Casey Stewart gave Albion the lead in the first half tapping in from close range but Steels earned themselves a point after Scott Ruthven’s free-kick deflected fortuitously past a hapless Michael Ingham.

The main talking point post-match was the decision not give Lamin Colley’s effort on the stretch as a goal despite the adamant protests. The result sees Albion record their first draw of the season which sees them rise to 14th place in the Evo-Stik East Division.

Tadcaster made three changes to the disappointing midweek loss at Marske with Aiden Savory, Jason Mycoe and Ellis Barkworth all earning recalls.

It was a somewhat sluggish start from both sides with very little to write home about. Casey Stewart almost broke in behind for the hosts only to be denied access by a superb recovering challenge from Steels skipper Liam McFadyen.

Stocksbridge hit the target on a couple of occasions in the first half without really testing Ingham in the Albion goal who comfortably anticipated Scott Ruthven’s sweeping shot.

The first big chance of the contest arose on 26 minutes, in actual fact it was a couple of great chances as a lovely piece of interplay from Casey Stewart and Billy Whitehouse saw the latter denied by Jordan Amissah before Lamin Colley blazed over the rebound.

The Brewers finally kicked into gear as the game reached the half hour mark. They thought they had broken the deadlock when Harry Coates kept a corner kick alive and Casey Stewart flicked goalwards but as the appeals went up, no goal was the verdict from the officials.

However Taddy did nudge ahead two minutes later when that same duo combined on a corner. Coates peeled off to the back-post on this occasion and his header was flicked kindly into the path of Casey Stewart who couldn’t miss from three yards out.

As the first half drew to a close, both sides had good chances to find the back of the net. First Billy Whitehouse saw his venomous volley well tipped over by Steels stopper Amissah before Rory Coleman drove wide of the post. Tyler Williams could only drive down the throat of Ingham before Aiden Savory almost doubled his side’s lead with the last touch of the half, his looping header towards the opposite corner dropping agonisingly over.

The Brewers, who were looking to put things right after a late collapse saw them lose at Marske in midweek, had a great opportunity to net a second in humorous circumstances at the beginning of the second 45.

Amissah was guilty of picking a pass-back up giving Taddy a bizarre chance with an indirect free-kick five yards out with all eleven Steels men camped on the line. Albion lacked a sense of inventiveness as Davidson’s obvious roll to Lamin Colley was pounced upon comfortably.

The visitors, who had the third leakiest defence in the division, started the half on a positive note as Alex Wiles spurned a good chance firing over the mark. Nevertheless they didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoreboard as Scott Ruthven’s free-kick took a huge deflection off the back of Billy Whitehouse leaving Ingham with no chance whatsoever.

There was to be further goal-line drama ten minutes later when Lamin Colley used all of his long 6’4 legs to flick over the line, or so he thought, celebrations had begun but no goal was the verdict yet again. Granted it was difficult for the linesman to see with the piercing sun beaming down into his sight which hands the initiative over to the man in the middle, Mr Jamie Rhodes.

The fans behind the goal and the Tadcaster players were absolutely certain that the ball had crossed the line but unfortunately VAR in the Evo-Stik League is yet to be installed.

There was to be no contesting whether the ball crossed the line a minute later though as Casey Stewart cleverly guided into the back of the net, only for the flag to be raised for offside.

It was a game of fine margins and Stocksbridge almost went ahead soon after as Rory Coleman’s exquisitely struck free-kick from 30 yards out struck the underside of the bar.

Joe Lumsden made his return against his former club and he sparked into action immediately flicked down to Casey Stewart only for his shot to be kept out by Amissah.

The visitors were the reduced to ten men with time ticking by, Tyler Williams the man to make way after a dangerous challenge on Harry Coates. This then saw Steels shut up shop completely as they looked to hold on to a point.

The Brewers pushed hard for a winner late in the day but they never carved out that one clear cut chance as it didn’t seem to happen for them in the final third against a Stocksbridge side who defended well.

Full-Time: Tadcaster Albion 1-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels

Tadcaster: Ingham©, Barkworth, Hardy, Roper, Coates, Mycoe, Whitehouse, Davidson, Colley, Stewart, Savory (Lumsden 75)

Unused: Langton, Rose

Stocksbridge: Amissah, Rhodes, Coleman, Hogg, McFadyen©, Charlesworth, Wiles, Turner, Mangham (Moxam 84), Ruthven (Poulton 84), Williams

Unused: Swinburn, Miller, Thompson

Referee: Jamie Rhodes