Toolstation Northern Counties East League: Rainworth MW 1 Tadcaster Albion 3

TADCASTER Albion are back on top of the table by two points after Worksop Town lost a derby 3-2 at Maltby Main, and Cleethorpes Town and Handsworth Parramore could only manage 3-3 draws at home.

Manager Billy Miller made two changes to the Taddy side that beat Liversedge, with Baker and Conor Sellars in place of Josh Barrett and Carl Stewart.

However, Albion made the worst possible start as the hosts were awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Gary Stevens clattered into Liam Theakstone, Sykes netting the spot-kick.

Five minutes later, however, the Brewers were level, Jason Mycoe doing brilliantly to shrug off Liam Nelthorpe and deliver a perfect reverse ball to Greening, who slid his shot under goalkeeper Sam Leigh.

An optimistic Jimmy Beadle then tested Leigh from 35 yards in the 14th minute, Stevens saving well from a sweet volley by full back Connor Smythe 11 minutes later.

Appropriately, the rain started bucketing down in Rainworth before Taddy took the lead in the 36th minute.

Jordan Armstrong did superbly to beat Sykes on the right touchline before firing in a deep cross which flicked off Brad Wilson’s head to an unmarked Baker at the back post, who couldn’t miss from seven yards out.

Beadle, whose flick from an Armstrong cross, and Greening, with an acrobatic bicycle kick, then threatened to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead before the interval.

But, with the rain having abated, Welfare almost made it 2-2 at the start of the second half, Stevens saving brilliantly from Nelthorpe.

Rainworth continued to seek an equaliser but Andy Milne and Anderson jointly stopped one fierce Theakstone strike, only for the Brewers to then pounce.

Greening’s firm pass was superbly flicked behind the Wrens’ defence by Beadle, Greening then touching the ball over the keeper.

With Matt Plant covering, the danger seemed over but the defender badly miscued his clearance, as well as bringing down Greening.

Sellars cleverly back-heeled the ball from the by-line into the six-yard box, where Greening, having picked himself up, rolled the ball into the empty net.

With 15 minutes left, Stevens did well to tip over a 25-yard volley from substitute Declan Brewin, but, with Rainworth so committed to attacking, gaps were left at the other end, Baker shooting inches wide in the 82nd minute.

Mycoe and Greening were bossing midfield but couldn't prevent man of the match Stevens from being tested again with a 30-yarder from Matt Thompson and, more subtly, from Theakstone's deft touch.

Greening had a chance to complete his hat-trick in the final attack but was twice blocked out.

Tadcaster Albion: Stevens, Armstrong, Ormsby, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Sellars (Clayton 75), Jonathan Greening, Beadle (captain), Josh Greening, Baker. Unused subs: Stewart, Black, Barrett, Heath.