On a breezy afternoon just inside the Bradford ring road, Tadcaster Albion and Albion Sports lined up for the return match following the game back in September which ended in a 2 – 2 draw. The Myra Stray Stadium has an Astroturf pitch, and it would be interesting to see if the home team’s experience with the ground would prove to be advantageous. At the start of the match The Brewers were sitting fifth in the league, hoping for a win against their 18th in the league opponents.

It was interesting to see Jack Crook again, albeit playing for the opposition; Jack left Tadcaster in October 2022 after a two year stay during which he became a fans favourite

The match started fairly evenly but Sports soon gained the upper hand with a neat cross into the net on eight minutes from none other than Crook. One attack, One goal to the home team. 1 – 0.

Tadcaster struggled to get a grip on the game as Albion dominated possession, culminating only nine minutes later when the “Lions” scored their second goal, an innocuous free kick from Talent Ndlovu misjudged by keeper Alfie Burnett. 2 – 0.

After the lethargic start, the Brewers first chance occurred almost halfway through the first half, with a header knocked just wide by Luke Hinsley after a corner played short and crossed by Adam Porritt into the six-yard box.

Frustration built on the pitch and the sidelines as Tadcaster struggled to keep possession. Skipper Charlie Owen was lucky not to be carded for a late tackle but Curtis Senior was not so fortunate! Nevertheless, a chance from Billy Marshall’s pull back just missing out showed that the game was by no means over yet. Another effort from Marshall on 40 minutes just cleared the bar in this uphill battle.

With just three minutes of the half to go, Burnett denied Cartman in a “one on one” and at last Tadcaster found a way through as Olly Green met Marshall’s glancing header and guided the ball beyond Roxborough. 2 – 1.

Following a disappointing first 45, it was a dicey start after the break with a booking for Charlie Owen just 7 minutes into the half, followed by a double substitution for the Brewers, Owen and Hinsley, making way for Joe Billet and Desmond Okoro. This was followed on the hour by Matty Mulhern replacing Marshall and then Oliver Norman on for Clarke-Thompson five minutes later.

It was clear that Tadcaster had found their footing slightly more in the latter half of the match although Okoro’s goal on 68 minute was ruled offside. Yet it would be Albion Sports who scored next, putting a third goal into the net on 72 minutes when, despite an excellent save by Burnett, a loose ball was converted by Qasim 3 – 1.

Taddy needed to get back into the game quickly as Jack Lane replaced Porritt and within five minutes, with a great header, Mulhern scored. 3 – 2.

However, the final nail in the coffin of this match would be a fourth and final goal scored by Albion through the ever-dangerous Nathan Cartman seizing on a long ball, with ten minutes remaining.4 – 2.

It was a fantastic final few minutes where the Brewers showed real fighting spirit; Billet set up Mulhern but the shot was wide whilst in the last minute Jack Lane’s lob was pushed onto the woodwork and away by Roxborough.

After this match, Tadcaster dropped to sixth in the league table. Their next match will be a against Barton Town this coming Tuesday. They are on the same points as Taddy but have one game in hand. Then on Saturday 7th February Tadcaster host runaway league leaders Liversedge.

Starting XI: Burnett, Owen © (Billet), Senior, Porritt (Lane), Shepherd, Heaton, Green, Harris, Hinsley (Okoro), Marshall (Mulhearn), Clarke-Thompson (Norman)

Report from Annie Roberts – Photos Courtesy of John Clothier