Honours Even Against The Leeds Youngsters

Tadcaster Albion 1-1 Leeds United U23's

Jay Taylor reports.

On Tuesday night The Brewers put in a spirited performance to hold Leeds United U23's to a 1-1 draw at the i2i stadium.

Former LUFC winger Piteu Crouz put Taddy in front in the first half after emphatically finishing from close range.

Carlos Corberán's side stepped it up and fought back in the second forty five with substitute Jamie Shackleton scoring a sublime goal to equalise.

The energetic legs of the Leeds youngsters came to the forefront in the second half but having said that Taddy continued to work incredibly hard which in the end resulted in a very respectable score draw.

Taddy boss Manager Michael Morton came into the annual meeting with the Whites without Frost, Savory, Grant, Ellam and Greening but did hand starts to Hardy, Davidson, Chigumira and Crouz.

After missing the Spennymoor game, Tom Corner was recalled to the starting eleven and the powerful forward should have given his side the lead inside twelve minutes.

Piteu Crouz skipped beyond one white shirt before seeing his cross fall kindly for Corner but the striker was denied by 18 year old stopper Harrison Male.

Leeds were moving the ball impressively in spells and almost broke the deadlock after a slick combination of one touch passes with Clarke Oduor at the heart of it but Hardy pulled across to snuff out McKay.

Oduor and Eoghan Stokes were both giving Taddy plenty to think about and the latter came within inches to opening the scoring after the former slid him in but the shot went just wide.

However it was the Brewers that in fact took the lead shortly after the half hour mark.

Josh Barrett gave Tom Corner the opportunity to stretch his legs down the left-hand side and the number nine waited for options before switching out to Marcel Chigumira.

The enigmatic attacker controlled impeccably, touched past one and cleverly poked in behind for Piteu Crouz who made no mistake firing into the back of the net.

The goal only seemed to galvanise the home side with messrs Morton and Collins demanding their players to get tight and press, something that Jake Rose was doing very well.

Half-Time: Tadcaster Albion 1-0 Leeds United U23's

The visitors came out and started the second half with greater purpose and intensity. Former TAFC U21 star Romario Vieira was back at the i2i and impressing in front of the 945 fans watching on.

Jamie Shackleton was one of many changes at the break for Leeds and he almost levelled the contest two minutes in as his shot/cross whisked narrowly wide.

Andy Milne and Josh Barrett were having to be at their very best to keep the vibrant and energetic Leeds youngsters at bay for the time being thanks to their superb positioning.

Incidentally it was the aforementioned Jamie Shackleton that found the perfect formula for Leeds after nimbly jinking inside Aaron Hardy and firing a rocket into the far corner.

Leeds continued to keep the ball well in the second half but for all of their possession they weren't creating many clear cut chances and weren’t finding it easy to break down the well positioned Brewers.

Clarke Oduor was a real livewire on the flanks for the visitors but when he did skilfully beat his man, the final ball or finish was lacking

As the match entered the final ten minutes it was actually Taddy who looked the most likely to nick it.

After a series of frustrating attacks for the away side, Albion fought back into the contest and went close to retaking the lead thirteen minutes from time.

Substitute Kwame Norku's dangerous in-swinging corner was somehow not turned in at the back-post by a blue shirt and the friendly finished one a piece.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 1-1 Leeds United U23's

SHARE THIS STORY:

Get our app, and stay up to date!