Paddy Miller celebrates putting Tadcaster in front against Rainworth. Picture: Ian Parker
Tadcaster Albion had to twice come from behind to beat Rainworth Miners Welfare 4-3 at the i2i Sports Stadium.
Paddy Miller got Taddy off to the perfect start by glancing in a Josh Greening free-kick but it wasn’t to be plane sailing for The Brewers as Rainworth hit back with two quick fire goals of their own.
Josh Barrett equalised for Tad right on the stroke of half-time but again Rainworth came out in the second half and took the lead as Lewis Bingham netted his second of the afternoon.
Taddy rallied after this though and sealed a tremendous 4-3 victory with thanks to two set-pieces. First of all Jimmy Beadle’s free-kick was too powerful to stop and then Dan Clayton scored the winning goal from the penalty spot with over fifteen minutes to go.
Billy Miller made just the one change to Tuesday night’s win over Pontefract Collieries as Nick Black came in for George Conway.
From one Miller to another as it was Miller who got The Brewers off to the perfect start after just three minutes on the watch. Greening assisted the goal as he has done on numerous times this season by curling in a free-kick on the right which Miller glanced into the corner.
The lead however did not last long as Rainworth were level just six minutes later. Lewis Chambers checked back on himself half-way inside the Albion half and clipped a cross into the penalty area and the talisman Lewis Bingham got the faintest of touches to creep past Gary Stevens.
A Tad was turned upside down after seventeen minutes as defender Jack Andrews smashed a shot at Stevens from close range which crept agonisingly over the white chalk of the goal line to give Rainworth a 2-1 lead.
Several half chances came and went in favour of the side wearing yellow but in the 43rd minute Black really should have broke the net. Adam Baker slotted a ball through to the on-rushing Black who had a clear sight at goal but his left-footed strike whistled comfortably over the crossbar.
Taddy did eventually level the scores at two a piece. Full-back Jordan Armstrong did tremendously well to skip past one and skilfully flick with the outside of his boot to tee up Barrett who smashed a shot from a tight angle which soared into the far corner of the net.
Into the second half as the September sun still shone blindingly and the visitors bit back once more as Lewis Bingham was in the right place at the right time to tap in just eight minutes into the half. Left-back Connor Smythe advanced on the Tad defence and hit a low shot in which Stevens did well to tip onto the post however Bingham came in from an acute angle and rolled the ball into the back of the net off the other post.
It took Tadcaster Albion all of four minutes to pull it back again as Beadle made it three in three for his personal records. He has stated that he has never scored a goal inside the penalty area and that record continued as he blasted a free-kick from 18 yards goal wards in which was just too powerful for Burrows as it was patted but into the corner of the net.
Five minutes later and the complete turnaround had been done. Barrett’s cross from the by-line was initially missed by Black but followed up at the back post by Baker who struck a shot low which was blocked on the line and the referee deemed it to be stopped by a hand therefore a penalty kick was awarded. Clayton picked the ball up and coolly side-footed into the back of the net to give Taddy a 4-3 lead in what was turning out to be a frenetic encounter.
It was an incredible match and it didn’t stop there as just a couple of minutes later and the Brewers were awarded a second penalty kick this time for a foul on Josh Barrett who was having an impressive game.
Once again, Clayton picked the ball up to take the spot kick but this time he remarkably side-footed it over the crossbar.
From this moment onwards after the fourth goal it kind of killed off Rainworth and felt like they had nothing really left to throw at Taddy.
The home side were pushing for a fifth goal and came close as Miller’s header was narrowly deflected wide of the mark. Conway had a golden opportunity to make it a handful for the Brewers in the last minute as he was sent in behind down the right-hand side but his shot from a narrow angle bobbled just wide of the goal.
Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Clayton, Miller, Heath (captain), Claisse, Barrett (Conway 90), Beadle, Black (Mycoe 86), Greening, Baker.
Referee: Michael Brownsett
Attendance: 317
Thanks to Jay Taylor for this report.