TADCASTER Albion progressed to the Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Northern League division one high fliers Boro Rangers.

Boro had a 100 per cent record in all competitions before facing the Brewers, making their opponents’ steadfast defending and £1,444 prize pot winnings even more impressive.

It was a fairly cagey opening quarter of an hour, with Rangers waiting patiently on the ball for an opening in behind.

A first opportunity came as Luca Bolino lost the ball in the centre of midfield, but though Harry Thompson was able to collect Jack Guy’s cutback inside the box, his shot was parried at point blank range by Albion goalkeeper Sam Green.

Ash MacCarthy then came close following a mistake from Dan Thirkell, but Green stood his ground once more to deny a low strike from the edge of the box.

Having organised themselves into a compact 4-4-2 shape in their own half to counteract Boro’s patient spells of short passing play, Tadcaster went closest to taking the lead.

Skipper Thirkell arrived at the back post for a corner and brilliantly hooked the delivery towards goal on the volley but was denied by the crossbar.

Bolino was next to threaten an opening goal on 37 minutes.

Thirkell hit a quick free-kick towards the right winger, and though Alfie Dean arrived late in the penalty area for Bolino to cut the ball back across, his strike was blocked bravely by centre-back James Dillon.

Boro though would have the last say in a goalless first half, with frontman Stuart Rose - who has notched a remarkable 13 league goals in his opening five matches - receiving a low cross from Danny Lofts on the right but failing to get the ball out of his feet from merely a few yards.

But the game upped its tempo after the break.

The first chance of the half fell to Rose, who controlled Ben Turner’s cross superbly, but his effort was blocked heroically by Josh Hardcastle.

Brewers forward Elliot Andrew then nearly scored his second goal of the FA Cup campaign, lashing the ball back towards goal on the half-volley after it was punched clear, only for Daniel Horner to set himself well and parry acrobatically.

Tadcaster, in the ascendancy, hit the woodwork for a second time when Kieran Greenway curled a fantastic effort against the right-hand post.

But a switch in game plan soon paid off when Elliot Holmes played a direct ball over the top of Turner for Bolino to race on to.

Despite Turner making up the ground, Bolino knocked the ball past him and fired a dangerous delivery across the face of goal before Steven Keenan’s attempted clearance sent the ball in off the unfortunate Dillon to break the deadlock shortly before the hour.

Momentum then tilted once more in Boro’s favour, but Tadcaster were defiant against a barrage of attacks.

Guy’s through ball released Rose, who separated Holmes and Hardcastle to beat the offside trap, but the Brewers recovered to see the ball out for a goal kick.

Their back line though began to show slight desperation, with hands going up demanding the offside call while the game continued.

Rose was denied again late on as he looked to force an equaliser, but though he met MacCarthy’s pinpoint cross, he could only direct his header onto the roof of the net.

MacCarthy then set up another shot on goal, but his cross evaded everyone and was palmed away by Green narrowly under his crossbar.

Shaun Hudson’s head injury led to a considerable amount of stoppage time, but the Brewers held on, much to the delight of Mick O’Connell and his staff.

Tadcaster now will host Macclesfield in the first qualifying round on the weekend of August 31. 

The winners will receive £2,250 in prize money and the losers £750.