Substitutions Inspire U21’s To Victory At Halifax

With both sides looking to put the pressure on league leaders Harrogate Town, it was Taddy who struck first after just two minutes.

Halifax failed to deal with Tom Hullock’s whipped cross from the left-hand side as Marcel Chigumira rose highest to head into the back of the net.

It was a promising start from Mikey Morton and Si Collins’ side with the intensity bang on from the off. Halifax were struggling to deal with the persistent pressing game from Taddy and they had the ball in the net for a second time after twelve minutes, only for the offside flag to be raised.

Fraser Hansen’s teasing free-kick was kept alive by Chigumira and headed in by Dan Davison only for the assistant to raise his flag. However, on second viewing Davison was clearly onside by a couple of yards.

The promising young Brewers were very good value for their lead as Elliot Anderson and Tom Hullock both came close to finding the net.

The home side slowly started to work back into the contest and spurned a golden chance to level after 25 minutes. The number nine broke beyond Joe Dunnett’s challenge but could only poke wide of the mark.

However Halifax did find an equaliser right on the stroke of half-time, the lively number seven struck a beauty into the roof of the net from 25 yards.

The second half started just like the first with Albion in the ascendency. And they retook the lead thirteen minutes in when substitute
Jack Simpson powered through on goal and confidently side-footed beyond Jack Atkinson.

Simpson provided the perfect injection and had only been on the pitch no more than thirty seconds.

The match then started to become somewhat stretched as the half went on with both teams pushing for the all-important three points.

The home side came close to levelling for a second time when stinging Tad with a counter attack but goalkeeper Nick Lock pulled off a brilliant save up high to his left.

Nevertheless Lock was beaten eight minutes later when a miscued back pass from substitute David Barber allowed the Halifax forward to run through and take it round the goalkeeper to make it a desmond, 2-2.

But you know what they say, you are most vulnerable when you’ve just scored, and this was a prime example as another Taddy substitute made a crucial impact.

Less than a minute later Paddy Wintie saw his swirling effort squeeze past Atkinson in the Halifax goal to put Tadcaster back in front with thirteen minutes remaining.

Halifax huffed and puffed in the final ten minutes but Nick Lock came and claimed every dangerous ball with Kieron Holmes and captain Ryan Woodhead stopping any threat in behind.

Full-Time: Halifax Town U21’s 2-3 Tadcaster Albion U21’s

Tadcaster Team: Lock, Woodhead ©, Hansen, Holmes, Dunnett, Rose, Anderson, Chimalilo, Davison, Chigumira
Subs Used: Savage, Barber, Simpson, Hunter, Wintie