Tadcaster Albion 2-0 Knaresborough Town
Danny Frost celebrates scoring for Tadcaster Albion. Picture: Matthew Appleby
Goals from new boys Danny Frost and Jake Ellam saw Tadcaster Albion begin their pre-season campaign with a victory over NCEL side Knaresborough.
The new Tadcaster management team of Mike Morton and Simon Collins came into their first game in charge without defenders Andy Milne and Aiden Savory as well as experienced midfielder Pete Davidson.
Michael Ingham was in between the sticks after nine months out with a serious foot injury and the former Northern Ireland International captained the side.
Aaron Hardy, Danny Frost, Chris Howarth, Joel Dixon and Sam Akeroyd were all making their debuts for the club.
It was a scorching day at York St John University’s impressive Haxby Road Sports Complex, and the contest started extremely competitively with both sides battling hard to gain a foothold.
The visitors missed two half decent chances to break the deadlock in the opening minutes before Taddy did in the 21st.
Frost was given a split second just inside the penalty area and he made no mistake driving into the bottom corner with his weaker left-foot.
The front three of Josh Greening, Tom Corner and Frost were intertwining delightfully and showed great promise for the season to come. They will undoubtedly be a handful for any defence.
As expected, there were changes aplenty at the interval with Jason Stokes, Ellam and Josh Grant all entering the sun covered field.
The second forty five was a much more commanding display from Morton & Collins’ side and they were rewarded with a second goal just eight minutes into the half.
The move started with Ingham coming and claiming a free-kick before rolling out to Liam Shepherd getting Tad on the attack sharply.
Shepherd clipped it down the line for Greening who beat his man and curled in the perfect cross with his weaker right-foot which allowed Ellam to tap in his first for the club.
The Brewers searched for a third goal and came close in the final seconds when Ellam’s fierce strike from range was parried and substitute Piteu Crouz couldn’t quite turn in the rebound.