Tadcaster opened their NCEL Premier League campaign with an assured 3-0 victory over Bottesford Town on a mild Saturday afternoon at the Young Guns FC Arena, with a hat-trick of debut goals.

The first clear cut chance fell to Brewer’s striker Elliot Andrew. After a strong challenge from Fatlum Ibrahimi on half way, attacking midfielder Alfie Dean was released down the left wing before floating a pass to the Tadcaster striker on the edge of the box, but he fired a low shot just wide.

Bottesford would respond a few minutes later with winger Jaxon Borland haring forward down the right wing. His low shot was parried by Brewer’s keeper Sam Green and Sam Kitchen wasn’t standing on ceremony to clear the danger. Borland launched another attack moments later, taking on captain Daniel Thirkell and seeing his low cross deflected behind for a corner.

As the rain began to come down Tadcaster made a call for a penalty after the lively Luca Bolino was on the end of some neat passing play with Alfie Dean, cutting inside confidently from the left before going down on the edge of the box. Referee Paul Milosevic, who had a firm hold on the game all afternoon, was not interested.

Tadcaster gained some momentum focusing their attacking moves out wide. Dean came close with a placed effort forcing a save from Bottesford keeper Jordan Quibell, connecting with a low ball from Junayd Cassius-Gill after a clever burst of pace down the right. Another chance came from captain Daniel Thirkell’s header at the back post, meeting a dipping cross only for Quibell to parry it to his left. His centre back partner, James Knowles, making his debut after signing from last season’s NCEL Premier League champions Emley, also came close on 16 minutes from a “short corner” routine which saw his header sail wide to the right of goal.

The Brewers’ wing play was continuing to pressurise the away side’s penalty area with several corners to show for it but without further reward until the 27th minute in which Albion finally made one of their set pieces pay; Dean delivered a pin-point corner into the middle of the penalty area for Knowles to power in a header after outmuscling his marker. 1-0.

On 39 minutes Tadcaster turned up the tempo once more. Ibrahimi rolled the ball onto Cassius-Gill, dropping into a pocket of space behind the Bottesford midfield before picking out Josh Hardcastle. The marauding wing back’s cross was headed away as far as Elliot Andrew, who made no mistake firing down the middle and catching the goalkeeper off balance. 2-0.

A drinks break immediately followed as Bottesford’s Pierce Hudson was replaced by substitute Graham Anderson, after picking up a knock during the phase of play, before the referee called an end to a fast paced first half.

It took another 10 minutes for the Brewer’s third to arrive. Josh Hardcastle, in a tireless Man of the Match performance, received the ball after making himself available by the touchline on the right. He picked out Elliot Andrew who then shifted the ball into Alfie Dean, unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, showing great composure by instinctively caressing the ball first time under the goalkeeper’s body and into the bottom left. This marked a perfect hat-trick of goals from Tadcaster debutants, scored with a header and both feet. 3-0.

Cassius-Gill thought he had put the home side four goals to the good moments later, taking the ball round the goalkeeper and tapping into an empty net only for play to be brought back for a foul earlier in the move.

The visitors had chances of their own as the game neared its end. Sam Green found himself under pressure from substitute forward Aristides Cunha and played the ball straight to the away side’s midfield, yet the shot was curled over the bar from range. Bottesford’s Jaxon Borland was determined not to walk away without a goal and went near with a low shot that was deflected wide for a corner after battling through several challenges.

After 5 minutes of additional time, Tadcaster had secured 3 points. Andrew and Dean proved clinical in the end for the home side, with Bolino ,Cassius-Gill, Sam Kitchen, and the imperious Josh Hardcastle covering plenty of ground going both ways.

The Brewers are next in action on Saturday 3rd August when they face Seaham Red Star at home in the FA Cup extra preliminary round, Kick Off 3.00 pm. Then on Tuesday 6th August it’s back to league action at home to Silsden AFC (KO 7.45pm)

Tony Howarth Golf Man of the Match: Josh Hardcastle

Attendance: 212
Tadcaster: Green, Hardcastle (‘80 Hines), Owen (Wilson), Thirkell (C), Knowles (‘76 Holmes), Ibrahimi (‘76 Shepherd), Cassius-Gill (‘ 70 Greenway), Kitchen, Andrew, Dean, Bolino

Report from Oliver Whitmore, Photos courtesy of Craig Dinsdale and Keith Handley