Evo Stik North
Tadcaster Albion 1-2 Skelmersdale United
Tadcaster’s Pete Davidson during defeat to Skelmersdale United at the i2i Stadium. Picture: Matthew Appleby
Tadcaster Albion lost at home in the league for just the second time this season as Skelmersdale United left the i2i victorious.
Josh Greening’s sumptuous chip cancelled out Alastar Redmayne’s first half opener before Andrew Owens found himself the hero following up after hitting the post with fifteen minutes to go.
It was a similar story for Tadcaster who weren’t short of chances and good chances at that, especially in the first forty five.
Skem pick up their first away win of the season whereas the Brewers lose at home for just the second time in the league this season.
Manager Michael Morton named an unchanged starting line-up to the one that drew at Colwyn Bay last week but did reintroduce U21’s star Casey Stewart to the bench.
Albion started the contest brightly in the fierce winds of Storm Brian as Josh Greening was kept out twice by the United stopper inside the opening five minutes.
But it was strugglers Skem who broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Redmayne’s low strike from the edge of the area took a nick off Josh Barrett and found the bottom corner.
The chances weren’t drying up for Taddy though as Josh Greening was denied by Lee Callum Roberts for a third time after cleverly Cryuff flicking goal-wards.
That was a half chance but what arose two minutes later was a golden opportunity to draw level for the home side.
Lawrence Hunter’s swirling free-kick was knocked down by Tom Corner into the path of Andy Milne who only had the goalkeeper to beat but the defender fired straight at Roberts.
Two more shots at goal came and went as Josh Barrett and Tom Corner both saw their volleys flash off target.
Other than Redmayne’s goal, Skelmersdale didn’t threaten Greg Hartley and he didn’t have to make anything other than a routine stop.
All the noteworthy chances seemed to come in the first fifteen minutes apart from one when Aiden Savory headed narrowly off target in the final stages of the half.
Into the second half and for all of Taddy’s possession, the clear chances at goal seemed to dry up with the visitors blazing over twice inside the opening ten minutes.
Albion delivered a hefty number of crosses into the box for Tom Corner and Aiden Savory but Skem defenders Liam Hollett and Callum Jones stayed resolute.
However, Taddy kept plucking away and away did equalise twenty minutes into the second half to set up an intriguing finale.
Callum Jones’ clearance cannoned off of Pete Davidson and the classy midfielder continued to chase the ball with great intent forcing goalkeeper Lee Callum Roberts into scuffing his clearance.
The clearance bobbled straight to Josh Greening who never looked fazed or rushed as he jinked inside and deftly chipped over the keeper.
You got the sense at this point that there was only going to be one winner as Albion continued to pen United in their own half.
But despite Taddy dominating the ball and looking the most likely, it was in fact the visitors who netted the elusive third goal of the game.
Rob Bourne spotted the run and threaded it through to Andrew Owens, who was a handful all afternoon and he scuffed a shot off the post, Chris Howarth failed to clear and the tall centre forward latched onto his own effort to tap in.
There was still fifteen minutes for The Brewers to draw level for a second time but the only glimmer was when the goalkeeper dropped a Savory cross and Milne went bouldering in but couldn’t turn on target.
The Team
Tadcaster Albion: Hartley, Hardy (Sellars 77), Hunter (Stewart 86), Howarth, Milne (captain), Barrett, Murray, Davidson, Corner, Savory, Greening. Subs unused: Mycoe, Akeroyd, Grant.