City of Liverpool 1 Tadcaster Albion 5

A PITCH inspection at 10am gave the all-clear for this match to proceed and although the Taddy contingent had to battle the elements over the Pennines, it was a bright day which greeted them although a strong wind was blowing the length of the ground.

The Brewers were at full strength with Jack Vann in the starting line-up after injury.

The Purps chose to start with the wind behind them and along with some impressive play and stern challenges, were initially very much on the front foot. Aaron Burn was called into action in the first minute diving at feet as City poured forward and resolutely standing up to debutant Kole Hall as he roared in.

On five minutes the home side were in the lead; Centre forward, Eliot Nevitt (known affectionately as The Beast) got on the end of a long ball out of defence and brushed off two Taddy defenders before slamming the ball beyond the advancing Burn.

The Referee needed treatment on 11 minutes when a ball from Andy Milne smashed into the back of this head but was able to continue.

Lebrun Mbeka put Jake Day through for the Brewers first real chance on the quarter hour mark but the big man could not connect. However, the striker then seized on a short back pass from Williams but was foiled by quick reactions from keeper Andrew Marshall.

If nothing more Taddy were settling in and the opening onslaught from City was over.

On 26 minutes Day had the ball in the far corner of the net with a superb strike from some 12 yards out but was penalised for a high foot in the build up. However, the visitors got the equaliser two minutes later when Pattinson put Donald Chimalilo away, he moved it on to Day whose shot was parried by Marshall but there was Mbeka at the far post to convert the cross under pressure.

With Mbeka showing signs of some discomfort following a tackle, Tadcaster pushed on. Marshall did well to get down to Day’s effort from the edge of the box and Milne’s goal-bound effort after good work from Alfie Beestin was deflected wide. Burn had to be out quickly to deny the marauding Nevitt and although Kole did manage to find the net in added time, it was ruled out for an obvious hand ball.

All square at the interval was a fair reflection of play but now the Brewers would have the wind in their favour.

The Purps were quickly out of the traps as McEllin unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the box but Burn was well placed. Mitchell Pattinson was in clear discomfort with a possible hamstring pull and Paul Quinn immediately substituted him for Adam Porritt with just six minutes of the half played.

On 58 minutes Taddy took the lead as Milne hammered the ball into the near corner of the net after terrific work from Mbeka. Almost immediately Mbeka turned scorer again as he was first to connect from a corner.

Alfie Beestin was oh so close but denied by Marshall on 63 minutes after a trademark chip from Chimalilo. The tide had turned, reminiscent of the home game earlier in the season.

Jack Vann was yellow carded for a foul on Jeffries but on 70 minutes the Brewers made it 1-4. Chimalilo, having a superb game as he ran for goal time and time again, was causing all manner of problems for the City defence - as he sprinted over half the length of the pitch he was eventually stopped by the keeper but Day, having read the situation was waiting to head down into the net.

Kevin Santos replaced the war weary Mbeka and Will Annan was on for Vann as Tadcaster pushed on. Alex Wiles, Alfie Beestin and Jack Walters with a 30-yard screamer, all saw Marshall equal to their goal-bound efforts. Adam Porritt was a whisker away as he headed Annan’s cross.

The Brewers had played some amazing football on and off the ball for the entire second half but their fifth and final goal was a solo effort from the impressive Jake Day; collecting the ball some 30 yards out, Taddy's 'Beast from the East' simply ran at the defence before thundering it off the post and into the net.

It was a great team performance – every player, especially the substitutes, had played out of their skins against quality opposition. The win sees the Brewers back up to seventh in the league but apart from Marske, with whom they are level on 27 points, they have at least two games in hand on the other five teams above them.

Next Saturday Tadcaster visit Trafford who are fourth and one point ahead but over whom the Brewers have a four-game buffer. It was 1-0 to Taddy at the Global Stadium in the first match of the season. Kick-off is at 3pm

Burn, Pattinson (Porritt), Walters, Vann (Annan), Evans, Milne, Mbeka (Santos), Wiles, Day, Beestin, Chimalilo. Sub Not Used: Rose

Attendance 269