Torrential rain greeted the players as the Brewers took to the pitch in the last of the warm up matches. The downpour would last the entire 90 minutes but not only was the pitch ok, but the home players clearly enjoyed themselves. Ryan Qualter managed to give pitch time to all his squad for the match.

It was a promising start by the home side. Spencer Harris was well positioned at the far post for Thompson’s cross, but the keeper just manged to clear. Rob Guilifoyle was next with a low drive, saved but only as far Harris although again, he could not find the net.

Yarm’s first real attack had to wait for ten minutes when a free kick twenty-five yards out was headed away to safety.

Albion took the lead on 15 minutes when Guilifoyle bent a high shot from well outside the box over the keeper and into the back of the net. 1- 0.

Two minutes later Kieran Greenway was fouled in the area and Guilifoyle sent the keeper the wrong way. 2 – 0.

Nathan Heaton tried a long distance shot which just cleared the bar, Guilifoyle was oh so close to an early hat trick as Pilkington put him through whilst on twenty minutes Wilson cleared the bar from the edge of the box.

On twenty-one minutes the visitors stemmed the tide when a mix up in defence left their striker well placed to convert. 2 - 1. They followed this up with another good effort, but Alli Hughes was well placed to quell the danger.

With four minutes left on the clock before the break Tadcaster extended their lead. Pilkington was again the provider with a pinpoint high cross into the box where Shepherd rose majestically to powerfully head home giving the keeper no chance – a textbook move 3 – 1.

The second half began with even heavier rain as the Manager began to rotate the team.
A quick burst down the left flank found Greenway in space on the line – he steadied himself before dispatching the ball into the far corner of the net. 4 - 1

McGrath was now on and on 56 minutes his running straight at defenders resulted in another goal as having dribbled around three Yarm players he pulled the ball back to Byfield who could not miss from almost on the goal line. 5 – 1

McGrath then got onto the score sheet a minute later when a side footed shot from twenty yards surprised the substitute keeper and found the net. 6 -1

On 68 minutes the Brewers’s substitute keeper was adjudged to have fouled as Yarm looked to find a way through but then guessed correctly and saved the penalty.

A minute later Tadcaster scored again when Harry Absom collected a pass from the left some twelve yards out and drove the ball into the far corner. 7 – 1.

On 76 minutes Connor Ryan was ideally placed to receive McGrath’s corner and powered the ball home. 8 – 1

Yarm capitalised on a defensive mix up with ten minutes to go and doubled their score. 8 – 2.

So the pre-season games have come to an end with two resounding victories and much learnt from the experience generally.Manager Qualter must now ready his players for the first League match next Saturday against last season’s beaten play off finalists Beverley Town. Kick off at the Young Guns Stadium 3.00pm

Starting Eleven Hughes, Pilkington, Charlesworth, Shepherd, Heaton, Wilson, Greenway, Harrison, Guilifoyle, Owen © Thompson

Report from John Clothier, Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley