Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott, who was taking charge of his 200th game in management, had plenty of reasons to smile after his side’s 2-1 win at Tadcaster Albion on the opening day of the season
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
The eyes of everyone in the league were watching, but Shaw Lane Aquaforce stood up to the test by winning 2-1 at Tadcaster Albion in the most eagerly-anticipated opening day fixture in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division.
Shaw Lane manager Craig Elliott described the win as “important” result.
Aquaforce and Tadcaster are two of the fancied sides in the Division and it was the former who opened the scoring after just six minutes through George Conway’s strike.
Taddy’s lethal striker Carl Stewart capitalised on a mistake to fire his team level in the second half before limping off injured.
His departure hurt the home side and Aquaforce hit the winner with 20 minutes remaining with a goal credited to Danny Patterson.
Tadcaster’s day was compounded by Denny Ingram’s red card in the dying embers for a second bookable offence.
The afternoon belonged to the Premier Division new-boys Aquaforce and Elliott, who took charge of his 200th game in semi-professional management, was delighted.
“I’m really pleased because there was a lot of pressure,” he told Non League Yorkshire.
“It was a really difficult game to come here and get a result because as I’ve said to you before, I have a lot of respect for Tadcaster as they’re a good team.
“In all honesty I did think we edged it today. I thought we had the better chances.
“We had a bad spell and made a little error for their goal, but we came back strong at the end in a tight match and managed to nick the win.
“I did think that (the eyes of everyone were watching). Everybody seems to like to talk about us.
“There’s nothing we can do about that, maybe we have to embrace it.
“There was a little bit of pressure so it’s nice to get three points and it is important.
“I think that it was important for a number of reasons because people forget that we are new to this league.
“It’s the club’s first win in the Premier. It’s nice to get your first win of the season out of the way. Nice to get your first goal of the season.
“It’s doesn’t matter in regards to the season though, it’s just a win and we’re not getting over-excited.”
Summer signing George Conway slots home Shaw Lane Aquaforce’s opening goal
Shaw Lane Aquaforce celebrate George Conway’s opening goal
Aquaforce have invested heavily in their squad this summer, but there was still room for highly-rated young goalkeeper Brett Souter, who has come through the club’s youth system.
Souter was big presence for Shaw Lane and played a key role in the game which could have easily begun with a Tadcaster goal.
Stewart raced through, but put a weak shot wide of the goal.
The striker was made to rue the miss within minutes. Joe Thornton, whose debut performance was described by Elliott as “excellent”, beat the offside trap and crossed for the far post from the left-wing.
Young star Conway latched onto the ball at the other end and kept his composure to score from close range as Tadcaster goalkeeper Arran Reid raced out.
Thornton and Conway then went close with attempts before half-time.
Tadcaster struggled for large periods of the first half to hurt Shaw Lane and only a moment of good fortune enabled the momentum to swing the home side’s way early on in the second half.
Chris Fawcus’ poor back-pass gave possession to Stewart and the striker sent a rocket of a strike into the net from a seemingly impossible angle to draw his side level.
Carl Stewart’s ‘rocket’ strike which drew Tadcaster Albion level in the 2-1 defeat to Shaw Lane Aquaforce
Carl Stewart celebrates drawing Tadcaster level
Tadcaster players congratulate Carl Stewart on his equalising goal
Taddy began to take the game to their visitors. Calum Ward had a thunderbolt charged down before the bubble burst when Stewart departed because of a knee problem.
Aquaforce took control again and soon scored their winning goal in a rather fortuitous manner. Thornton’s in-swinging corner was not dealt with and the final touch appeared to come off Tadcaster defender George Bissett.
The goal was credited to Patterson.
Shaw Lane’s new striker Jimmy Eyles made a late surprise substitute appearance and narrowly missed out on a debut goal on two occasions.
Tadcaster defender Denny Ingram (on ground) can’t bear to look as referee Andy Smith shows him the red card
Tadcaster were restricted to hopeful long range attempts so Shaw Lane held on quite comfortably.
The task was made even easier when Ingram was deservedly given his second yellow card for a wild challenge on the advancing substitute Grant Darley.
The victory shows that Aquaforce can handle the pressure when the spotlight is on. The movement from the forwards, Shane Kelsey, Thornton and Conway, was excellent and they were’t even a full strength.
Injured striker Lee Morris is returning soon, while Eyles will be at full fitness in a few weeks for 39 more big tests still to come.
Tadcaster Albion: Reid, Barrett, Bissett, Dixon (Taylor 72), Ingram, Milne, Ward, Ormsby, Thompson (captain) (Critchlow 76), Stewart (Hamilton 56), Greening. Subs unused: Lawrie, Banks.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Souter, Stohrer, Fawcus, P Haigh, Holt, Denton (captain), Patterson, Thornhill (Darley 86), Kelsey (Reece 79), Thornton, Conway (Eyles 68). Subs unused: Danville, R Haigh.
Referee: Andy Smith (Castleford)
Ref Rating: 9/10
Attendance: 220
Man of the match: Joe Thornton (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)