Sponsored by
Local soccer: Super sub Mike clinches the title
TADCASTER ALBION sealed the NCE League Division One title last night with a 2-1 win – though gutsy Hemsworth Miners Welfare made them fight every inch of the way.
And how ironic then that it was a complete howler from Miners 'keeper Dale Walstow, who had impressed throughout, that settled it at the death.
Hemsworth arrived with only pride to play for, but led after just one minute through Damien Liddle, pouring cold water on any suggestions they would simply lie down and let the home side win.
But in the end, despite the visitors best efforts, Taddy did prevail, in front of a crowd of 450, thanks to Walstow's clanger and substitute Mike Braithwaite's 87th-minute winner which also broke the hearts of Leeds Carnegie who missed out on promotion to Taddy and Brighouse Town.
Albion's night looked to be going badly wrong up until the half-time interval and while Taddy knew only a victory would do, they got off to the worst possible start.
Hemsworth took the lead with barely a minute on the clock when a long punt forward released the pacy Damien Liddle who brilliantly kept his cool to lob on-rushing keeper Tom Ryder from distance.
The goal stunned The Park crowd and was greeted with near silence but it almost got much worse as Liddle again got free down the right.
His dangerous cross fizzed around the Albion penalty area and Lee Swift's snapshot effort was somehow deflected over for a corner.
Powerhouse Kevin Smith continued to hustle and bustle upfront for Albion, but if anything it was the visitors who continued to threaten more and principally through that man Liddle.
Terry Taylor did see a low shot saved for Albion but Liddle was causing all sorts of problems and it was hearts-in-mouths stuff again, when he was sent clean through only to be flagged offside.
The evening was not going to plan and Taddy attempted to up the ante around the half-hour mark with a spell of pressure, Taylor cutting inside and seeing his fine curing shot brilliantly tipped over the bar by Walstow.
But Taddy were hardly battering the door down and the visitors still threatened on the break and on 34 minutes Albion's evening should have been over, but instead Gary Welka somehow missed from two yards out.
Dawson's left-wing cross was knocked down to his feet but despite being in front of goal and almost under the crossbar his somehow skied his effort.
It was the ultimate let off for Taddy and they had a great chance to cash in soon after when a defensive error sent Smith away on goal but he lacked the necessary pace to pull clear and ran into trouble, the chance cleared.
Albion's Woolard then shot wide from inside the area shortly afterwards, but it was an extremely disappointing half from Taddy, referee Jane Simms bringing matters to a halt without much injury-time.
Boss Paul Marshall would surely have given Taddy the hairdryer treatment at half-time and the Brewers certainly started the second half with a higher tempo but still without looking like to equalising.
Hemsworth defender Wayne Harratt, though, may have been fortunate to stay on the pitch after bringing down Smith and denying a goalscoring opportunity, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
However, from a corner forced when a Woolard header was tipped wide, skipper Danny Pitts rose highest in a mad scramble to bring the scores level on 65 minutes at 1-1.
Albion had fresh belief and almost inevitably spent the remainder of the game camped in Hemsworth's half though, again, with clear-cut chances few and far between.
As the clock ticked on, though, so did the level of Taddy's dominance but half-chances for Woolard, Smith and Pitts were all to no avail and Marshall's men were staring at missing out on promotion on goal difference.
However, in one final twist, a seemingly harmless Smith shot from the right was somehow spilled by Walstow and Braithwaite was not going to squander this opportunity from six yards.
The goal sparked wild celebrations at the Park but even then Hemsworth refused to lie down and a couple of attacks caused nervous moments among the home fans.
But there would be no cruel twist and after some superb skill and strength from Smith to run the clock down in the corner, referee Simms finally blew for full-time, after a tense four minutes of injury-time, to spark a pitch invasion and give the nod for the bubbly to be downed.
TADCASTER ALBION: Ryder, James, Jeff, Thompson, Dawson, Pitts, Thirkhill, Taylor, Woolard, Smith, Sunley. Subs: Braithwaite, Biscombe, Storey.
HEMSWORTH MW: Walstow, Foley, Impey, Banton, Harratt, Haywood, Dawson, Swift, Liddle, Page, Welka. Subs: Hirst, Clough, Spencer.
REFEREE: Jane Simms.
Boss Paul Marshall would surely have given Taddy the hairdryer treatment at half-time and the Brewers certainly started the second half with a higher tempo but still without looking like to equalising.
Hemsworth defender Wayne Harratt, though, may have been fortunate to stay on the pitch after bringing down Smith and denying a goalscoring opportunity, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
However, from a corner forced when a Woolard header was tipped wide, skipper Danny Pitts rose highest in a mad scramble to bring the scores level on 65 minutes at 1-1.
Albion had fresh belief and almost inevitably spent the remainder of the game camped in Hemsworth’s half though, again, with clear-cut chances few and far between.
As the clock ticked on, though, so did the level of Taddy’s dominance but half-chances for Woolard, Smith and Pitts were all to no avail and Marshall’s men were staring at missing out on promotion on goal difference.
However, in one final twist, a seemingly harmless Smith shot from the right was somehow spilled by Walstow and Braithwaite was not going to squander this opportunity from six yards.
The goal sparked wild celebrations at the Park but even then Hemsworth refused to lie down and a couple of attacks caused nervous moments among the home fans.
But there would be no cruel twist and after some superb skill and strength from Smith to run the clock down in the corner, referee Simms finally blew for full-time, after a tense four minutes of injury-time, to spark a pitch invasion and give the nod for the bubbly to be downed.
TADCASTER ALBION: Ryder, James, Jeff, Thompson, Dawson, Pitts, Thirkhill, Taylor, Woolard, Smith, Sunley. Subs: Braithwaite, Biscombe, Storey.
HEMSWORTH MW: Walstow, Foley, Impey, Banton, Harratt, Haywood, Dawson, Swift, Liddle, Page, Welka. Subs: Hirst, Clough, Spencer.
REFEREE: Jane Simms.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
