Tadcaster Albion are through to the second round of the West Riding County cup after defeating a hard-fighting Goole side 2-0 at the Young Guns Arena. The away side, who are bottom of the NCEL Premier Division with 1 win in 13 matches, laboured until the dying minutes of the game to keep the Brewers out, who shifted into higher gear in the second half.

The game started quietly with the ball most often in the middle of the pitch, possession swinging between the two teams. Goole’s Leighton Sawyer turned neatly away from Ethan Kachosa, drafted in once more at right back, before shifting the ball leftwards to George Mwale. A few stepovers took him around Keiran Greenway and Green was forced to tip over the cross in the game’s first opening.

Tadcaster’s first chance arrived when the ball was quickly worked out right to Kachosa, in behind, yet Shaun Hudson - who had remained up after the previous attack - couldn’t force the header in. The ball fell to Albert Ibrahimi but the low effort was wide from less than 10 yards out.

The sleekest move of the first half saw Ibrahimi drop deep to collect the ball before offloading to Owen, who found Ellington in the middle. A succession of swift passes released Luca Bolino who caused full-back Bolton Makwedza to lose his footing, crossed low only for goalkeeper Luke Chadwick to dive on the ball.

The Brewers somewhat gifted Goole a chance on 20 minutes when Albert Ibrahimi was short of options in his own half and robbed of the ball. Towering winger Lucas Robinson found himself in space and picked out Makwedza striding forward but the shot from the edge of the penalty area sailed safely over Sam Green’s goal.

Goole were seemingly forcing the set piece with their play out wide and came close from a corner after the 25 minute mark when talisman James Simmonite rattled the left upright with a header. There was a clear sense of commitment to every ball from the Vikings in the first half which kept Tadcaster, who made 5 changes from last week’s defeat against Campion, well on their toes.

Luca Bolino was steaming away down the left wing after a strong tackle on halfway by Hudson, but Goole responded with one of their own. A direct ball up the pitch then sent Simmonite away on the right, now in a 3v3 with Tadcaster’s back line, slotting a pass through to Lucas Robinson who ran out and inside of Greenway before lashing a shot over the bar.

Tadcaster should have punished Goole for some poor marking when Hudson escaped Robinson’s challenge before finding Bolino darting in from the left and seeing his shot parried from the edge of the box. Ibrahimi couldn’t control yet the ball fell invitingly to Ellington who hit a shot wide of the left post. Each side couldn’t shake off their profligacy in front of goal.

Their final chance to notch a goal in the half saw Greenway take a free kick short to Ellington, 40 yards from goal, who looked right for Kachosa. Battling through the oncoming challenge, his shot from a tight angle took a slight deflection and Chadwick was down smartly to save with his legs.

The Brewers were held back longer than their opponents during the half-time team talk, and the second 45 was a very different story. More possession and quicker movement off the ball saw chances begin to arrive more regularly. Wingers Kachosa and Bolino were particularly dangerous on the ball.

Goole managed to suspend Tadcaster’s promising spell when Andrew Shepherd was outmuscled in the middle as Samuel Markwick found substitute Lewis Chambers, before Robinson found himself on the ball. A pinpoint cross from the left connected with the head of Simmonite, sending the ball in. However, the Brewers were saved by the offside flag.

Now past the hour mark, Luca Bolino received a throw on the left and turned his opponent well. His clipped cross from the byline fell to Albert Ibrahimi and Chadwick managed to save with his legs once more to deny the number 9 his first goal in the West Riding cup.

It was becoming increasingly apparent that Goole were on borrowed time as Tadcaster stepped up their tempo, profiting from a series of free kicks that allowed them moments to breathe. Penalties were now creeping into both managers’ minds.

However, a spot kick came earlier than anticipated when Bolino picked up a headed clearance and went on a trademark run infield from the left with 1 minute on the clock. His run was cut short as he was tripped from behind, and the referee signalled for a penalty. Substitute Jordan Hines stepped up and made no mistake, firing into the bottom left corner. 1-0.

Ethan Kachosa sealed the deal on 90 minutes when Cassius-Gill latched onto a flicked header from a Goole player, charging forward into the box and arrowing an effort under the goalkeeper from the right. It was the least that his performance deserved. 2-0.

Tadcaster prevailed in the opening round as Goole, where credit is due, made a great account for themselves in the first half and survived a near all-out siege from the home side in the second - a much improved showing than their 6-0 defeat to Tadcaster in the league. Kachosa got stuck in with some very well-timed challenges at right-back and Dan Thirkell, who returned to captain the side, won nearly every duel at the back as fans will be anticipating his imminent return to the league squad.

The Brewers are back in action in the NCEL Premier Division on Saturday 19th October as they host 5th-placed Thackley, hoping to carry over some confidence into their league campaign.

Attendance: 102

Tadcaster: Green (GK), Kachosa, Hudson (‘80 Leeming), Wilson, Owen, Thirkell (C), Ellington (‘74 Cassius-Gill), Shepherd (‘74 Kitchen), A. Ibrahimi (‘74 Hines), Greenway (‘87 Tweed), Bolino

Goole: Chadwick (GK), Makwedza, Sawyer (‘HT Austin), Kenyon, Aliyu (‘55 Suleiman), Mortimer (C), Robinson, Ward, Simmonite (‘76 Widdup), Markwick, Mwale (‘45 Chambers)

Tony Howarth Golf Man of the Match: Dan Thirkell

Report from Oliver Whitmore – Photos Courtesy of Craig Dinsdale and Keith Handley