Pontefract Collieries 1 Tadcaster Albion 2

TADCASTER Albion put in a gritty and determined performance as goals from Lamin Colley and Aiden Savory saw off Evo-Stik League East Division newcomers Pontefract Collieries.

Towering forward Colley netted his first goal for the Brewers in the first half before Aiden Savory came off the bench to volley home the second.

Michael Dunn reduced the arrears a couple minutes later but Albion held on to jump two places to 13th, with Colls finishing with nine men after getting two red cards.

The Brewers made the brighter start as Colley's scuffed attempt was just about held by goalkeeper Ryan Musselwhite.

The hosts then had a good opportunity of their own on three minutes as Vaughan Redford was slid in down the right-hand side but his low drive was well kept out by Michael Ingham.

Colley came closer to breaking the deadlock soon after but Musselwhite again excelled.

Casey Stewart curled the ball onto the head of the experienced forward, whose header was well tipped over.

Albion may have started on the front foot but Colls certainly grew into the game, with their lively front three of Eli Hey, Redford and Dunn all looking dangerous.

Redford did well to twist Chris Howarth around but his shot was comfortably beaten away by Ingham.

However, it was Tadcaster who drew first blood.

Billy Whitehouse's instinctive strike could only be parried by Musselwhite, allowing Colley to turn in the rebound from close range.

Colley always looked to have the beating of the Ponte backline, and his fizzing cross was somehow cleared from the six-yard box by Jake Picton 10 minutes later.

The second half began in a scrappy manner, with referee Ian Jackson not allowing the contest to flow.

The temperature continued to rise, and shortly after the hour it boiled over as the home side were reduced to 10 men.

Captain Jamie Williams, who had been cautioned seconds previously, was sent off for barging Whitehouse into the hoardings.

Despite being a man down, Pontefract only seemed to grow in confidence as they released the shackles in search of an equaliser.

The home side threw many set-pieces into the mixer but Josh Barrett, Coates and the rest of the Albion defence stayed strong.

Ingham was also playing a pivotal role, with the experienced goalkeeper dominating his box.

There was the feeling that the Brewers needed a second goal to make sure of victory, and they doubled their lead 11 minutes from time.

Whitehouse notched his eighth assist of the season, sending an impressive crossfield pass to substitute Savory, who let it bounce before exquisitely volleying into the opposite corner with his weaker left foot.

However, the two-goal cushion only lasted 120 seconds as Dunn pulled one back with a neat touch and finish, setting up an interesting finale.

A consolation was all it turned out to be, though, as the final action of the afternoon was a second red card for the hosts.

Dunn was given his marching orders for cynically fouling Pete Davidson in stoppage time as the Brewers sealed a deserved three points at a difficult venue.