Thackley 2, Tadcaster Albion 3

TADCASTER Albion romped into a three-goal lead but had to hold off a late fightback from Thackley as the Brewers racked up another three Premier Division points on the way to what they hope will be promotion from the Toolstation Northern Counties East League.

Josh Greening got the visitors off to a perfect start inside five minutes with a neat finish from a tight angle – and he netted his second later on in the half in bizarre circumstances, bundling the ball over the line after being struck by the goalkeeper's kick.

Josh's older brother, former Premier League midfielder Jonathan, then finished off a sublime move to put Taddy three up and in complete control.

Yet the home side pushed the second-placed club – they trail Handsworth Parramore by two points but now have six games left to Handsworth's four – all the way by pulling two goals back.

Taddy boss Billy Miller unsurprisingly made seven changes to the side that beat Knaresborough Town in the League Cup last Thursday, with Josh Barrett, Dan Clayton, Gregg Anderson, Adam Baker, Jimmy Beadle, Tom Corner and Josh Greening all coming back in.

Their nerves were calmed by taking that early lead in the Bradford sunshine. Andy Milne's long ball in behind Thackley's high back-line was pounced upon by Josh Greening, who was forced wide but still managed to stroke the ball past Dayle Coleing into the bottom right-hand corner from an acute angle.

However, the hosts almost replied immediately, Ryan Farrell's close-range strike being well stopped by Gary Stevens while Andrew Wood fired just wide from Clayton's back-pass.

With just over half an hour played, Miller brought on Conor Sellars for Baker, who was playing on the right and was seeing lots of the ball but did not seem himself and was apparently not feeling well.

With ten minutes until half-time, Taddy went 2-0 up in strange circumstances.

Keeper Coleing, who was not having the best of afternoons, claimed a Sellars cross and, with Josh Greening walking slowly with him, belted the ball into his back, setting up a race between attacker and goalkeeper, Greening winning it by bundling the ball over the line.

A quick burst of hail and snow swept across the ground but it was sunny again afterwards, Coleing redeeming himself in part by clawing out Tom Corner's header from Josh Greening's cross.

However, just seven minutes later, Taddy made it 3-0. The pacy Sellars drove at the heart of Thackley's defence before playing a lovely reverse inside ball to Josh Greening, whose flick gave brother Jonathan the chance to put the ball into the bottom corner.

With Albion taking their foot off the gas, Thackley pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, Kristian Hargreaves' clipped ball to the back post allowing Tom Dugdale to net his 20th of the season by looping a header over Stevens.

Sellars' reaction header flew narrowly wide but in general Thackley were in charge and they pulled a second goal back with four minutes left.

Samaila Cissa cut inside from the right by-line and poked in a low cross, two dummies throwing the Brewers off balance for Dugdale to stroke in his second.

The hosts then huffed and puffed until the final whistle but Tadcaster held on for a big three points.

Team: Stevens, Barrett, Clayton, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Baker (Sellars 32), Beadle (captain), Corner (Conway 79), Josh Greening (Stewart 60), Jonathan Greening. Subs unused: Carole, Armstrong.