th league goal by curling a shot narrowly wide.
The Brewers’ fans and players were jubilant as the full time whistle sounded, marking a league double over Penistone. Hayden Habetz was the standout performer, taking his second opening in the game well to score a debut goal assisted by Luca Bolino and showing great intent to get in behind and defend from the front. Shepherd and Kitchen were key in the midfield battle, sweeping up loose balls and showing a good level of physicality to steady the ship.
Tadcaster sit 15th in the NCEL Premier Division with 31 points from 28 matches following Saturday’s victory and are next in action away to Pickering Town on Saturday 8th February (kick off at 3pm).
Tadcaster: Green (GK), Smith, Heaton, Knowles (’81 Thirkell), Owen (C), Shepherd, Kitchen (’76 Davy), Cassius-Gill (’68 Norman), Ibrahimi (’63 Greenway), Bolino, Habetz (’81 Shillito)
Penistone: Snaith (GK), Pownall, Howes (C), Newsome (’51 Stocks), Johnson (sent off), Hughes (‘HT Brennan), Coduri, Brook, Keightly, Ryan, Scrivens (O’Grady) :Unused substitute : Lawlor
Tony Howarth Golf Man of the Match: Hayden Habetz
Attendance: 142
Report From Ollie Whitmore – Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley