Liam Ormsby tackles Harrogate Town’s Lloyd Kerry
A mad ten minutes from Tadcaste Albion’s point of view saw Harrogate Town position themselves for a 3-1 victory at i2i Sports Stadium.
After a goal-less first half, Harrogate upped the tempo with a series of chances, two goals and bizarrely two missed penalties.
Connor Bower, who Harrogate boss Simon Weaver hopes to sign, added the third in the later stages before Josh Barrett scored a consolation goal for Tadcaster.
Some Tadcaster fans may have feared the worst considering Harrogate’s impressive victory over York City’s first team on Saturday.
Tadcaster matched the Vanarama National League North in the first half, but Town did create the best chance of the opening 45 minutes.
The home side needed goalkeeper Gary Stevens to make a save from Louie Swain and then George Bissett to hook the ball off-the-line.
Jordan Thewlis fired Harrogate Town ahead and later missed a penalty
Andy Milne attempts to get in front of Harrogate striker Connor Bower
Paddy Miller holds the ball up for Tadcaster
The deadlock was quickly broken in the second half with former Goole striker Jordan Thewlis drilling an excellent low effort into the bottom corner from distance.
The opener must have rattled Tadcaster as they suddenly could not cope with the visitors.
Captain for the night and ex-Harrogate defender Danny Stimpson then wiped Thewlis out and conceded a penalty.
Stevens spared Stimpson’s blushes by guessing correctly by diving to his left to palm Thewlis’ spot kick for a corner.
But, inside 60 seconds, Harrogate were awarded a second penalty after another foul inside the box. Bower took this one and incredibly blazed the ball high and over the crossbar – much to the crowd’s amusement.
The two penalty misses still did not put Harrogate off as a rare error from Stevens allowed Royal Johnson to cross for Swain to score from close range.
Tadcaster managed to get their heads back on and Billy Miller’s side had a brief respite from defending as Paddy Miller made the Harrogate goalkeeper save his free kick.
Harrogate weren’t finished though as Bower got his goal with a fine low drive for goal number three.
Barrett ensured Tadcaster’s ever-growing fanbase got a goal to cheer in the dying seconds.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Bissett, Milne, Stimpson, Ormsby, Claisse, Beadle, Brown, Thornton, Miller. Subs: Lawrie, Barrett, Greening, Gray, Black, Heath.
Harrogate Town: Crook, Pells, McWilliams, Nyoni, Coates, Ellis, Johnson, Kerry, Bower, Thewlis, Swain. Subs: Worrall, Daniels, Knowles, Shiels, Fenton, Cadma, Thirlwell, Isaac, Higgins, Atkinson.
Referee: Andy Smith
Attendance: 297