TADCASTER Albion sealed their progression to the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Redcar Athletic at the SoTrak Stadium on Saturday.

Despite warnings about Storm Antoni, which had led to the postponement of some matches in the competition, the weather in North Yorkshire remained relatively bright as the road to Wembley got underway.

Redcar set out their stall from the kick-off, former Blyth Spartans forward Isaac Walker firing an early warning shot just wide before goalkeeper Joe Wilton collected a teasing Joe Thompson delivery.

And the visitors continued to be on top, a misjudged back-pass allowing Sonni Coleman through for a one on one, but he could only curl wide of the far post.

Midway through the half, Adam Wheatley found Danny Boyle in space, his shot spinning towards the far corner but somehow Wilton managed to push it onto the bar and away to safety.

Anthony Bell was then yellow carded for a foul on Sam Kay, whilst on the half hour Elliot Holmes stopped Walker in his tracks as the striker looked for another shot on goal.

Captain Dan McDaid was off pitch for Tadcaster for a few minutes, having picked up an ankle injury, but having survived an onslaught from their visitors during the opening thirty minutes, Albion were starting to look more menacing themselves.

With the half time interval beckoning, Charlie Owen was clattered just outside the box by a dangerous tackle from Wheatley that resulted in a yellow card and a free kick.

Dan Thirkell shaped up to curl the ball to the near post, but it was McDaid who struck it low into the far corner, beating the diving Greenwood to break the deadlock.

Thirkell then did well to clear Redcar’s last foray on goal before half time as Thompson’s cross went for a corner as the hosts, with a renewed confidence, preserved their narrow advantage at the break.

Tadcaster almost doubled the advantage following a mistake from Wheatley, who allowed Lewis Stephens through, but the defender recovered well in the nick of time.

The Brewers' striker was floored minutes later following an arm in the face as the tackles become fast and furious, before Thirkell got on the end of Kieran Greenway’s’ free kick in the 53rd minute, but it was cleared.

On the hour, Fletcher went close to equalising for the visitors, having seized on Boyle’s pass, but he drilled his shot over the bar. 

Declan Slater, making his debut for Tadcaster, was introduced into the action with 25 minutes remaining, followed by Jordan Hines 10 minutes later.

The game remained end-to-end, but the Brewers missed a fantastic opportunity to result beyond doubt with six minutes to play when Hines fired a perfect low pass across the face of the goal.

Kieran Greenway somehow managed to direct his shot onto the near post and then over the bar from within the six-yard box. 

Redcar retaliated when Walker cut inside but he too blasted it over the bar as they looked for a late response.

Seven minutes of added time was nerve-racking for Tadcaster, but the hosts held it together to book their place in the next round of the competition.

The Brewers will now travel to face Ebac Northern League division one outfit West Allotment Celtic, who share a league with Redcar, on August 19.

With their midweek match against Campion postponed due to the FA Cup, Tadcaster return to action on Saturday when they welcome Bottesford Town (3pm).