There was somewhat of a goalkeeping issue as Michael Ingham, Gary Stevens and Charlie Murphy all missed the trip across the pennines due to injury so Leon Wrigglesworth stepped in. Josh Barrett was another key figure to be out of action after injuring himself in training during the week.

Andy Milne came back into the side after returning from the USA on Thursday morning and he was joined in the starting line-up by Tom Corner who had shaken off a hamstring strain.

Carl Stewart started up front after re-joining the club from Scarborough Athletic on Monday evening.

And it took just five minutes for Carl Stewart to find the back of the net on his return to the club. Rob Youhill sets the striker in behind who made no mistake hammering home his twelfth goal of the season.

Tadcaster’s lead didn’t last long however as Clitheroe drew level in the 13th minute. Dimitri Tuanzebe knew exactly what he wanted to do when he received the ball inside the box from Bradley Carroll. The forward gained control, turned and drove past Wrigglesworth into the bottom left-hand corner.

It was the perfect start for The Brewers with Carl Stewart continuing his red hot form in front of goal but the match was turned on its head five minutes later when the home side took the lead.

Dan Thirkell’s headed clearance was nodded back over the defence by Charlie Russell and flicked in by captain Danny Brady who stormed in from the back post. Andy Milne and Jason Mycoe were both that confident of an offside flag being raised that they stopped in their tracks. Ian Rowlands may have been marginally offside but Brady came in from the blind side and was most certainly played onside.

It was an all action end-to-end first half as Taddy should have equalised themselves in the 21st minute. Josh Grant’s lofted free-kick was flicked down by Tom Corner which fell kindly for Josh Greening whose scuffed effort from seven yards out was brilliantly stopped by the left-hand of Chris Thompson.

The Brewers could have easily been back on level terms six minutes later but Rob Youhill couldn’t guide Anderson’s shot come cross on target.

Clitheroe were overrunning Taddy in midfield as they continued to drive at the back four time and time again but they took a one-goal cushion into the break.

The second half began at a pulsating tempo with both sides playing with the shackles off making somewhat of a cup tie feel to the contest.

There were very few clear openings in the second forty five for either side but it was the Albion who were pushing the harder, as expected being the trailing side.

As aforementioned though, very few chances were being created and that was largely down to the organisation and defensive solidarity of the Lancashire outfit. Captain Danny Brady was a stand-out at the back keeping the likes of Corner, Stewart and Greening at bay.

The best chance of the half came fourteen minutes from time as once again Tom Corner rose highest to flick on and onto the head of Andy Milne but the defender guided straight at Thompson in the Clitheroe goal who comfortably kept it out.

With time running out and the home side determined to hold onto their lead, the points were almost sealed by a Tadcaster player as Jason Mycoe bulleted a header off his own crossbar.

With that being said, Clitheroe did make sure of the points in stoppage time counter attacking from a Taddy corner. Dimitri Tuanzebe started the attack by carrying the ball out of trouble and the same man finished the move off by sliding under Wrigglesworth and sealing the victory.

Tadcaster Manager Billy Miller reiterates that the club are in a “transitional period.”

Clitheroe Team: Thompson, Bromley, Roberts, Rowlands, Brady ©, Mitchell, Russell, Carroll, Willoughby, Newby, Tuanzebe
Subs: Benjamin, Walker, Williams, Cattermole, Paulat-Brigg

Tadcaster Team: Wrigglesworth, Mycoe, Grant, Milne, Anderson ©, Thirkell, Youhill (Armstrong 64), Ibrahimi, Stewart, Corner, Josh Greening (Baker 64)
Subs Unused: Sellars, Binns, Shepherd