The match began with a flyer for Tadcaster with just five minutes gone when Olly Green got on the end of a long ball from defence which he volleyed from outside the area giving Celtic keeper Monks no chance as the ball flew into the net. 1- 0

Just six minutes later confusion in the final third gave Harry Croft the opportunity to lob the ball over the oncoming Monks and into an empty net giving The Brewers a second. 2 - 0

After the 20-minute mark Tadcaster had another chance to extend their lead with an initial chance from Green saved and Croft’s follow up also turned away.
Jack Irlam was the first player of the afternoon to go into the book, with the referee judging him to have simulated contact on the edge of the area.

Stalybridge had their first chance of the game with almost half an hour on the clock as Obua Magulala broke through but put his opportunity wide. Stalybridge were on the front foot towards the end of the half and it was a run again from Magulala that caused the Brewers problems although his effort was calmly saved by Harry Stead.

Into the second half, the first chance dropped to Tadcaster’s Jayden Clarke-Thompson who took advantage of two Celtic players tripping one another to make a run into the area where he was eventually dispossessed.

The Brewers continued to be in charge of the game until after the hour mark when Stalybridge had an opportunity through Reuben Jerome who’s headed effort forced an acrobatic save out of Stead.

With 72 minutes played Stalybridge saw another effort headed on target which ricochet off Ryan Gothard’s head only to fall to the outside of the area where it was sent back in by Irlam who’s effort snuck past a diving Stead. 2 – 1.

Stalybridge continued to trouble Tadcaster going into the final ten minutes with an huge block from Spencer Harris keeping the score in the Brewers favour.

Substitute Oli Norman got on the end of an impressive run by Green and struck his shot high to the near post forcing a corner, which was cleared. Norman then got himself in the book in added time for delaying a throw-in being taken.

Gothard also found himself in the book with just a minute to play for dissent; the following free kick saw Stalybridge goalkeeper Monks join his attack but it came to nothing.

An impressive afternoon for the Brewers came to an end with the club progressing through to the first qualifying round of the FA Cup in which they have been drawn away to Lancaster City on the weekend of the 5th September when we previously had no fixture. The result is worth £2250 to the winner and £750 to the runner up. Lancaster play in The Northern Premier league (Level Three).

Tony Howarth Golf Man of the Match – Spencer Harris

Stead, Gothard, Eastwood, Zachariou, Harris ©, Binns (Pilkington), Green, Clarke-Thompson (Norman), Croft (Okoro), Roberts, Senior (Clark)
Subs Not Used; Campbell-Baldwin , Helliwell, Brookes

Report from Kieran Crook – Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley