Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Tadcaster Albion 5-0 Retford United
Jason Mycoe congratulates hat-trick hero Jimmy Beadle during Tadcaster’s 5-0 win over Retford. Picture: Keith Handley
Tadcaster Albion are still a point clear with a game in hand at the top of the league after scoring five goals from set-pieces against Retford United.
Captain Jimmy Beadle netted a fifteen minute hat-trick in the first half which all but sealed the three points for Tadcaster against a tough Retford side.
The Badgers pushed for a way back into the game in the second half however it wasn’t to be. The Brewers put some gloss over the victory in the final few minutes as Josh Greening and Josh Barrett both got on the score sheet.
Taddy kept pushing for a crucial early goal to get the ball rolling and came close in the 10th minute as renowned free-kick specialist Conor Sellars pumped the set-piece narrowly over the mark from 19 yards out.
It certainly wasn’t the free flowing football that was seen at the start of the season for Tadcaster but they carved out their best chance so far two minutes later. Jason Mycoe carried the ball over the halfway line before passing it into Adam Baker who played a perfectly weighted ball in behind Retford’s defence to Josh Greening who struck low but Jamie Davies saved well with his legs.
With almost twenty minutes on the watch, the home fans began to seriously worry as goalkeeper Gary Stevens stayed down hurt after colliding with Gregg Anderson. Retford at this point were having their best spell of the match and were having a real go at Taddy. Thomas Bland fired it into captain Adam Lee who flicked first time round the corner with the outside of his foot searching for Mark Waters. The ball ran through in behind the Taddy backline leaving a straight acceleration race between Waters and Gregg Anderson. It was Anderson who got there first and did slide clear, however the defenders’ follow through took him crashing into Stevens in the Tadcaster goal. This left the stopper down receiving treatment for several minutes.
It looked like a substitution was inevitable with Stevens struggling and this wasn’t good news as Tadcaster had no number two goalkeeper on the bench. However Stevens got to his feet and managed to continue between the sticks.
The stoppage in the match interrupted Retford’s rhythm but was perfect for Tadcaster who got back on track.
Stevens’ movement was tested shortly after though with Bradley Johnson’s shot deflecting off Andy Milne to which Stevens got down and dealt with well.
It was the home side who broke the deadlock on the half hour mark as Beadle found enough space at the near post to head in Baker’s corner.
Sellars was having another impressive game on the right hand side for Tadcaster and his bobbling half volley was awkward for Davies but he managed to claw it out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Tadcaster doubled their lead and it was Beadle once again. The goal was almost a carbon copy to his first, but this time it was Josh Greening who curled the corner in from the opposite side.
The majority of the first half action was coming in the final ten minutes of the half as Gareth Campion tested Stevens again who saved well down to his right.
In the 45th and final minute of the half, The Brewers were given the perfect opportunity to put daylight between the two sides as they were awarded a penalty kick. It was a rapidly sublime counter attack from the home side as Josh Greening charged down the middle of the pitch with Retford at sixes and sevens. Greening dribbled the ball at least thirty yards before tapping to Beadle who prodded in behind to the onrushing Jonathan Greening who was brought down by goalkeeper Jamie Davies giving the referee no choice. Beadle stepped up and completed his first half hat-trick by smashing down the middle of the goal.
The Badgers came out for the second half and immediately put pressure on the Brewers as they looked to pull a goal back to have some hope of a comeback.
The visitors should have pulled a goal back just after the hour mark as Bradley Johnson received his short corner back and smashed low and hard across goal to which Adam Lee completely missed the ball, any contact and it was in the back of the net.
Sellars was working tirelessly for the team again, his work rate is second to none, constantly harrying the opposition giving them no time on the ball. The former Worksop man nearly made it four shortly after but his ferocious left footed shot was kept out by Davies.
Retford were still probing for a consolation goal and had another glorious chance to do so. Substitute Jermaine Gordon turned Anderson and squared past Stevens but no black and white shirts were on hand to tap in. Tadcaster however held Retford off and in the end put some extra gloss over the victory.
The Brewers were awarded a penalty kick with six minutes to go after James Finnegan was clearly pulling Josh Greening’s shirt. With Beadle now off the field, Greening stepped up and as cool as you like sent Davies the wrong way.
Josh Greening almost got his second of the match immediately after his low shot trickled under Davies and towards the goal line but unfortunately Campion cleared off the line.
Tadcaster Albion made it a handful of goals in the 88th minute and they had saved the best till last. The Greening brothers played a quick short corner as Josh then played a slick one-two with Josh Barrett. Greening took it in his stride perfectly and performed a super step over which saw him glide past Jordan Hardman and squaring back to Barrett who rolled in his third goal of the season.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Clayton, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Sellars (Stewart 85), Jonathan Greening, Beadle (captain) (Black 63), Josh Greening, Baker (Barrett 68). Subs Unused: Heath, Ormsby.
Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.