Tadcaster advance into the last 16 of the League Cup.

Jay Taylor, Media & Communications Officer at Tadcaster Albion, reports for Minster FM

Goals in the final ten minutes from Josh Greening and Adam Baker see off high-flyers Shaw Lane to advance into the last 16 of the League Cup.
Taddy boss Billy Miller made three changes to the draw with Colwyn Bay welcoming Jason Mycoe, Josh Greening and Adam Baker back into the starting eleven. Fatlum Ibrahimi, Michael Ingham, Erico Sousa, Andy Milne, Gregg Anderson, Liam Shepherd and Carl Stewart were all missing.

Two of the aforementioned players were involved in the first noteworthy move of the match as Baker hooked Rob Youhill’s cross back across goal but Josh Greening’s volley was cut out by Michael Brewster.

Explosive wide man Rob Youhill was setting the tone for the cup tie in the opening minutes, constantly hounding and driving at the Shaw Lane back-line as he looked to prove a point against his old side.

The home fans would have been much the happier in the opening quarter of an hour as Sellars, Greening, Youhill, Mycoe and Baker relentlessly pressed their opponents and forcing them to give away possession on several occasions.

Jason Mycoe’s busy presence and tenacity in midfield was a welcome return for the Brewers and on 13 minutes he came out with the ball once again before playing it forwards to Josh Greening. Greening gained control and helped it on to Adam Baker who jinked inside onto his favoured right-foot and drove narrowly off target.

These were encouraging signs for Miller and Heath though as the Taddy faithful were encouraged by what they were seeing.

However, two minutes later Shaw Lane were awarded a penalty kick as Dan Thirkell was adjudged to have impeded the on-rushing forward.

Alex Byrne stepped up and struck powerfully to the left corner but Chandler Hallwood flew to his right and pulled off a brilliant save to keep the tie scoreless.
From the resulting corner, the visitors spurned another golden opportunity to take the lead as Jonathon Wafula found himself unmarked at the back post but he couldn’t direct on target with the goal gaping.

Three minutes later and Shaw Lane did in fact break the deadlock as Jack Touhey’s low shot was turned into his own net by Tom Allan.
It was a fast and frenetic first half which showed no signs of letting up as just a few minutes later and Taddy were awarded a penalty of their own as Josh Greening was clipped by full-back Neil Austin.

Greening opted to take the spot-kick himself and fired low to the bottom right-hand corner but Shaw Lane stopper Mateusz Zanieuwski made it one penalty save a piece with a strong left handed stop.

Taddy continued to play some fine fast flowing football and almost equalised with a superb counter attacking move.

Jono Greening brought the ball out of his own penalty area before spreading to Adam Baker who drove into the opposition’s half at tremendous pace before arrowing a strike which looked destined for the top corner but Zanieuwski sprung high to his right and pulled off an outstanding save to tip over the bar.

Into the second half and the Brewers really should have drew level seven minutes in. Conor Sellars showed his excellent work-rate and lightning pace to pressurise Zanieuwski into skewing straight to Adam Baker who drove goalwards, tried to round the goalkeeper who made amends for his error and claimed the ball.

Albion continued to knock on Shaw Lane’s door and came close once more when the towering presence of Tom Allan stormed agonisingly wide of the mark.
The visitors still posed a serious threat going forward though and if it wasn’t for Taddy goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood it could have been a much different result with the former Walsall man making several top quality saves to deny Wafula and Byrne.

But it was Taddy who looked the more likely to score the next goal as they ramped the intensity up another level. There were massive appeals for another penalty fifteen minutes from time as the guilty party from the first penalty Austin upended Tom Allan but referee Andy Smith waved away.

However, Taddy’s constant pressure paid off with ten minutes to go as they finally levelled the cup tie.

Most of the credit has to go to Rob Youhill who drove down the right touchline, cut inside and powered beyond Joel Purkiss, jinked down the outside once again past Ben Algar and delivered into the danger area where Baker helped it on to Josh Greening who turned in from three yards.

All of Tad’s hard work was almost undone four minutes later when Gary Burnett sprung the offside trap and raced clean through on goal with the whole half to himself. Burnett had an age to decide what to do but Chandler Hallwood rushed off his line and pulled off a phenomenal stop from point blank range.

Hallwood’s outstanding save proved to be even more important than first thought as Taddy completed the comeback a minute later.
Substitute Fraser Hansen weighed up his options before passing in-field to Adam Baker who dashed to the right from a central position and unleashed a fierce strike from 22 yards into the left-hand corner.

Despite a late push from Shaw Lane, Taddy defended well and saw out the brilliant victory.
Taddy will now travel to Scarborough Athletic in Round Three of the Integro League Cup.

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