A fresh set of Tadcaster faces came back from behind twice to draw at home with promotion-chasing Albion Sports, just as their opponents did in the reverse fixture 10 days prior. Despite showcasing a rotated side, the Brewers played with character throughout and deservedly secured the point courtesy of goal scorers Kieran Greenway and Dan Thirkell.

The game started frenetically as Luca Bolino was released down the right only for there to too much on the pass. Merely a moment later, Nathan Carthan clipped the ball to wing back Marcus Harper who exploded down the left with pace, yet the Brewers had men behind the ball in no time to contain him.

Albion’s first real chance of the game fell to attacking midfielder Kieran Suddards as Tadcaster lost the ball in their defensive third, tip-toeing his way into the box and seeing his shot take a wicked deflection from right to left that sent Green diving sharply to turn it past the post.

The away side seized control early on, restricting the Brewers to their own half. Albion skipper Dom Staunton sent a high ball over to the towering Thomas Ponter, flicking it on with his head to Zak Khan who controlled but the shot was too high to trouble the keeper.

With 13 minutes played Albion Sports regularly wasted no time turning defence into attack, opting once more to go direct to Nathan Carthan who had drifted out to the left wing. Shielding the ball well, he moved the ball right onto Zak Khan before an unmarked Thomas Ponter lashed a venomous shot past Green after arriving late in the penalty area. 0-1.

But Tadcaster were not behind for long. Bolino found himself in space again on the right wing and took on defender Marcus Harper. Crossing in towards debutant Ronnie McGrath, it was too deep and cleared the penalty area, the attack presumedly over – yet they quickly recovered the ball and soon Kieran Greenway had time to weigh up his options, roughly 35 yards out. He unleashed a spectacular strike into the top right corner, dipping just under the crossbar – Albion’s keeper Porter did not move. Sixteen minutes and it was all square 1-1.

A top effort from the midfielder somewhat revitalised his side. McGrath, ex Leeds United academy chested the ball down and turned away with composure from Ponter on halfway before showing great feet to escape a challenge and vision to pick out Bolino, cutting in from the right. He touched it down first time for loan signing Charlie Thompson but the shot was slashed wide.

The first real opening of the second half came two minutes shy of the hour mark when, ex Brewer, T’nique Fishley, was up for a set piece and almost connected with a looping cross from the right. The ball fell kindly for Emmerson Cox who blasted the shot over from no more than 10 yards out.

Brewers fans could sense the threat posed by Albion as they broke quickly down the right wing with substitute Ellis Wade, moving towards the goal before a cynical challenge brought him down. Albion captain Aran Basi was standing over the ball and forced Green to tip it over impressively.

Suddards had been working hard in the middle throughout the match and was involved again high up the pitch in Tadcaster’s left back position. Winning the ball, Albion sent a dangerous cross into the box and none other than former Brewer Junayd Cassius-Gill outmuscled Wilson to head home on 72 minutes.. The roll of the dice paid off for the away side. 1-2.

Time was ticking away as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Alex Charlesworth’s resolve was tested once more by right-winger Wade, and the Tadcaster defender made an important challenge. Moving the ball through the defence, Greenway collected possession and struck a pin-point ball over the Albion centre backs for Middleton-Tozer, who had been on the pitch 5 minutes. Running at Porter, the goalkeeper sprang off his line and made a vital save, resulting in a corner.

Failing to clear the ball, there followed a goalmouth scramble ending in Dan Thirkell slamming the ball low and into the net from point blank range, sparking delirium on the side of the pitch and in the clubhouse. The captain’s second league goal of the season hauled the Brewers level for a second time with just four minutes left on the clock

It was to be the last action in front of goal as referee Kieran Kent ended proceedings with the final whistle. A determined performance from a much-changed team was met with applause as the players exited the field, with two game-changing moments from man of the match Kieran Greenway and solid performances from Ronnie McGrath, Charlie Thompson, and a tireless Jamie Tomlinson.

Tadcaster are next in action away to Barton Town on Friday 21st March (7.45pm kick off) in their final away game of the 2024/25 NCEL Premier Division campaign, hoping to end their travels on a high before a home double at the end of the season.

Tadcaster: Green, Owen (21’ Lisles), Charlesworth, Thirkell (C), Wilson, Shepherd, Bolino, Greenway, Thompson (83’ Middleton-Tozer), McGrath, Tomlinson (83’ Georgiou)
Unused subs: Habetz, White

Albion Sports: Porter, Fishley, Harper, Staunton, A. Basi (C), Faulding (63’ Wade), Cox (83’ Moke Tumba), Ponter, Carthan, Suddards, Khan (63’ Cassius-Gill)
Unused subs: K. Basi, Alfonso Ferreira

Attendance: 203

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Report from Oliver Whitmore, Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley