TADCASTER Albion recorded their first win in five matches, playing at home for the first time in four outings, beating playoff-chasing Penistone Church with a goal either side of half-time.
American striker Hayden Habetz scored on his debut in a highly impressive display against a side that, despite enduring a tricky winter period with one win, two draws and a defeat to Handsworth, are well in the fight for promotion.
A frantic start to the match saw Luca Bolino managing to get on the end of a high ball before cutting it back from the byline on the right only for Albert Ibrahimi to go down in the penalty area suggesting contact from their defender. Referee Bradley Triffitt thought not.
Their positive start continued following a defensive corner when Shepherd turned defence into attack with a great piece of vision to pick out debutant Hayden Habetz to the left of goal.
Moving the ball onto his left, his fierce effort rattled the crossbar – the glove of Penistone goalkeeper Chris Snaith may have aided the ball on its trajectory, denying his first goal in yellow.
Tadcaster dominated the early stages, seeing much more possession that was often a reward for their intense pressing off the ball. Albert Ibrahimi created a one-on-one of his own by giving centre back Ryan Johnson little time on the ball before nipping in with a challenge. However, Snaith strode off of his line to similar effect and made a vital save to keep the two sides on level terms.
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On the stroke of half time, the Brewers managed to end one of their best first-half performances this season on a high. Despite the warning signs, Ibrahimi threaded a great ball to Bolino running inside of Penistone skipper Daniel Howes, before it was forwarded onto Habetz. Galloping out to meet the 20-year-old, Snaith saw the ball slotted under his body and into the net.
Tadcaster showed no sign of slowing down in the second half, with Charlie Owen racing forward down the left hand side after Bolino intercepted a pass while on the defensive. Owen’s low cross found Habetz only to be denied a second goal by some fine reflexes at the near post from the goalkeeper.
Moments later, disaster struck for Penistone on the halfway line as Johnson went in high and with too much force on Junayd Cassius-Gill who had chipped the ball over the defender’s sliding foot, which was baring studs as contact was made. The away side were now chasing the game with 10 men.
Penistone responded admirably following the red card. Most strikingly, changing to a back-three system making use of wingers Scrivens and Nathan Keightley with enough players in the centre to frequently cause an overload.
Top scorer Keightly, who first threatened the back line, receiving a neat through ball and forcing a well-timed challenge from Knowles inside the box.
Sam Green was forced into a fine save at his near post by Scrivens, who has 10 goals in 24 league games, on a dangerous run inside from the right before managing to hit the target with a powerful shot.
Bolino decided to take matters into his own hands, much like Ibrahimi in the first half, chasing down a short back pass from substitute Mackenzie Stocks. Penistone ‘keeper Snaith’s attempted challenge caught Albion’s top scorer, prompting the referee to blow for a penalty. Bolino made no mistake, firing into the bottom right to score his second penalty in the space of a week.
Luca Bolino impressed, pictured tucking home his second-half penalty. (Image: Keith Handley) Tadcaster sit 15th in the NCEL Premier Division with 31 points from 28 matches following Saturday’s victory and are next in action away to Pickering Town on Saturday, February 8 (3pm).
Tadcaster Albion: Green, Smith, Heaton, Knowles (Thirkell, 81), Owen, Shepherd, Kitchen (Davy, 76), Cassius-Gill (Norman, 68), Ibrahimi (Greenway, 63), Bolino, Habetz (Shillito, 81)
Attendance: 142
