Dunston welcomed Tadcaster Albion to The UTS Stadium on Tuesday night, with the home side looking to continue their impressive start to the season. A win would take Chris Swailes side to the top of The Pitching-In Northern Premier League North West Division as they went into the game on the back of two impressive away victories against Ossett United and Pickering Town.

Liam Thear opened his account for the season, finishing a well worked move just before the stroke of half time. Albion substitute Junayd Pandor levelled on 70 minutes.

In an engrossing score draw the visitors may be the more satisfied of the two sides to come away from the game with a point. In truth Dunston created the Lion’s share of opportunities against a team who looked to be a step up in quality on their previous opponents, and the hosts may feel aggrieved at not taking maximum points from the game. 

In the first half Heslop, Jack Elliott, Liam Thear and Dan Halliday all had chances to open the scoring whilst Terry Galbraith had a powerful headed effort from a corner cleared off the line.

Tadcaster’s best chance of the first half came from Bailey Thompson, the former Tranmere Rovers player dragging his effort narrowly wide of the post as the visitors looked to be a threat on the break, the pace of Portuguese midfielder Kevin dos Santos who certainly posed a threat throughout the game.

Albion’s other real chance of the first half again came from Thompson, the forward catching a volley well, following some impressive looking building up play only to be thwarted by the cat like reflexes of Liam Connell.

Dunston eventually broke the dead lock on 43 minutes through Liam Thear, Jack Elliott the creator, turning the defender in-side out his pull back from the by-line picking out Heslop, Winstanley in the Albion goal parrying the effort and with the visitors unable to clear their lines, and the home crowd sensing a goal, Scrappy was on hand to compose himself and blast in the rebound.

Dunston went into the interval leading 1-0 and on the balance of play the score-line was certainly merited.

Tadcaster were forced into making two changes at half time, Burn replacing Appleyard in goal and Thompson coming off for Junayd Pandor.

In the second half, Heslop was the first to unleash an effort at goal, with Dunston breaking, Stafford and Kanda having harassed Tadcaster off the ball to set Heslop away, his shot went wide and high of the target.

Ify Ofoegbu was to blaze an effort over the bar as Albion looked to get back into the game.

Liam Thear, who continues impress this season, had a great chance to extend Dunston's lead, with Heslop and Mouanda combining superbly down the flank, Scrappy’s curling effort was tipped over the bar by the fine reactions of substitute keeper Burn, who somehow managed to punch the ball away as it seemed destined to nestle in the top bin. 

Tadcaster equalised on 67 minutes through substitute Junayd Pandor, Dos Santos getting the better of Capewell to send in a dangerous ball from out wide, which was met by the head of Pandor and cushioned beyond Connell from close range.

During the final 20 minutes of play, the greater chances fell to Dunston; Galbraith elegantly creating an opportunity for Heslop with the keeper doing enough to prevent the ball from crossing the line. As Dunston maintained their pressure Stafford picked out Heslop with a sumptuous lofted pass, the resulting strike from distance wide of the near post.

Jack Elliott and Ursene Mouanda combined magnificently, the ball pulled back across only for the keeper to twice deny Dunston from taking the lead.

A Tadcaster free kick on the edge of the box in the 90th minute, was blasted against a solid blue wall and based on the run of play, for the visitors to have come away with maximum points would’ve been thoroughly undeserved based on Dunston's performance.

The home side played arguably their best football of the season so far; constantly pressuring their opponents, forcing errors and preventing them from building up play, they created enough opportunities during the game to have won it and if this is a sign of things to come, Chris Swailes side will win far more games than they’ll lose this season, When Tadcaster were able to put their passing game together they looked to be a dangerous side but defensively and as a unit Dunston were impressively well organised and rarely afforded Albion many clear cut chances from open play. 

Up top Dunston were industrious and menacing, Tadcaster presented a tough defence and on the occasions Dunston did get in behind them, they were met with resistance on more than one occasion by the quick reactions of substitute keeper Aaron Burn.

Dunston UTS FC Man of the match Jack Elliott (awarded by Mr Paul Dixon) 

Jack Elliott is kindly sponsored by:

Home shirt - Derwent Dental Studio

Away shirt - Derwent Dental Studio

Training kit - Mr Mick Clark

All match day images courtesy of Beauty Time Photography

Match report by Danny Whalen

Dunston FC are proudly sponsored by UTS Engineering