Pre-season friendly: Garforth Town 0 Tadcaster Albion 2

TADCASTER Albion recorded a confidence-boosting victory at Toolstation Northern Counties East League side Garforth Town after an impressive first-half display.

Josh Barrett failed a fitness test after tweaking his back against Leeds United, so Joel Dixon come into the back four, while Pete Davidson was also handed a start hours after playing 75 minutes against Barton Town Old Boys on Friday night.

Conor Sellars almost broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion inside three minutes when he played a slick one-two with Casey Stewart and saw his brilliant strike tipped onto the crossbar by Luke Clifford.

Jake Rose has been one of the stand-out performers in pre-season for the Brewers but his afternoon was cut very short against his old club.

Callum Ward's tackle from behind in the sixth minute left the combative midfielder in a heap on the floor and he had to be replaced by a trialist.

The Brewers' management team of Michael Morton and Simon Collins were enraged that the challenge on Rose wasn't even given as a foul but nevertheless they were to be less angry three minutes later when their side took the lead.

Sellars' deliciously floated cross was powerfully headed into the back of the net by Tom Corner – a real centre-forward's goal.

Taddy have been fortunate in terms of injuries this pre-season, or lack of them, but just like London buses, a second followed suit with Davidson tweaking his groin.

Jason Mycoe came on in his, having also played at Barton.

Five minutes later, the Brewers, who were playing some lovely football, doubled their lead.

Chris Howarth's swirling cross was met by Aiden Savory, whose header had just enough on it to beat Clifford.

This was the first time that Savory was being utilised as a striker and it was paying off as the former Farsley man was impressing.

Michael Ingham was called into action for the first time on the stroke of the half-hour, pushing away a fierce shot to his right.

Former Taddy striker Ward was certainly fired up against his former side and had to be spoken to by the referee on numerous occasions for his overzealous challenges.

The link-up play between Corner and Savory was something that will no doubt excite the Taddy faithful.

The aforementioned duo played a lovely one-two before teeing up Stewart, who dragged his shot narrowly wide of the mark.

You would think that the suspect and robust tackles would calm down somewhat in the second half but the opposite happened.

Five minutes into the half, things spilled over when Aiden Kearsley flew dangerously into Howarth at speed.

This then sparked angry reactions from several of the Taddy players as the pushing and gesticulating continued for a good few minutes.

The many niggly fouls slowed down the contest, interrupting any kind of Brewers' rhythm.

The intensity was also hindered as possession was pedestrian at times in the second 45, with chances few and far between.

Sellars drove one just over the crossbar from range before Savory continued to look a threat, although a header and a shot on target did not trouble the substitute goalkeeper.

Garforth stepped it up in the final part of the half and tried to pounce on Taddy somewhat taking their foot off the gas.

Former Brewer Mitch Hamilton looked the most likely to pull one back for the Miners.

He came very close to doing just that 18 minutes from time after bursting in down the right-hand side and arrowing a shot off the upper part of a post.

The whistle for full-time may as well have been blown early as Jason Mycoe, Andy Milne, Sellars and a couple of others virtually kept it between themselves for the final ten minutes.

Substitute Marcel Chigumira had the final chance to add a bit more gloss to the victory after Sellars drove over the top but the striker couldn't get enough on the lob to beat the keeper.

Garforth Town: Clifford, Lazenby, Lingard, Beaston, McCrum, Donaghue, Kearsley, Coupland, Ward, Hamilton, Turner. Substitutes: King, Leach, Dhesi, Hunter, Fish, Maude, Robertson, Silva

Tadcaster Albion: Ingham, Hardy, Howarth, Dixon, Milne (captain), Sellars, Rose, Davidson, Stewart, Corner, Savory. Substitutes used: Trialist, Mycoe, Crouz, Chigumira, Barber. Unused substitute: Lock.