Evo Stik North
Tadcaster Albion 0-0 Scarborough Athletic
Chris Howarth almost won it for Tadcaster Albion at the death. Picture: Matthew Appleby
Tadcaster Albion played out a goalless draw with promotion-chasing North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough Athletic on Thursday evening.
In the end it was a tale of two outstanding saves; one from Tad goalkeeper Michael Ingham to unbelievably deny Michael Coulson from point blank range in the first half before Tommy Taylor parried Chris Howarth’s header in the dying embers.
The rearranged fixture was a cracking spectacle on a Thursday night which saw two very good teams battle it out fiercely.
It’s another point to add to Albion’s tally but they slip out of the provisional play-off places after Colwyn Bay’s 3-0 victory over Prescot Cables.
Taddy bosses Michael Morton and Simon Collins made one change to the team that thumped Bamber Bridge as Will Annan came in for his first start replacing Casey Stewart.
The winger on-loan from Championship side Hull City came on mid-way through the second half in last week’s eye-raising victory and scored twice as well as setting up the fifth and it was he who had the first effort at goal.
Aiden Savory cleverly used his body to hold off the Boro defender before teeing up Annan but he dragged his shot narrowly wide from outside the penalty area.
With just four minutes gone it was one effort apiece as the visitors squandered a good chance to take an early lead. After taking a free-kick quickly, Tom White curled onto the head of Sam Hewitt who powered a header narrowly wide of Taddy’s right-hand upright.
In an even contest with few clear cut openings, Howarth and Savory both saw their efforts comfortably held by Boro stopper Taylor in the space of two short minutes.
However the moment which was the main talking point after the full-time whistle came on 27 minutes when Taddy goalkeeper Ingham denied former York City teammate with a quite astonishing save.
The effervescent Max Wright clipped an enticing cross into the box which dropped perfectly for the prolific frontman Coulson who strolled in unmarked and guided goal-wards from six yards out but the giant Northern Irishman somehow managed to keep the shot out with an almighty strong left-hand showcasing his outstanding reactions.
The Scarborough fans and players thought it was in as they began to celebrate before their arms retreated to their heads in the Loxley Holmes Stand.
The visitors shaded the first half but Taddy still had many bright moments, none more so than just after the half hour mark as a devastatingly slick counter attack almost led to a goal.
Ingham threw sharply out to Annan who confidently burst past Jack Johnson before Howarth cleverly set Billy Whitehouse away in space down the right but his hung up cross towards the back post was brilliantly cleared away from Savory by the aforementioned Johnson.
Similarly to last week, the Brewers began the second forty five positively and on the front foot. Corey Roper clipped a divine ball in behind Boro’s back-line timing it perfectly with the midfield run of Howarth who surged away but he couldn’t lob the huge Taylor.
Taddy continued to look dangerous on the break as Annan threatened once again. 18 year-old right-back Harry Sheppeard opened his electrifyingly quick legs to fly down the wing before it eventually ended up with Annan on the left-hand side but his low drive was halted by Taylor.
Midfield maestro Pete Davidson was as imposing as ever amongst a gruelling battle against the promotion chasers and it was he who was next to go close as his forceful curler shaved the crossbar.
Boro may have had the lion’s share of the play in the first half but the second half belonged to Taddy as the centre back pairing of Jason Mycoe and Josh Barrett defended immensely to keep the experienced James Walshaw and Coulson quiet.
The introduction of Casey Stewart injected even more vibrancy into Albion as his hunger to run at defences gave the watching on home fans hope of a winner.
Tadcaster were certainly the more likely side to pinch a winner going into the final ten minutes and they thought they had it, but Taylor had other ideas.
Stewart’s brilliant dink to the back post was headed back across goal from close range by the ever-impressive Howarth but Boro stopper Taylor managed to push up and away to safety and this proved to be the last piece of action as neither side could carve out a winner.
The Teams
Tadcaster Albion: Ingham (captain, Sheppeard, Hardy, Roper, Mycoe, Barrett, Howarth (Barkworth 89), Davidson (Langton 85), Annan, Savory, Whitehouse (Stewart 78). Subs unused: Young, Pugh.
Scarborough Athletic: Taylor, Johnson (Price 86), Merris (captain), White, Hewitt, Gooda, Cadman (Dawson 29), Dean, Walshaw, Coulson, Wright. Subs unused: Sugden, Slew, Morgan.
Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.