Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Thackley 2-3 Tadcaster Albion
Former Manchester United midfielder Jonathan Greening runs to Tadcaster’s supporters to celebrate his goal. Picture: Ian Parker
Title-chasing Tadcaster Albion romped into a three goal lead before holding off a late fight back from Thackley.
Josh Greening got The Brewers off to a perfect start inside five minutes with a neat finish from a tight angle. Greening netted his second later on in the first half in bizarre circumstances after bundling over the line following being struck by the goalkeeper’s kick.
Josh’s older brother and ex-Premier League midfielder Jonathan finished off a sublime move to put Taddy three up and in complete control.
The home side however pushed the promotion hopefuls to the very end after pulling two goals back but in the end Tadcaster held on for all three points.
As the match got underway in the Bradford sunshine, Taddy’s nerves were calmed as they took the lead inside five minutes. Andy Milne’s long ball forward in behind Thackley’s high back-line was pounced upon by Josh Greening who was forced wide but still managed to stroke the ball past Dayle Coleing and into the bottom right corner from an acute angle.
The early goal didn’t unsettle the home side as they almost replied immediately. Ryan Farrell strike from close range was well stopped by Gary Stevens and Dan Clayton’s back-pass gave Andrew Wood the chance to let fly but the striker fired just wide.
Both sides were creating plenty of chances in the first quarter of an hour it didn’t look like the contest was going to finish with just the one goal scored. The scorer of the first goal had another promising opportunity to give Taddy a two goal cushion. Gregg Anderson’s punt forward was misjudged by the energetic Samali Cissa which bounced up nicely for Tom Corner to flick in behind to the pacey Josh Greening who charged through on goal but struck off target with the outside of his boot.
With ten minutes to go until the half-time break Taddy did go two goals to the good but it has to be said, it was in bizarre circumstances.
Coleing originally came and claimed a Conor Sellars cross and as he waited for his side to push up Josh Greening walked slowly with him. The tall keeper then belted the ball into the back of Greening which saw the ball catapult backwards over his head setting up a race between attacker and goalkeeper. Josh Greening’s tremendous pace, bravery and determination saw him bundle the ball over the line and into the back of the net.
A few red shirts but mainly Coleing protested profusely to the officials as referee Joseph Goodwin looked at his assistant who couldn’t see anything wrong with the goal.
The second half began in entertaining end-to-end fashion once more as The Brewers were denied a third goal by a superb save Coleing. Josh Greening’s hung up cross was powerfully met by the head of Corner which flew towards the upper echelons of the goal but credit to Coleing who soared up to his left-hand side to claw out the fierce header.
However, just seven minutes later and Taddy did score the all-important third and what a goal it was.
The rapid Sellars picked the ball up ten yards inside Thackley’s half and drove at the heart of defence. Sellars then played a lovely reverse ball inside to Josh Greening who performed a perfect first-time cryuff flick into his brother’s path and Jonathan Greening coolly passed the ball beyond Coleing and into the bottom corner to finish off a sublime move.
Thackley did however get on the score sheet and pull a goal back with 25 minutes to go. Kristian Hargreaves’ clipped ball to the back post saw Tom Dugdale net his 20th of the season by looping a header over Gary Stevens.
Conor Sellars came close to putting The Dennyboys well and truly to bed by netting a fourth but his saw his reaction header fly narrowly wide of the left-hand upright.
As the second half ticked on Thackley heaped more and more pressure onto The Brewers and with four minutes left of normal time they pulled a second goal back to set up a nervy finish. Samaila Cissa cut inside from the right by-line and poked in a low cross which didn’t look to put Tad in any danger until not one but two dummies were executed perfectly to allow Dugdale to stroke in his second of the afternoon.
Thackley: Coleing, Hargreaves, Littlefair, McGuire (captain), White, Snowden, Farrell, Bentham, Wood, Cissa, Dugdale. Subs: Scott, Pett, Hopkins, Padgett, Cohen.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Barrett, Clayton, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Baker (Sellars 32), Beadle (captain), Corner (Conway 79), Josh Greening (Stewart 60), Jonathan Greening. Subs unused: Carole, Armstrong.
Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.