Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Rainworth Miners Welfare 1-3 Tadcaster Albion
Adam Baker and Liam Ormsby chase down a Rainworth player. Picture: Ian Parker
Tadcaster Albion moved clear at the top of the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division after a solid win away at Rainworth Miners Welfare.
A neat Josh Greening finish inside eight minutes cancelled out Matty Sykes’ early penalty for the home side.
Adam Baker put Taddy in front ten minutes before half-time and a second from Josh Greening on the hour mark sealed the win for The Brewers in a perfect away performance.
Manager Billy Miller made two changes to the side that beat Liversedge last week with Adam Baker and Conor Sellars promoted to the starting eleven in place of Josh Barrett and Carl Stewart.
Tadcaster however got off to the worst possible start as the home side were awarded a penalty in the second minute after Gary Stevens clattered into Liam Theakstone. Matty Sykes stepped up and fired the spot kick into the bottom right corner just out of Stevens’ reach.
Five minutes later and The Brewers were back on level terms. Jason Mycoe did brilliantly to shrug off Liam Nelthorpe and play a perfect reverse ball through to Josh Greening who composed himself and slid under goalkeeper Sam Leigh.
After a frantic opening ten minutes, the match then calmed down allowing both sides to settle. With 14 minutes gone Jimmy Beadle was back to his optimistic self once again trying his luck from all of 35 yards but Leigh was equal to the attempt.
Both sides were having plenty of possession with many meaningful attacks as after 25 minutes The Wrens tested Stevens in the Taddy goal. Gregg Anderson cleared a cross but only as far as full-back Connor Smythe who struck sweetly on the volley to which Stevens saved well.
As the rain started bucketing down in Rainworth, Taddy completed the turnaround and took the lead with ten minutes to go until the break. Jordan Armstrong did superbly to beat Sykes on the right touchline and fire in a deep cross which flicked off Brad Wilson’s head to an unmarked Baker at the back post who couldn’t miss from seven yards out.
Tadcaster were looking to go into half-time with a two goal cushion and came close as once again full-back Jordan Armstrong bombed down the right side and ended up in behind and his dinked cross was met by Beadle whose flick was deflected over.
With two minutes to go until the break, Josh Greening nearly made it three for the visitors with what would have undoubtedly been one of the goals of the season. A defensive header by Rainworth flew in the air in the direction to Josh Greening who followed the ball out of the sky and went for the acrobatic bicycle kick which swerved a matter of inches wide of the upright.
The home side came close to scoring at the start of the second half as Matty Sykes dinked in behind to the onrushing Nelthorpe but Stevens charged off his line to brilliantly thwart the midfielder.
The Wrens were pushing hard to get back into the contest whereas Taddy weren’t rushing things in terms of netting a third goal. However, Rainworth had another clear sight of goal in the 52nd minute as right-back Ricky Hanson got behind Liam Ormsby and fired low into the danger area to Matt Thompson but the striker’s heavy touch at the most crucial time allowed Anderson to hook clear.
Rainworth’s hard work was all undone just after the hour mark as Tadcaster took a 3-1 lead. Jonathan Greening’s firm pass was superbly flicked in behind the Wrens’ defence by Beadle sending panic to the home side. The clever flick was latched onto by Josh Greening who touched the ball over goalkeeper Sam Leigh but it seemed as though the attack was over as Matt Plant covered but the defender miscued completely as well as bringing Greening to the ground. Conor Sellars was quickest to retrieve the ball on the by-line and terrifically back-heeled back into the six yard box where Josh Greening picked himself up and rolled the ball into the empty net.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Ormsby, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Sellars (Clayton 75), Jonathan Greening, Beadle ©, Josh Greening, Baker. Subs unused: Stewart, Black, Barrett, Heath.