Tadcaster Albion 0 - 2 Liversedge

There were several changes to the starting eleven from last weeks team. With Corey Roper away on business and Freddie Sass having moved to Mossley, back came Dan Hartley, Jordan Deacey and the skipper Simon Russell. There was also a first outing for keeper Ben Bottomley signed during the week on loan from Doncaster Rovers.

The squad also saw a welcome return to the bench for Junayd Cassius-Gill who had not featured since being seriously injured in the 3-2 win over Pickering back in August and also Angus Richardson from the international i2i Soccer Academy.

The game started in a scrappy fashion with both teams trying to work out each other but the sides were evenly matched when it came to the early physical battles.

Seven minutes in Nicky Walker almost provided the telling touch on a cross but his attempt was off target whilst “sedge” striker Joe Walton headed wide under pressure from Kieran Burton.

By the quarter of an hour mark the Brewers had dealt well with a handful of deliveries into the box but still had not quite got into gear in the opposition half.

Midway through the half the visitors struck the post, Walker drove an effort which took a nick off a defender and clipped the foot of the woodwork.

That sparked Tad into life on 30 minutes, with Deacey’s men starting to turn the screw. Eddie Church almost got on the end of a through ball but the keeper was out well to smother the Tadcaster number nine.

Less than a minute later Charlie Marshall managed to work space in the box and drill an effort which narrowly evaded the far post as Tadcaster enjoyed their best spell of the half. With under ten minutes to play before the break Church curled a shot just wide of the same post.

Liversedge forged the last attempt of the first half on the stroke of half-time as Walton managed to get free in the box but he could not direct his header on target.

The second half started frantically open, making for an end-to-end game The visitors were again on the front foot making a fast start but Bottomley made a fantastic save down low to his right denying Paul Walker. Minutes later Church almost got in to score only to see his effort deflected wide.

Bottomley was involved again in the opening ten minutes of the second half, the keeper quickly off his line to smother the visitors latest foray.

On the hour mark Tad made the first substitution of the afternoon as Des Amponsah who had worked hard up and down the wing in the first half was replaced by Donald Chimalilo.

Shortly after the substitution the visitors found themselves in on goal but for a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Burton to keep the game level.

In the 63rd minute Deacey turned to the bench again; Kesi Omolokun, was replaced by Essa Ndow which forced a re-shuffle with both sides looking for that all important first goal.

A little after the substitution, the Brewers fell behind; a whipped free kick in from the right by Walker found Walton in the box who powerfully headed in to put Liversedge ahead.0 – 1.

It went from bad to worse for Tadcaster almost immediately with over 20 minutes still to play, when Chimalilo was shown a straight red card for a challenge in the middle of the pitch and the Brewers were reduced to ten men.

Taddy continued to battle and were still a threat going forward despite the red card. Jordan Deacey did well down the left-hand side before a deft outside of the foot cross aiming for Church in the six-yard box, was hastily cleared.

In the 74th minute Church almost got in to poke Tad level but the keeper and a defender combined to block the striker as he managed to get his toe to the ball.

With ten minutes to play Charlie Marshall forced Jordan Porter in the Liversedge goal into a very smart save - a powerful half volley from outside the box looked to be heading into the bottom corner but for a strong hand to push the shot away.

In the aftermath of that attempt Tadcaster made their third and final change, a very welcome return to action for Junayd Cassius-Gill replacing Church with the former getting some much-needed match time.

Two minutes later Bottomley was again called upon, a powerful shot from distance was well kept out, preventing the away side building on their slender lead.

However, in the 84th minute Liversedge got their second; the ten men of Tad were a little stretched as the visitors broke, Alfie Raw picking up the ball and firing passed Bottomley to seal the victory.
0 – 2.

A minute later Cassius-Gill found himself in on goal and finished beyond the keeper very smartly only for the offside flag to be up on the touch line, ruling it out.

In the latter stages of the game Liversedge created two more chances, both of which were well saved by the impressive debutant Bottomley, keeping the score line at two.

Despite being the third straight defeat, Tad can take positives from a good battling display against an unbeaten, in-form Liversedge, where the Brewers were more than equal to the challenge for the majority of the game.

Next up for Taddy is the West Riding County Cup at the Global Stadium against Guiseley on Tuesday 14th kick off 7:45pm.

Bottomley, Omolokun (Ndow), Burton, Crook, Hartley, Russell ©, Deacey, Vieira, Amponsah (Chimalilo), Church (Cassius-Gill),

Subs not used: Ejupi, Richardson.

Report from Olly Wood, Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley