Evo-Stik League Division One North: Skelmersdale United 1 Tadcaster Albion 3

GOALS from Pete Davidson, Andy Milne and Joe Pugh helped injury-stricken Tadcaster Albion return to winning ways with a spirited performance on a difficult pitch.

Brewers manager Michael Morton travelled to Prescot without six first-team players in Adam Baker, Josh Greening, Josh Barrett, Lawrance Hunter, Jason Mycoe and Tom Corner.

Fraser Papprill was handed his first senior start, partnering Milne in the heart of defence, while Casey Stewart made his first league appearance of the season.

Despite the long list of crocks, Taddy made a positive start, with Pugh and Papprill threatening in the air.

Albion were enjoying the vast space behind Skem’s back-line and after 20 minutes, Davidson, nicknamed the 'Yorkshire Pirlo', intercepted in the home half before side-stepping Wardle, cantering in on goal and blasting the ball powerfully into the back of the net.

Taddy continued to look comfortable at the back and dangerous going forward, and five minutes later Phil Mooney put in a brilliant last-ditch challenge on Conor Sellars.

Effervescent youngster Stewart almost doubled the Brewers' lead, driving agonisingly wide from an acute angle.

Nevertheless the lead was increased on 31 minutes.

Pugh's inviting free-kick was whipped into the box at pace, and captain Milne thundered a header home.

Michael Ingham had not been tested between the Brewers' sticks before Skelmersdale pinched a goal back in the last action of the half.

Taddy failed to clear a corner, which led to a scramble in the box, culminating in a prone Tom Mitchell teeing up Wardle, who couldn’t miss from three yards.

The goal gave the hosts hope which spilled over into the start of the second half as they pushed for an equaliser, and Jordan Darr threatened two minutes in when his cross-shot bobbled just wide, narrowly out of Tyler Rufus’ reach.

With the home side pushing up the pitch, this left a whole half for Taddy to potentially exploit, and they almost did when Corey Roper pinched possession and poked the ball to Davidson, who set Stewart away but he could only fire off target after being put under pressure by Mitchell.

Nine minutes on, an even better chance presented itself.

Stewart nicked the ball off Jack Fleming, setting up a 4v2 in Albion’s favour.

Davidson carried the ball into the centre circle but his intended through ball to Stewart was cut out by the last defender.

However, with 15 minutes remaining, Taddy effectively killed the game off.

Aiden Savory, who was outstanding all afternoon up top, cleverly manoeuvred his way between two players down the left before pulling the ball back to Pugh, who guided it low into the back of the net.

As well the front three impressing, the midfield trio of Roper, Davidson and Sellars also shone.

Rufus spurned a good chance to immediately reduce the deficit for United but headed wide.

In the final ten minutes, Albion's exciting under-21 stars Donald Chimalilo and Harry Sheppeard were introduced, and one should have scored and one did.

Persistent pressure from the fiery Chimalilo forced Skem to make a mistake in the penalty area but the attacker couldn’t poke the ball past Lee Callum Roberts from close range.

Two minutes later, Sheppeard did find the net after Sellars’ free-kick was spilled into his path, only for the offside flag to deny him his first senior goal.