NCEL: Josh Greening fires Tadcaster Albion back to Premier pinnacle

Rainworth Miners Welfare 1-3 Tadcaster Albion
Josh Greening scored twice for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)Josh Greening scored twice for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)
Josh Greening scored twice for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)

Josh Greening scored twice to catapult Tadcaster Albion back to the top of the NCEL Premier Division after a solid 3-1 win away at Rainworth Miners Welfare.

Greening's neat finish inside eight minutes cancelled out Matty Sykes’ early penalty for the home side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Adam Baker put Taddy in front ten minutes before half-time and a second from Josh Greening on the hour mark sealed the win in a perfect away performance for the Brewers.

Worksop Town's 3-2 defeat at Malby Main handed over the top spot to the Brewers, who have a two-point gap and three games in hand on second placed Bridlington Town.

For the latest sports updates follow the Harrogate Advertiser Sportsdesk on Facebook or get all developments as they break on Twitter via @HarrogateSport.

Manager Billy Miller made two changes to the side that beat Liversedge last week with Baker and Conor Sellars promoted to the starting 11 in place of Josh Barrett and Carl Stewart.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tadcaster however got off to the worst possible start as the home side were awarded a penalty in the second minute after Gary Stevens clattered into Liam Theakstone. Matty Sykes stepped up and fired the spot kick into the bottom right corner just out of Stevens’ reach.

Gary Stevens was inspirational between the sticks for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)Gary Stevens was inspirational between the sticks for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)
Gary Stevens was inspirational between the sticks for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)

Five minutes later and the Brewers were back on level terms. Jason Mycoe did brilliantly to shrug off Liam Nelthorpe and play a perfect reverse ball through to Josh Greening who composed himself and slid under goalkeeper Sam Leigh.

Taddy completed the turnaround and took the lead with ten minutes to go until the break. Jordan Armstrong did superbly to beat Sykes on the right touchline and fire in a deep cross which flicked off Brad Wilson’s head to an unmarked Adam Baker at the back post who couldn’t miss from seven yards out.

Tadcaster were looking to go into half-time with a two goal cushion and came close as once again full-back Jordan Armstrong bombed down the right side and ended up in behind and his dinked cross was met by Beadle whose flick was deflected over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With two minutes to go until the break, Josh Greening nearly made it three for the visitors with what would have undoubtedly been one of the goals of the season. A defensive header by Rainworth flew in the air in the direction to Josh Greening who followed the ball out of the sky and went for the acrobatic bicycle kick which swerved a matter of inches wide of the upright.

Josh Greening celebrates with Adam Baker, who scored Tad's second of the afternoon (Photo: Ian Parker)Josh Greening celebrates with Adam Baker, who scored Tad's second of the afternoon (Photo: Ian Parker)
Josh Greening celebrates with Adam Baker, who scored Tad's second of the afternoon (Photo: Ian Parker)

Rainworth had a clear sight of goal in the 52nd minute as right-back Ricky Hanson got behind Liam Ormsby and fired low into the danger area to Matt Thompson but the striker’s heavy touch at the most crucial time allowed Anderson to hook clear.

But the hosts' hard work in trying to prise an equaliser was undone just after the hour mark as Tadcaster took a 3-1 lead in kamikaze fashion.

Jonathan Greening’s firm pass was superbly flicked in behind the Wrens’ defence by Jimmy Beadle sending panic to the home side. The clever flick was latched onto by Josh Greening who touched the ball over goalkeeper Sam Leigh but it seemed as though the attack was over as Matt Plant covered but the defender miscued completely as well as bringing Greening to the ground.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Conor Sellars was quickest to retrieve the ball on the by-line and terrifically back-heeled back into the six yard box where Josh Greening picked himself up and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Gary Stevens was inspirational between the sticks for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)Gary Stevens was inspirational between the sticks for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)
Gary Stevens was inspirational between the sticks for Tadcaster Albion (Photo: Ian Parker)

With fifteen minutes remaining, the home side were still giving Tadcaster things to think about, especially Stevens in goal as substitute Declan Brewin chested and volleyed from 25 yards to which the keeper did well to tip over the mark.

Stevens continued to excel for Taddy, pulling off another magnificent save to keep out Thompson’s rapidly travelling strike from all of 30 yards.

As the match reached its final stages, Taddy looked to put gloss over the victory just like last week against Liversedge and Josh Greening came close to completing his hat-trick but Leigh palmed the shot in the air.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the match opened up more and more, the amount of chances for both sides were totting up as in the 86th minute the home side couldn’t believe Stevens had saved another one.

Matt Thompson controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area and guided into Liam Theakstone whose deft touch was equalled to by the faintest of touches from Stevens, three white shirts had hands on their heads in disbelief.

Get more news, sport and features on the move by downloading the all new Harrogate Advertiser app on your mobile or tablet.

To download the app, clink the link on the correct type of device iPhone or iPad or Android visit.

Related topics: