TADCASTER Albion’s first home game of 2019 ended in a 1-1 draw with Cleethorpes Town.

Josh Batty nudged the visiting Owls in front just before the break, but that was cancelled out ten minutes into the second half by Joe Lumsden.

Albion made one change to the side that were left frustrated by a draw at AFC Mansfield last week as Billy Whitehouse replaced Casey Stewart on the right-hand side.

It was a frenetic opening to the contest and the hosts threatened as early as the third minute. Aiden Savory picked out Lumsden’s run down the left channel who teed up Pete Davidson inside the penalty area but his fierce effort was blocked by Oli Donald.

Two of those Albion players linked up again two minutes later as Davidson hooked in behind, setting Savory away but a heavy touch saw the opportunity pass.

Town’s first attempt on goal came on 12 minutes when James Hodges was forced to make a reaction save to keep out Paul Walker’s shot after a free-kick fell kindly for the defender.

Winger Whitehouse had his first chance to impress four minutes later, out-powering Sam Topliss and driving into the box before seeing his deflected shot parried away by Theo Richardson.

Taddy were adamant that they should have been awarded a penalty soon after when Davidson’s sweet volley looked to be blocked with an arm by Walker – but there was nothing forthcoming from referee Daniel Bennett.

The ball did hit the back of the net on 22 minutes as Batty headed home only for Bennett’s assistant to raise his flag.

Albion should have opened the scoring when the confident Whitehouse beat Topliss once again before delivering a cross for Lumsden who just failed to make contact from six yards out.

Cleethorpes broke the deadlock on 42 minutes. Owls skipper Alex Flett burst down the right, evading Roper and Walters, before pulling back to Batty who couldn’t miss from two yards.

Into the second half and Batty had a chance to double his side’s lead after being picked out by Tim Lowe but Hodges saved well.

Two minutes later and Albion were appealing for handball in the box again as Whitehouse’s half-volley was blocked by Topliss with raised arms, but again there was just a shake of the head from referee Bennett.

The Brewers were pushing hard for an equaliser but the Owls continued to look a threat on the break. A loose giveaway from Savory allowed Flett to carry the ball 60 yards before shifting to Batty whose deflected effort was pounced on by Hodges.

With Taddy having drawn a blank in their last three outings, they were a desperate for a goal of any kind. It did eventually arrive ten minutes into the second half.

After passes from Walters and Savory the ball made its way to Whitehouse on the right who continued to give Topliss a difficult afternoon, bursting beyond him into the box and unleashing a shot which Richardson saved down low.

Nevertheless, the Owls stopper could only parry the shot and Lumsden was on hand to squeeze home his 16th goal of the season.

The long-awaited goal seemed to galvanise the Brewers, roared on by the vocal fans on the terraces who were clearly enjoying the encounter.

Lumsden almost pinched a long ball beyond the onrushing Richardson before Whitehouse blasted off target from distance.

Halfway through the second half and Lumsden went close again as Walters delivered, Savory cushioned and Taddy’s top scorer saw his effort pushed clear by Theo Richardson.

Next, a slight flick from Lumsden took a Whitehouse cross off the head of defender Harry Coates before a deflection off Savory didn’t quite fall to a yellow shirt.

Stewart was introduced with 12 minutes to play and almost provided an immediate impact after Lumsden threaded the attacker in, but his first touch agonisingly carried to the goalkeeper.

That man Lumsden went close on 85 minutes when Whitehouse crossed a corner into the front-man who volleyed first time only for it to be hacked clear off the line.

The Owls were clinging on for a point, but a rare opportunity brought an exertion of noise from the travelling fans as Donald volleyed over the crossbar.

Taddy had one final opportunity to take all three points and thought they had them in the second minute of injury time.

Whitehouse was the provider, clipping onto the head of Coates whose header looked destined to ripple the net, but a fortuitous deflection off Lowe saw the ball diverted over.