The Brewers came back three times on their way to earning a 3-3 draw under the lights with Curtis Senior’s 93rd minute free kick snatching a point.

Spencer Harris was back having recovered from the hamstring injury at Keighley, but Olly Green was not cleared to return after his collision at that match although we are hopeful that he will available next Saturday. Nineteen-year-old Noah Kiwomya made his second debut for the Tadcaster this season having rejoined the club.

The game started steadily with Tadcaster seeing the better of the opening minutes with a twenty yarder from Kiwomya whilst Dan Davy’s volley cleared the bar. Knaresborough, however, had the ball in the net adjudged offside, but then took the lead with 23 minutes on the clock as Slater Barnes-Cook beat the offside trap and found the oncoming Ben Gelder who’s placed effort gave Harry Stead no chance. 1 – 0.

With twenty-nine minutes gone, Tadcaster were pushing for an equaliser when Oli Norman sent a deep cross into the box for George Brown to nod into the path of Jayden Clarke-Thompson who took his chance from close range and tucked away his first of the season to equalise.1 – 1.

However, the two sides were on level terms for less than two minutes when a corner was sent in eluding Stead but dropping favourably for Harry Coates who bundled it into the net. 1 – 2.

Just six minutes into the second half, the tireless Oli Norman let fly from almost thirty yards, but keeper Hall was ready. Nevertheless, on 56 minutes a free kick from the right was sent in by Brown taking a deflection off Ryan Gothard into the path of Charlie Owen who calmly struck the ball under the keeper to level the game again. 2 – 2.

Knaresborough had a chance on the hour mark with a high cross from the left barely missing its target at the back post, whilst meanwhile Kiwomya teed up Harris to take a strike from distance with his effort deflecting over the bar for a corner.

Two bookings in as many minutes came for Tadcaster after Gothard was penalised for a tactical foul to break up a counterattack and Kiwomya used up his final warning bundling his man over whilst chasing the ball.

With less than 15 minutes to play Tadcaster had to make a defensive stand with Coates, in space, and a deflection sending his effort slamming onto the post with the rebound in the six-yard area forcing Stead to make a tremendous stop, one on one ,to keep the score level.
Nevertheless, just moments later Stead’s goal kick was punted back up the field and flicked on by Degruchy to Barnes-Cook who burst into the area and played a gentle ball across to substitute Cartman who hit it first time, beating Stead. 2 – 3.

With less than ten minutes to go and chasing the game, Tadcaster’s Curtis Senior sliced his effort high, but keeper Hall dropped the ball at the feet of Owen who was then brought down in the box: There were cries for a penalty, but referee Andrews waved play on. Harris was initially sin binned for his reaction to the decision and then red carded.

Into added time and down to ten men Tadcaster continued to fight for every ball and had a final chance for the equaliser with a free kick from almost thirty yards out: Dead ball specialist Curtis Senior whipped the ball over the wall and acutely into the inside of the right post beating the keeper and earning the Brewers a battling point. It was a contender for goal of the season 3 – 3.

It was a fitting end to a game that had everything and against a team currently fourth in the Premier League.

Tadcaster play again on Tuesday 29th September away at Horbury Town KO 7.45 pm and then at home on Saturday against Albion Sports KO 3.00 pm. Interestingly Horbury Beat Albion 4 – 1 last Saturday.

Tony Howarth Golf Man of The Match: Noah Kiwomya

Starting XI: Stead, Owen, Senior, Zachariou (Binns 84), Harris, Gothard, Brown (Porritt 65), Davy (Okoro73), Kiwomya, Clarke-Thompson, Norman (Campbell-Baldwin 81)
Sub Not Used ;Ibrahimi

Report from Kieran Crook – Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley