Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Tadcaster Albion 4-1 Liversedge
WE LOVE YOU SONNY!❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/i74vK0Vfs7
— Tadcaster Albion (@TadcasterAlbion) February 13, 2016
Promotion-chasing Tadcaster Albion were made to work for their victory on an emotional day for many reasons at the i2i Sports Stadium.
Tadcaster returned to their home ground for the first time in 73 days after the devastating floods, but the afternoon will be remembered for the tributes to popular barmaid Sonny Lang who passed away a few days ago.
A minute’s applause took place and respective captains Jimmy Beadle and Tom Jackson laid flowers.
Tadcaster then did Sonny proud by managing to over-come Liversedge, the former club of manager Billy Miller.
The Sedge made it difficult for Taddy and battled well but a perfectly executed free-kick by Liam Ormsby right on the stroke of half-time gave The Brewers a slender lead at the break. The visitors levelled at the start of the second half with a free-kick of their own, brilliantly struck by former Farsley defender Jackson.
Taddy wore their opponents down in the end and regained the lead in the 67th minute as Liam Ormsby netted his second, his penalty kick was saved but he was on hand to smash in the rebound.
The Brewers netted two goals in the final three minutes to put gloss over the victory; firstly Carl Stewart scored his first of the season with a well struck drive and then Beadle headed in from a Conor Sellars corner.
Taddy got the match underway and were very nearly one up inside the first 60 seconds. Josh Barrett’s pull back from the right was met by Beadle but the skipper’s shot was saved by Christian Thewlis in the Sedge goal.
The visitors’ first attack sent some nerves in Taddy’s back line as Rhys Davis and Regan Fish just couldn’t create that half a yard of space to get their shot off and Jordan Armstrong eventually cleared.
The Brewers were looking to take an early lead and settle some possible homecoming nerves however they spurned another good chance in the tenth minute. Tom Brook failed to clear which incidentally dropped into Barrett’s path but the attacker blazed over from close range.
The Brewers were pushing extremely hard in the opening minutes to try and blow Liversedge away and put the game to bed as early as possible but three minutes later Thewlis denied Beadle once more. Barrett with the cross again from the right, Beadle with the downward header but again Thewlis got down well.
Jason Mycoe doesn’t get many chances at goal with him sitting deep in the midfield but he had plenty of space on this occasion, tried his luck but the strike was straight at Thewlis.
As the clock turned on 23 minutes, all in attendance applauded for the 23 year old Sonny.
Whilst this was going on Taddy came close once again to breaking the deadlock, Jonathan Greening curled in a free-kick to which Beadle headed just over, again.
Liversedge were containing Taddy so far and somewhat frustrating the home side but The Brewers thought they had a penalty just after the half hour mark. Barrett was scythed down by full-back Mark Lumb right on the line, it was extremely tight but a free-kick was given. The free-kick was again clipped in by Greening and again, Beadle was the man who got his head to it but Thewlis was equal to it.
Right on the stroke of half-time it was still goalless as Stewart was brought down on the edge of the area. Ormsby stood menacingly over the ball and curled it beautifully up and over the wall and into the back of the net giving Christian Thewlis no chance this time. Ormsby pointed straight over to Anna, Sonny’s mother, indicating that one was definitely for Sonny.
Credit to Liversedge however, they weren’t playing like a side at the bottom of the league, they were digging deep and giving The Brewers some things to think about and in the 59th minute, they drew level. The Sedge equalised from a free-kick of their own, Jackson with a fantastic left-footed strike from the right hand side which curled over Stevens and into the far corner.
This spurred Taddy on to regain the lead as quickly as possible and just eight minutes later, they got the perfect chance to do so as Tom Brook was adjudged to have handled the ball after Stewart flicked the ball upwards. Ormsby was the man to take the penalty, he struck it well but Christian Thewlis did superbly to save the spot-kick however Ormsby smashed in the rebound much to his relief.
Fish looked the brightest of the bunch for The Sedge and the wide man came close to equalising once again after half volleying just over the mark.
Stevens wasn’t given much to do in the Tadcaster goal but he had to be alert when Brandon Kane struck sweetly from 33 yards as Stevens tipped onto the crossbar.
The away side were having a decent spell as we entered the final 15 minutes and that man Fish was causing problems again. The midfielder’s low bobbly shot was well dealt with by Stevens on a pitch which was severely cutting up as the match wore old.
The Brewers sealed the three points in the final minutes by scoring two late goals. Stewart finally ended his goal drought and netted his first of the season with a neat finish from Beadle’s through ball. All in attendance and all the yellow shirts were buzzing for Carl which was nice to see.
Taddy then scored a fourth goal on their return to the i2i Stadium as Conor Sellars’ floated corner was met by Beadle who rose highest and powerfully headed into the back of the net.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Ormsby, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Barrett, Jon Greening, Stewart, Beadle (captain), Josh Greening. Subs: Sellars, Heath, Black, Baker, Clayton.
Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.