Holy moly Batman…Tad win at the death

Toolstation NCEL Premier Division

Bridlington Town 0-1 Tadcaster Albion

Batman, Robin & Super Mario all celebrating today's 95th minute winner as Tad go Top! @nonleagueshow @NonLeagueNews pic.twitter.com/fCk1UrDWa5

— Tadcaster Albion (@TadcasterAlbion) February 6, 2016

Josh Greening scored the 95th minute winner at title rivals Bridlington Town for the second season running as Tadcaster Albion went top of the table.

After torrential rain across Yorkshire, the match was the only game in the Premier Division to go ahead and Bridlington were rewarded with a huge crowd – many in fancy dress as part of Tadcaster’s annual fancy dress away game.

The Brewers made an excellent start. Adam Baker picked out Nick Black’s intelligent run in behind Brid’s defence but the striker was pushed wide and his effort at goal was deflected wide by the sliding Danny Brunton.

It was certainly Tadcaster that started the brighter of the two teams and came within a matter of inches to taking the lead in the 10th minute. Jimmy Beadle started the attack before setting Baker down the right who drove at the defence and played it back inside to the onrushing Beadle who slid and shot a whisker wide of the left-hand upright.

The Seasiders’ first real attack came down the left-hand side after 16 minutes as Brunton bombed down the wing and delivered in a low cross to which Gary Stevens had to grasp well and did.

There wasn’t an abundance of chances in the first half but Bridlington full-back Benn Lewis had to be alert as a Taddy corner was flicked on at the near post and if it wasn’t for Lewis, defender Andy Milne may well have fired into the back of the net.

In contrast to the first half, the second half started with the home side in the ascendency as they looked to take the game to The Brewers.

Set-pieces were looking like the best chance for either side to score on a difficult afternoon and Bridlington came close five minutes into the second half as Birch curled a free-kick narrowly over from 25 yards.

As the minutes started to pass, the pitch began to cut up more and more making it increasingly difficult for the two sides who both like to get the ball down and play.

Bridlington hit Taddy on the counter attack as captain Tom Fleming did well to get in behind Gregg Anderson and pull back to the unmarked Joel Sutton whose strike was met by Milne. Milne was having an outstanding in the heart of defence alongside Anderson, terrifically timed tackles time and time again from the former Scarborough man.

With fifteen minutes to go, it seemed like the match was destined to finish 0-0 as still no chances were being made for either side as moments later Jonathan Greening volleyed comfortably over with his weaker left-foot and Beadle barged a header off target also.

Into the last five minutes and the lethal pair of Josh Greening and Beadle nearly broke the deadlock for The Brewers. Greening cleverly scooped in behind Brid’s defence to Beadle who went for the lob to which goalkeeper James Hitchcock stood still and hoped and in the end he got away with it as the effort dropped narrowly over the crossbar.

Just like in midweek at Pontefract Collieries, Tadcaster kept going until the end which in turn provided the magic moment. Jason Mycoe worked terrifically in tandem with Jonathan Greening and picked up the ball 30 yards out in an inside right position. He looked up and fired the perfect cross into Josh Greening who guided his header into the back of the net to spark bizarre, but jubilant scenes.

Bridlington Town: Hitchcock, Lewis, Brunton, Birch, Nicholls, Jenkinson, Knaggs, Fleming (captain), Norfolk, Sutton, Waudby. Subs: Taylor, Wray, Harman, Adams, Reeson.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Ormsby, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Baker (Stewart 86), Greening, Black (Barrett 77), Beadle (captain), Greening. Subs unused: Heath, Clayton, Sellars.

Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.