Paul Marshall said Tadcaster’s 4-1 win over Garforth was “thoroughly deserved”
Tadcaster Albion went back to the top of the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table with a straightforward 4-1 win over local rivals Garforth Town, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Tadcaster overcame an awful start, which saw C J Lyle give Garforth the lead after just 30 seconds, with first half goals from Jamie Williamson, Danny Critchlow and Terry Taylor along with a late Carl Stewart strike to secure three important points.
The comprehensive victory, watched by a bumper crowd of 308 people, erased the bad memories of last week’s shock 8-1 drubbing at fellow title contenders Brighouse Town and also put a smile back on manager Paul Marshall’s face.
“It is a brilliant response to last week,” Marshall told Sports Performer.
“Everybody was disappointed with last week’s performance. Brighouse deserved to beat us in a lot worse conditions than it was today.
“We thought we would play with the wind today and then unbelievably we were 1-0 down after 30 seconds. When they scored I thought ‘I hate windy conditions’.
“Over the past several years we have had several opportunities to go top of the league including against Retford a couple of years ago when we blew it.
“We don’t seem play well in windy conditions. But credit goes to all the players because they worked their socks off to get back into the game.
“Terry’s goal to make it 3-1 probably was the deciding factor. It was then a good finish by Carl when he came off the bench so overall defensively we did well, we took some good goals and thoroughly deserved the win.
“We mentioned before the game about going top because (second placed) Barton’s game (at Glasshoughton) was off. But it wasn’t about that, it was about bouncing back.”
Logan McDaniel (right) congratulates C J Lyle on his opening goal at Tadcaster
Garforth themselves were hoping to find their own piece of redemption. The Miners lost 2-0 to struggling Nostell Miners Welfare in midweek and only three players – Andy Hawksworth, Lyle and Liam Smith – from that starting eleven were named by Graham Nicholas to play Tadcaster.
The changes seemed to have big effect at first sight. Because of the heavy wind, home goalkeeper Arran Reid miscued his clearance and the ball landed nicely for Lyle, just outside the penalty area. With the experienced Denny Ingram about to step in and make the tackle, the American unleashed a tremendous strike into the top corner to give Garforth a dream start.
Whilst the trip to Brighouse descended into disaster, this time there were no ‘here we go again’ shouts as parity was restored within four minutes. Garforth defended poorly and failed to deal with a quickly-taken corner and from a cross from the left, Williamson dived to head the ball into the bottom corner.
Tadcaster did have one more scare as Reid was needed to deny Lyle from point blank range, but from there it was pretty much plain sailing for Marshall’s men.
The half-hour mark came and so did Tadcaster’s breakthrough moment. Left-back George Bissett exchanged passes with striker Calum Ward before crossing for former Nostell forward Critchlow to score with a smart touch to divert the ball beyond goalkeeper Dom Smith’s reach.
Danny Critchlow (left) celebrates his goal for Tadcaster Albion in the 4-1 win over Garforth Town
Tadcaster continued to attack and dealt Garforth the killer blow on the stroke of half-time. Hawksworth fouled Taddy captain Nick Thompson 20 yards from goal and the experienced Taylor stepped to smash the free kick into the stanchion – a superb strike which Smith could only stand and admire.
Both teams made changes early in the second half. Carl Stewart replaced Critchlow, while Garforth brought Ryan Carr, Sam Akeroyd and Jassim Alali on in an attempt to salvage something.
The prolific Stewart should have put the game to bed on the hour. He raced through, but somehow blazed the ball wide as Smith came racing out.
Reid also made another good stop at the other end by preventing Josh Cartman from scoring. If the Leeds Met University player had scored, Garforth may have found a way back. But that was the last of their chances and Tadcaster saw the game out safely.
Albion also got another goal for their troubles as Stewart broke through again, but made no mistake as Smith approached.
Nick Thompson (left) and Stuart Rice (second left) react to a decision made by referee Mark Dwyer
The strike capped a great day for Tadcaster and sent them two points clear at the top. Garforth chief Nicholas also had no complaints.
“We made a couple of errors for the first Tadcaster goal because we didn’t switch on from the corner,” he said.
“We had made such a good start. It was a great finish from C J, but then we made a sloppy mistake again and let back into the game.
“Tadcaster showed more desire than us and were pressing us in the right places. Their support play was also far better than ours.
“On another day you have to finish your chances. At 1-1, C J went close from Curtly’s cross. The goalkeeper got lucky and if that had gone in it would have changed things.
“It wasn’t our day. Tadcaster were more clinical and they took their chances. Although I think the score-line flatters them, I think they deserved to win the game.”
Tadcaster Albion: Reid, Barrett, Bissett (Batley 68), Dixon (Hope 83), Williamson, Ingram, Thompson (captain), Taylor, Ward, Critchlow (Stewart 64), Rice. Subs unused: Lawrie, Hamilton.
Garforth Town: D Smith, L Smith (Carr 51), McDaniel, Hawksworth (captain), Boland, Hilton (Alali 51), Rupere, Cartman, Martin-Wyatt (Akeroyd 51), Greenhalgh, Lyle. Subs unused: Woodhall, McMurrough.
Referee: M Dywer (West Yorkshire)
Ref rating: 8/10
Attendance: 308
Man of the match: Stuart Rice (Tadcaster Albion)
Match Photos are HERE