Evo-Stik League Division One North: Clitheroe 0 Tadcaster Albion 1

CASEY Stewart's second-half header was enough to give Tadcaster Albion all three points at in-form Clitheroe.

Brewers manager Michael Morton reverted to a back four, with Tom Young and Fraser Papprill deputising for Michael Ingham and Andy Milne, who are away with the i2i International Soccer Academy.

Meanwhile, former Leeds United youngster Billy Whitehouse was handed his first start.

Young wasn't given much time to bed himself into the contest in his first league start for Albion as he was forced to flick Kurt Willoughby's cross-cum-shot around the post inside three minutes in what was otherwise a quiet opening.

The first real chance arose two minutes short of the half-hour when Stewart curled the ball in behind Clitheroe's defence, setting Aiden Savory away down the right, and his dangerous ball down the corridor was turned just wide by the sliding Whitehouse.

A loose ball then dropped invitingly for Whitehouse but he volleyed over from close range.

If Whitehouse's chance was a very good one, Willoughby's opportunity four minutes from the break was a golden one.

Alex Newby spotted his run down the middle and sent the striker clean through on goal but the league's hot-shot failed to add to his tally as Young saved exceptionally.

Not for the want of trying, Willoughby had two more efforts kept out before the half drew to a close, both of which were well handled by Young.

The half-time whistle came at a good time for Albion, who started the second 45 on the front foot and came close to netting goal seven minutes in.

Corey Roper, still searching for his first goal for the club, came close when he was given two bites at the cherry on the edge of the box but his left-footed strike was deflected just over.

From the resulting corner, Conor Sellars, who was introduced at the break in place of the injured Pete Davidson, saw his kick won in the air by Josh Barrett and turned goalwards by Stewart, only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Chris Thompson.

The contest started to come alive, and Clitheroe should have taken the lead ten minutes in when Joe Mitchell's chip to the back post found an unmarked Dimitri Tuanzebe but the pacy winger couldn't convert from two yards.

Stewart, who has come into his own since getting his chance, threatened twice shortly with headers.

Back up the other end, Young was having a fine league debut and reacted sharply to keep out Tuanzebe's fizzing strike.

Youngsters Papprill and Harry Sheppeard were also impressing at the back for Albion.

Papprill continued to win header after header and 18-year-old Sheppeard stayed strong and provided a constant outlet, bombing on down the right wing.

And this built the foundations for Taddy to win the game, which they did 19 minutes into the half.

Sellars' excellent curling free-kick was impressively met by Stewart, who glanced home his first league goal of the season.

Brad Carroll went close to equalising 15 minutes from time as his 30-yard ripper swerved agonisingly wide of the post at the last moment.

As darkness began to descend, the home side threw everything at Taddy.

Substitute Danny Byrnes recycled a corner back into the mixer, only for stretching on-loan Shrewsbury midfielder George Hughes to head over.

But Papprill, who was immense all afternoon in the heart of defence alongside the ever-impressive Barrett, almost set up a second goal for the Brewers four minutes from the end when the towering defender stormed into Clitheroe's half before sliding Savory in behind but Thompson just beat the stand-in skipper to the through ball.