Pre-season friendly: Tadcaster Albion 1 Leeds United Under-23s 1

THE Brewers put in a spirited performance to hold Leeds United's age-group side to a draw at the i2i stadium.

Former United winger Piteu Crouz put Tadcaster in front in the first half, emphatically finishing from close range, but Carlos Corberán's side fought back in the second 45, with substitute Jamie Shackleton scoring a sublime equaliser.

The energetic legs of the Leeds youngsters came to the forefront in the second half but, having said that, Taddy continued to work incredibly hard, resulting in a very respectable score draw.

Brewers boss Michael Morton came into their annual meeting with the Whites without Danny Frost, Aiden Savory, Josh Grant, Jake Ellam and Josh Greening but did hand starts to Aaron Hardy, Pete Davidson, Marcel Chigumira and Crouz.

After missing the Spennymoor game, Tom Corner was also recalled to the starting XI, and the powerful forward should have given his side the lead inside 12 minutes.

Crouz skipped beyond one white shirt before his cross fell kindly for Corner but the striker was denied by 18-year-old keeper Harrison Male.

Leeds were moving the ball impressively in spells and almost broke the deadlock after a slick combination of one-touch passes, with Clarke Oduor at the heart of it, but Hardy pulled across to snuff out Jack McKay.

Oduor and Eoghan Stokes were both giving Taddy plenty to think about, and the latter came within inches of opening the scoring after the former slid him in but he shot just wide.

However, it was the Brewers who took the lead shortly after the half-hour.

Josh Barrett gave Corner the opportunity to stretch his legs down the left-hand side, and the No 9 waited for options before switching the ball out to Chigumira.

The enigmatic attacker controlled impeccably, touched the ball past one defender and cleverly poked it in behind for Crouz, who made no mistake.

The goal only seemed to galvanise the home side, with manager Morton and assistant Simon Collins demanding that their players to get tight and press, something that Jake Rose was doing very well.

The visitors started the second half with greater purpose and intensity, with Brewers under-21 star Romario Vieira back at the i2i and impressing in front of the 945 fans.

Jamie Shackleton was one of many changes at the break for Leeds and he almost levelled two minutes after the break when his cross-shot whistled narrowly wide.

Superb positioning helped Andy Milne and Barrett to be at their very best to keep the vibrant and energetic Leeds youngsters at bay, but Shackleton found the perfect formula for Leeds after nimbly jinking inside Hardy and firing a rocket into the far corner.

United continued to keep the ball well in the second half but, for all their possession, they weren't creating many clear-cut chances as they struggled to break down the Brewers.

Oduor was a real livewire on the flanks for the visitors but when he did skilfully beat his man, the final ball or finish was lacking

As the match entered its final phase, Taddy looked the more likely to nick it and, with 13 minutes left, substitute Kwame Norku's dangerous inswinging corner was somehow not turned in at the back-post by a blue shirt.

Overall both sides were impressive display, making it an enjoyable spectacle in glorious evening sunshine.

Taddy responded superbly to the Spennymoor defeat and kept it tight throughout, as well as looking impressive going forward.

Tadcaster Albion: Ingham, Hardy, Howarth, Davidson, Barrett, Milne (captain), Chigumira, Rose, Corner, Crouz, Sellars. Substitutes (all used): Ibrahimi, Young (goalkeeper), Shepherd, Stewart, Nurku, Akeroyd.

Leeds United Under-23s: Male, trialist, Godden, Vieira, O'Connor, trialist, Oduor, trialist, McKay, trialist, Stokes. Substitutes: Trialist, Haidara, Kitching, Gotts, Shackleton, Nicell, Machuca, Balboa Balboa, trialist.