Tadcaster Albion narrow gap on play-offs with Winterton win

Albert Ibrahimi scored a first-half brace before Elliot Andrew put the game to bed in added time, capping off a frustrating second half for both sides.

Before kick-off, Tadcaster Club President Kevin Derry was greeted with a standing ovation from supporters as he received an award consisting of a gold mosaic, a badge and a letter of appreciation from FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham for 50 years of service in English football.

It did not take long for the Brewers to establish their dominance in the tie - Luca Bolino set the tone in the first minute of the game with a mazy run into the box, but his shot was fired well over the bar.

15 minutes later, the teenager was at it again as he dribbled his way into the box, before making a short pass to Albert Ibrahimi, who fired the Brewers in front with a rebounded effort after his initial strike was blocked.

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Winterton looked shaky at the back, and it did not take long for them to be punished again.

This time, Kieran Greenway, who looked solid throughout the half, found A. Ibrahimi with a cross, and the unmarked forward scored one of the simplest goals a striker could dream of, a side-footed volley from yards out.

As the second half kicked off, Tadcaster continued to look far the better side.

Both Junayd Cassius-Gill and Greenway had chances to get on the scoresheet early on, with the former attempting an audacious backheel from close range, which trickled just wide of the post.

A triple substitution then saw Elliot Andrew, James Knowles and Andrew Shepherd replace Cassius-Gill, Elliott Holmes and Fatlum Ibrahimi, as Tadcaster slowed down the tempo.

Winterton had numerous opportunities to score towards the end of the half, Dan Walker was gifted the chance to run in on goal after a defensive error, however he decided to shoot from 25-yards out, resulting in a simple save for Sam Green.

Tadcaster Albion are now up to eighth position of the NCEL Premier. (Image: Craig Dinsdale)

The away side would later hit the side netting via Joe Simpson, but their golden opportunity came when a Taddy defender slipped inside his own half, which gave Simpson a free chance to score, however, to the bewilderment and relief of the home faithful, he missed the target entirely.

Although Tadcaster had been dominant throughout the game, conceding a goal would make their lead fragile, and they looked to put the game to bed in the last ten minutes.

First, Bolino had an effort cleared off the line by defender Steven Ridley before Knowles looked to have scored from a corner with a fierce header which unfortunately bounced straight off the post.

It was beginning to look like that third goal would never come, until substitute Andrew found space between two defenders in the box and drilled the ball in off the post and into the back of the net.

The win is a welcome boost for the Brewers, lifting them to eighth place and allowing them to close in on the top spots with only a four point gap to second place.

A great momentum builder as they head into their cup ties this week, first on the road against Horbury Town in the NCEL League Cup on Tuesday evening (7.45pm) before travelling back into West Yorkshire for their Isuzu FA Vase clash with Albion Sports on Friday (7.45pm).

It was a great game for both the Ibrahimi brothers, as not only did Albert score a brace, but his brother Fatlum was voted man of the match by the Brewers' sponsors for his performance in the first half.

The 30-year old ran the show in midfield, putting in crucial tackles and making superb, lobbed passes into the final third.

TADCASTER ALBION: GREEN, HARDCASTLE, OWEN (CHARLESWORTH, 80), HOLMES (ANDREW, 65), WILSON, F. IBRAHIMI (KNOWLES, 65), TWEED, CASSIUS-GILL (SHEPHERD, 65) GREENWAY, A. IBRAHIMI (KITCHEN, 80), BOLINO