TADCASTER Albion did the double over Handsworth as the Brewers climbed to 12th in the Northern Counties Eastern League premier division.

Mick O’Connell made just one change from the team who started in the abandoned Hallam game last Saturday, Junayd Cassius Gill was brought in for Elliot Holmes who picked up a pulled hamstring in that earlier match.

It was only in early February that Tad had recorded their best score this season with a 5-1 win over the Ambers, whilst the league table had both teams on the same number of points, with Albion ahead in 13th position due to a slightly better goal difference.

After a competitve start to the match, Handsworth centre-forward Brandon Bagley brought out a quality save from Joe Wilton, before Joe Crosby blocked a clearance from the keeper but it rebounded to safety.

The Ambers looked dangerous in the initial stages, Leon Howarth testing Wilton after excellent work from Alfie Dodsworth and then on 13 minutes, they combined again but this time Howarth made no mistake thumping a cross from the left into the back of the net.

Spurred into action Tadcaster went for the equaliser; Ben Tweed’s corner almost provided Conor Qualter with an opportunity to head in from close-range whilst Cassius-Gill cleared the bar from the six-yard box.

On 39 minutes, Crosby was dragged down in the area - a clear penalty. Oli Norman feigned to put the ball in the right side of the net, before hitting it powerfully low to the far corner. Tom Crosby guessed correctly with a superb diving low save to his right.

Albion piled on the pressure but then just before the whistle for half-time, Tweed and Norman combined brilliantly down the left flank, with the latter thumping the ball low and hard into the corner of the net. No better time to level the score!

Handsworth started the second-half on the front foot but Wilton first denied Dodsworth and then had to head away a long ball into the box.

Having survived the early pressure Tadcaster were soon into their stride. A classic Norman attack was inches beyond the incoming Crosby, who then on 56 minutes found Josh Hardcastle in space but it needed a first-time strike and was cleared.

Nevertheless, a minute later The Brewers took the lead - Norman again in the thick of things reacted quickly before his shot was deflected over keeper Crosby.

Albion had Qualter to thank for a perfectly-timed challenge when an equaliser looked on the cards.

Howarth then outjumped the defence but his header was just over and on 72 minutes tested Wilton in a crowded box but the Tad shot-stopper saved well as the shot came through the melee.

With the hosts throwing everything at the Albion defence Wilton claimed a header from a free kick, a real chance to the Ambers was then blasted over the bar, whilst another opportunity was driven wide.

Hines had a shot well-saved whilst the last action was back in the Tadcaster box with captain Dan Thirkell heading the ball to safety.

The win sees Tadcaster up to 12 position in the league, with seven matches still remaining.

Tadcaster Albion: Wilton, Hardcastle, Owen (John), Thirkell, Qualter, Kitchen, Tweed, Crosby, Ellington (Collins), Norman (Hines), Cassius-Gill ( Stewart).

Sub Not Used: Romero