A bright sunny day heralded the opening match of the season as Trafford FC (“The North”) travelled east. Curtis Woodhouse had a full squad from which to choose including the most recent signing, Jonathon Margetts who would soon write himself into the Club’s history.

Jake Day, leading the attack, was soon causing problems for the visitor’s defence as he latched onto a short back pass to keeper Mathew Cooper and then bravely put his head in low only to see the ball cleared away for a corner. Alex Wiles and Lebrun Mbeka both looked lively in midfield as Taddy pressed forward in the early stages.

However it was Trafford who opened the scoring on 14 minutes; Jordan Wynne was brought down 25 yards out and Jordan Johnson hit a thunderbolt into the top right hand corner of the net – there was no nothing shot stopper Michael Ingham could as the ball seemed to gather momentum on route. 0 – 1

If that took the steam out of the home side it did not last long as nine minutes later they were level; Donald Chimalilo was clattered by Chris Palmer as he ran onto a lob from Wiles and from 30 yards Jack Walters curled in a dangerous ball towards the far post. Cooper seemed to have a moments’ hesitation which left Day a simple nod in from close range
1 – 1

Casey Stewart set Day away again with the pass of the day on 25 minutes but the big man could not get his shot away. Stewart then showed some magic as he chested the ball onto Day’s feet. the striker pirouetting and shooting in one move but just wide of the post.

That said, Trafford were edging the opening half and Tadcaster had Wiles to thank on the half hour mark as he cut out Palmer’s effort from another free kick. Trafford’s striker Johnson was substituted for Lewis Salmon having succumbed to injury picked up earlier in the game. The “North” had the final say on the opening half when O’Brien met yet another free kick but the goal bound header was intercepted by Andy Milne.

1 -1 at the interval was just about a fair reflection but Curtis Woodhouse would have work to do in the break.

Day’s volley from a Chimalilo cross almost from the whistle was just wide but otherwise Trafford resumed on the front foot; Walters upended Salmon in the 53rd minute and was lucky to see just a yellow card. The visitors then had another free kick which Palma drove straight into the body of Ingham who would have seen it late.

As the Brewers found more cohesion the match became a battle for midfield supremacy with both teams looking for breakaways. Curtis Woodhouse decided it was time to revitalise tired legs and Jonathon Margetts was on for his debut replacing Chimalilo on the hour mark.

Almost immediately Trafford broke and only the outstretched foot of Ioan Evans prevented a one on one. Wynne took the free kick but the wall held firm . Margetts first shot on goal lacked power whilst Stewart went high and wide as he shot from 20 yards. The irrepressible Jake Rose who had been a dynamo in the middle of the park was given a lecture from Referee Royston for a dangerous foul on Palma.

With Kain Rogerson on for Rose on 65 minutes, the brewers focussed on that elusive goal; Milne ran into the box to collect Stewart’s long free kick and hooked the ball over Cooper’s head but it just cleared the bar landing on the netting.

Evans again coolly dealt with a possible one on one as he denied substitute Kayne Coppin whilst at the other end Stewart chipped the North’s defence and Day was a whisker away from connecting when well placed. Stewart was then flattened by Palma in what looked like a certain penalty but he was just on the wrong side of the 18-yard line.

Just when a draw seemed inevitable Margetts wrote himself in the Tadcaster history book; collecting a clearance at least 40 yards from the Trafford goal and without even looking up, he unleashed the perfect long-range shot with Cooper off his line. The ball sailed into the back of the net and Taddy were home 2 – 1.

It was perhaps a fortuitous climax to a hard-fought opening match but the players left the pitch to rapturous applause from the fans – a goal of the season in the first match? Who knows!

Every single player gave his all – the back four were magnificent, the mid field unrelenting and the strikers ran their legs off against a quality Trafford side

Manager Curtis Woodhouse could not hide a smile;
“First league game as Tadcaster Albion manager, 3 points and a 92nd winner! Did we deserve it? Absolutely not, will we take it? Absolutely!
Don’t be a football manager guys, it’s seriously bad for your health! Well done to Trafford , a very good side that deserved more. Onto Tuesday we go!”

On Tuesday The Brewers visit Pontefract Colliery who got their first point of the season away to Runcorn Linnets. That should be an equally difficult match. Kick Off is at 7. 45 pm

Ingham ©, Barrett, Walters, Rose (Rogerson), Evans, Milne, Stewart, Mbeka, Day, Wiles, Chimalilo (Margetts). Subs Not used; Rollinson, Vass, Burn (gk)

Report from John Clothier Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley