Sheffield FC 2 - 3 Tadcaster Albion

The Brewers claim a vital three points thanks to two goals from Eddie Church either side of a Junayd Cassius-Gill strike away at Sheffield.

John Deacey made seven changes from the side that played Guiseley in the week. All three new arrivals Jack Carr, Oliver Metcalf and Ellis Farrar were handed debuts.

The hosts made a fast start and through the fog, Ben Bottomley in the Taddy goal was immediately called into action to first head away a back-pass and then produce a smart save.

After five minutes Tad had their first sighter as Jack Crook headed a Jordan Deacey corner wide of the post.

In the 13th minute Deacey played a ball in behind which was just too long for Eddie Church and the hosts countered at pace - Luke Hall got down the right and delivered to the near post for Marc Newsham to finish with his head. 1 – 0.

Less than five minutes later Crook again got his head to a Deacey delivery but the header lacked the necessary power to trouble the keeper.

In the 22nd minute Sheffield doubled their lead, Bottomley punched away initially but the ball fell to Nathan Modest who finished into the corner.2 – 0.

Tad heads did not drop; a minute later Church had his first sight of goal but having got the to the edge of the box he could not keep the shot down.

Little before the half hour mark Church, through his constant endeavour, won a free kick out on the left; Deacey delivered, finding the Taddy number 9 who headed narrowly over. The Brewers, however, were getting closer!

Church saw a goal bound effort deflect to Des Amponsah who beat his man and from a tight angle forced the keeper to save with his legs. He then lifted an effort over the bar from the edge of the box as the Brewers worked a throw in into a chance.

The final effort of the half fell to Tadcaster; another brilliant delivery from Deacey this time found Kieran Burton’s head but the effort was straight at the keeper.

As the opening forty-five came to an end, the Brewers had grown into the game and finished the half the better side.

As ‘I can see clearly now’ rang around the stadium through the tannoy system at half time, the fog began to lift , albeit temporarily - the Brewers had a big second half ahead of them.

Five minutes into the second half Carr and Dan Hartley linked up well on the right before the latter whipped in a good cross for Church who looped his header just wide.

Three minutes later the hosts threatened again, with a powerful strike parried well by Bottomley. Almost immediately the Taddy shot stopper was again called upon to fantastically tip Jordan Walshaw’s powerful strike onto the underside of the bar whilst the follow up was equally brilliantly denied by Burton’s block.

In the 61st minute Tad pulled one back; Deacey delivered a dangerous ball into the box and as the hosts failed to clear, it dropped for Church who clinically fired in on the turn from six yards out to set up an entertaining final half an hour.2 – 1.

Sheffield almost regained their two-goal lead shortly after; Hall managed to get in behind the Tad defence, but out came Bottomley to close down the attacker and force the shot well off target.

Just over five minutes after halving the hosts advantage the Brewers levelled the game, Carr fired with his left, low just inside the near post, the keeper couldn’t hold it and substitute Cassius-Gill obliged by hammering the ball into the net to equalise.2- 2

After coming back from two goals down and being in the ascendancy for much of the second half, the momentum Albion had built up dropped slightly as Sheffield came back into the game a little more. In the 77th minute Tadcaster survived a scare; a goal mouth scramble was cleared before another cross into the box deflected goalwards but fortunately bounced wide of the upright.

Having dealt with more crosses and long balls forward, Tad launched an attack of their own with little under five minutes of normal time to play. The Brewers won a free kick out on the right-hand side, Deacey’s dangerous cross was headed out to Cassius-Gill who half volleyed passed the keeper but a defender managed to block on the line - through the fog came Eddie Church pouncing on the loose ball with a classic number nine poachers finish to complete the comeback. 2 -3.

As the game neared its conclusion, a knock to Ellis Farrar forced him off and on came the skipper Simon Russell to help Tadcaster see out the game with the hosts throwing everything but the proverbial kitchen sink forward for a late corner – even keeper Sheffield Jonathan Hedge was in the Tadcaster box

Sheffield mustered one final chance which Tad substitute Rinor Ejupi cleared off the line positioning himself well to read the danger and despite lengthy additional time Deacey’s side held on to take the much needed three points back to North Yorkshire.

It's Ossett United next up for the Brewers, back at the Global Stadium on Monday the 27th of December, kick off at 1pm.

Bottomley, Hartley, Omolokun ©, Burton, Farrar (Russell), Crook (Ejupi), Deacey, Metcalf (Cassius-Gill), Carr, Church, Amponsah. Subs not used: Hughes, Richardson.

Report From Olly Wood Photos Courtesy of John Clothier