TADCASTER ALBION will be top of the Northern Counties East League premier division table at Christmas - despite being held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Parkgate.

The Steelman led at the break after Jordan Taylor fired low into the near post from 18 yards but, despite dominating the second half, the Brewers finally equalised with three minutes to go as Jimmy Beadle smashed home a penalty kick.

The Brewers had 14 shots on target over the 90 minutes and will still be wondering how they didn't take all three points but they were frustrated by a Parkgate side that stuck to their game plan.

Beadle could have given Taddy the lead in the fourth minute but his flicked header, from Jordan Armstrong's cross, cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.

The rebound almost fell to Beadle for a tap-in. Reece Wenley nodded it away from the skipper and towards the goal but a defender scrambled it off the line.

Two minutes later and the visitors were close again to taking the lead as Jason Mycoe tried his luck from distance and the effort whistled an inch the wrong side of the post.

George Conway's low shot, from an acute angle, was easily caught by Parkgate keeper Ben Brunt in the 17th minute and, just afterwards, Carl Stewart got in behind the Steelmen's defence and coolly pulled it back to the onrushing Conway.

His side-footed strike, from eight yards out, was again stopped by Brunt.

The home side took a surprise lead in the 23rd minute. Ben Thornton clipped a ball into Jordan Turner, who flicked it past Andy Milne and snuck his shot past Gary Stevens.

Parkgate came close to a second eight minutes before the half but Turner chipped wide after Stevens charged out.

Brunt kept the Brewers at bay at the other end - beating away a corking Beadle drive from the edge of the area - before Ryan Hall hooked clear a Stewart effort that seemed certain to find the net.

The home side looked to sit deep and soak up the pressure in the second half but Taddy could have levelled within two minutes only for midfielder Jason Mycoe to strike comfortably over the mark.

Chances came and went. Adam Baker’s close range shot was blocked, Stewart’s volley flew over and Gregg Anderson’s header was stopped on the line as time ticked on and tension grew stronger.

A rare Parkgate counter attack, in the 68th minute, saw Lebrun Mbeua break clean through only to be denied by Stevens.

Wenley stretched out a leg to stop Josh Greening before Baker's side-footed volley, from a high cross, was ruled out with the linesman judging the set-piece went out of play.

Mycoe again went close but, with four minutes left, Tadcaster were awarded a penalty as Stewart's flick was met by the arm of Wenley. Beadle hammered his shot down the middle.

In the dying stages and there was still time for the visitors to snatch the victory.

Anderson whipped in an inviting cross which was met by Beadle but went wide and, in the 94th minute, both Stewart and Milne mis-kicked in the six yard box and Beadle couldn't force it over the line.