Tadcaster hero Josh Greening on the attack is tackled by Handsworth’s Ben Starosta. Picture: Ian Parker
Tadcaster Albion impressively ended Handsworth Parramore’s 14 match unbeaten run to win 4-1 at Sandy Lane for the second time in the space of three weeks
Two goals in either half from Adam Baker and Josh Greening secured the points for Tadcaster and moved them nine points clear of Parramore in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table.
Handsworth do have four games in hand though which ensures the race for the title remains tight.
Going into the action and it was the home side who had the first effort at goal as Daniel Buttle blazed a shot comfortably over the crossbar.
However just a minute later Tadcaster really should have broken the deadlock. Liam Ormsby dinked a ball down the right-hand side to Greening who cleverly let the ball run across his body which fooled the Parramore defender. Greening then looked up and pulled it back to Adam Baker who skied his shot over the mark from 12 yards.
On 19 minutes Jimmy Beadle saw his powerful 30 yard free-kick comfortably held by Handsworth stopper David Ratcliffe but just six minutes later and Tadcaster did open the scoring. Baker drove down the right wing and carried the ball at least 30 yards before coming to a halt and crossing to Greening who wasn’t challenged by captain Richard Adams which allowed Greening to step back and fire into the bottom corner.
The home side weren’t creating any chances when they did attack The Brewers, they were struggling to break down Taddy’s solid and sturdy back-line.
Just past the half hour mark in the first half and Tadcaster should have found the net again. Greening did superbly to keep the ball in play and deliver an inviting cross with his weaker right foot to find the unmarked Beadle who headed narrowly over the crossbar from close range.
Taddy did deservedly score a second goal of the match two minutes before the half-time break. Baker cut inside one black and amber shirt and absolutely hammered a rasping shot past Ratcliffe from 20 yards.
Into the second half and just like when The Brewers were 2-0 against Worksop Town at Sandy Lane not long ago, they sat considerably deeper inviting The Ambers to have a go at them.
The Ambers had the majority of the ball in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Tadcaster player-assistant boss Matt Heath made a superb block to deny Froggatt at a crucial point.
The visitors rode the pressure out and went on the search for the third. Beadle was given another golden chance to put the game to bed half-way through the half as Greening played a slick reverse through ball to strike partner Beadle who sprung the offside trap but saw his snap shot well thwarted by Ratcliffe.
However, just five minutes later and Taddy did score their third of the afternoon surely sealing the three points. Baker ran at the heart of the defence, shifted it to Greening who tried to chip the keeper but it bounced off Ratcliffe’s shoulder and away from danger. Baker then sprinted to the loose ball and audaciously went for a lob over the goalkeeper to which he executed to perfection.
Parramore did pull a consolation goal back with three minutes to go as Jon Froggatt guided in a rebound off a Gary Stevens save from Colin Marrison to make it a slightly nervy ending.
However if there was any chance of a late comeback, this was all forgotten shortly after as The Brewers scored a fourth goal in injury time. Substitute Josh Barrett, who was tearing the left full-back apart since entering the fray slotted in another substitute Carl Stewart, who was thwarted by the goalkeeper. Barrett fired it straight back to Stewart who cheekily back heeled past Ratcliffe in the Handsworth goal to Greening who slotted it through the legs of the defender on the line.
Handsworth Parramore: Ratcliffe, Starosta, Cullingworth, Fletcher, Griffiths, Adams (captain), Marrison, Warne, Froggatt, Wells, Buttle. Subs: Joynes, Rippon, Tuttle, Harrison, Denton.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Clayton, Heath, Anderson, Mycoe, Ormsby, Baker, Conway, Beadle (captain), Greening. Subs: Chigumira, Stewart, Barrett, Thompson.
Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.