TADCASTER Albion succumbed to their first defeat of the season on Saturday as Mick O’Connell’s men suffered a 4-1 loss to Eccleshill United.

Kieran Greenway was on target for the Brewers in the final minute of the game, but it was a mere consolation as the home side dominated the second half.

The first half was a fairly even contest, with both teams having several opportunities to score. Early on, Luca Bolino was played through on goal, but was was flagged offside.

Dan Thirkell was also in the mix with a first time shot from the box following a free kick which troubled the Eagles’ goalkeeper, Edward Wilzynski.

Toby Sharkey, in his first game for the Brewers, had a busy game between the sticks and helped to keep the score level; a sliced clearance fell straight to the path of Eccleshill’s Marcus Harper on the edge of the box, but as he fired the ball towards the bottom left corner, the teenager made a crucial save to push the ball away to safety.

Harper almost scored again 24 minutes in with a curling effort from the far edge of the box, however he too was offside.

Towards the end of the half Albion ramped up the pressure and were unlucky to not go ahead.

Alfie Dean had an effort on goal parried out by the goalkeeper straight to the feet of Greenway, whose rebounded effort would have found an empty net were it not for Benjamin Gordon’s goal-line clearance.

Four minutes later, Bolino found himself one-on-one, but his low effort was fired directly at the goalkeeper.

The second-half saw things swiftly unravel for Tadcaster, as the home side found the net just eight minutes in; after what appeared to be an overhit cross, initially saved by Sharkey, the ball fell directly to substitute Fredy Barnard, who could not believe his luck as he tapped the ball home from one-yard out.

Harvey Booth also had an attempt saved before setting up Harper moments later, who saw his shot sail inches over the crossbar.

Worse followed for beleaguered Taddy when Ibrahimi’s mistaken backwards header was pounced on by striker Matthais Britton, who skillfully chipped the ball over Sharkey before tapping it in to make it 2-0.

On 72 minutes it was three - Matthias Britton was denied by the Taddy goalkeeper, but once again Eccleshill were gifted a rebound as the ball fell to a lurking Talent Ndlovu, who fired home for the Eagles.

Bolino almost dragged one back after skillfully finding space for a shot, but with eleven minutes remaining a rash tackle from behind gave Eccleshill a penalty, which Ndlovu converted for his second of the game.4 – 0.

Finally, the pressure on the Tadcaster backline eased slightly when substitute and goal scorer Banard was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a rough tackle on the edge of the box.

In the final minutes of the game, we saw a glimpse of what Taddy had set out to do in the first half, with Bolino and Dean threatening the home side’s backline. Then, in extra time, Greenway was fouled in the box and he powerfully converted from the spot to at least put the Brewers on the scoresheet.

Lesson would be learnt from a dismal performance by the Brewers who must quickly pull themselves together for this Tuesday’s home league game against Frickley, Kick Off 7.45 pm at the Young Guns Arena

TADCASTER ALBION: Sharkey, Hardcastle, Owen, Thirkell, Knowles, Sheppard (Holmes), Cassius-Gill (Wilson), Greenway, Dean, Bolino, Ibrahimi (Robinson)