Brewers beaten at Beverley after braving Storm Bert

TADCASTER Albion were able to brave Storm Bert for their visit to Beverley Town – but could not find a reward for their efforts.

After Cameron Connelly had initially given the home side the lead, Elliott Andrew had drawn Tadcaster level prior to half-time.

However, a strike from James Piercy alongside a brace from McCauley Snelgrove put Beverley in the driving seat, despite Andrew bagging a penalty too.

New signing Nathan Heaton was straight into the defence forming an instant partnership with Steve Smith, whilst Oli Norman had to wait for the hour mark before making his return debut.

Beverley had the wind to their backs in the first-half but in the early stages Tadcaster battled well.

Nevertheless, they were undone on 17 minutes when Beverley captain Piercy put a 30-yard defence splitter through to striker Connelly, who hammered the ball from just inside the box into the far corner.

Tadcaster responded almost immediately with Smith’s cross into the danger area to Andrew, but the shot was cleared. Andrew Shepherd blocked a goalbound strike on 22 minutes whilst on the half hour, Dan Thirkell’s intervention in the six-yard box avoided what looked like another chance for Beverley.

Having weathered the storm, Albion equalised in the 38th minute. Luca Bolino raced down the right flank and from just behind the half-way line put an inch-perfect ball through to the advancing Andrew who, with two defenders on his tail, waited for goalkeeper Jonathan Dash to come off his line before coolly placing the ball in the near corner of the net.

With the momentum now switched in Taddy’s favour, they had two more chances before the break.

On 42 minutes, Kieran Greenway played a one - two with Andrew, but could not get the bouncing return away, while Junayd Cassius-Gill put Greenway through again but the goalkeeper saved from a narrow angle.

And that should have been that so far as the first-half was concerned, but Beverley went ahead again with virtually the last kick three minutes added time.

As the hosts attacked Connelly put a pass through to Adam Stockhill some  25-yards out, and as he turned there was slight contact with Ben Tweed; referee Trevethan awarded a direct free-kick which Snelgrove pitched over the wall and into the corner of the net.

With the weather getting progressively worse, the second-half got underway and on 50 minutes, Tadcaster were so close to another equaliser when an inch-perfect cross in to the box from Fatlum Ibrahimi was met with a header from Thirkell; it looked on its way but Dash finger-tipped his effort over the bar.

Just two minutes later the Beavers got a third when Albion, with six players in the box, failed to  clear a cross into the danger area which then gave the incoming Piercy a simple toe poke.

On 57 minutes, the Brewers again narrowed the score when a mix up between two Beverley players enabled Bolino a penetrating cross into the box met by Cassius-Gill, ten yards out. His shot struck the post bouncing out to Tweed, whose effort from close-range was cleared.

In the meantime, Andrew had been upended as he also tried to get a shot in - again the referee pointed to the spot. Andrew dusted himself down giving Dash no chance.

With Norman on for Bolino, Andrew went for his hat trick on 65 minutes - Shepherd found Smith in space on the right and the cross was straight into the six-yard area but inches away from the striker’s boot as he threw himself into the fray.

Tadcaster could not find a way through and it was the hosts who put the lid on the match in the 82nd minute, poor defending allowing Snelgrove his second of the day.

Mick O’Connell’s side are now fourth from bottom in the Northern Counties Eastern League, which is starting to look precarious with points needed to ease the pressure.

Tadcaster will hope they can add to their tally on Saturday, November 30 (3pm) when Eccleshill United visit the Young Guns Arena.

There will also be the opportunity for supporters attending the match to cast their eyes upon the Premier League trophy, as well as have their photograph taken with the silverware, as it will be present in North Yorkshire.

TADCASTER ALBION: Green, Smith, Cassius-Gill (A. Ibrahimi), F. Ibrahimi, Heaton, Thirkell, Bolino (Norman), Shepherd (Hines) Andrew, Tweed, Greenway (Wilson)

Sub Not Used: Charlesworth