NCEL: Tadcaster Albion quality shows to knock out Knaresborough Town

Goals either side of half-time from Josh Barrett and Terry Taylor proved too good for Boro in an entertaining match.

Knaresborough, who won the cup on penalty kicks in May put up a spirited show against the higher league opposition but they were ultimately outdone in all areas by their wealthy North Yorkshire rivals.

Boro forward Hilliard Serrao, signed from Glasshoughton Welfare in the summer, had the first of his many chances on five minutes when he failed to wrap his foot around Danny Wright’s cross.

Tad then showed they had speed up front as Josh Barrett burst through but the winger could only lift the ball across the face of the goal.

Serrao’s low cross was then turned behind by new Albion stopper Tom Morgan before the Venezuelan striker narrowly failed to connect with Byron Littlefair’s searching cross from the left.

Despite Boro’s early impetus, it was the Premier side who took the lead midway through the first half. Josh Greening found captain Nick Thompson from the right, and the midfielder’s scuffed shot was turned in by Barrett.

Barrett turned provider moments later but the post denied Greening, brother of former Manchester United midfielder Jonathan, doubling the home side’s advantage.

Boro continued to create opportunities but Albion’s defensive duo of Matt Sparkes and Denny Ingram cleared all dangers.

Following half-time it took less than ten minutes for Tad to find the goal to effectively settle the game. Boro winger Danny Wright collided with referee Mark Dwyer as Albion took a quick free-kick, and with the attention on the felled official, Terry Taylor dinked a crisp shot over Knaresborough keeper Paul Hargreen and into the net.

Tad left-back Paddy Miller could have stretched the lead with a sweet left-footed drive from distance but the shot cannoned back off the bar.

Knaresborough huffed and puffed to get back into the game but they were frequently caught offside as their legs tired.

Serrao missed one glorious opportunity late on, heading over from six yards before the hosts were equally culpable for wasting opportunities late on.

Substitute Tom Chamberlain sprayed a shot across the goalmouth after rounding Hargreen before Greening shot wide of the advancing keeper’s left post.