Despite heavy showers up until the starting whistle, the rain held off during this Saturday’s match against Bottesford Town, and a break in the dark clouds kept the pitch largely in the sun. After a draw last Saturday at home to Thackley, Tadcaster were looking to increase their two-point lead in the league standings, in the hope of increasing their chance of keeping on top as the season progresses.

The first half got underway quickly, with a dangerous shot from Bottesford’s skipper, Scott Matthews tipped over by Tadcaster keeper Ally Hughes for an unsuccessful corner. The Brewers responded, however, with back-to-back chances from new signing Oli Johnson and Oliver Norman within the first ten minutes foreshadowing a thrilling match. Both teams' desire for a win made for a nail-biting watch.

There was an early yellow card shown to Oli Norman in the tenth minute for a heavy challenge in midfield. Raised voices could be heard from both sides management as fouls were continuously called for and disputed, with the referee’s whistle feeling like a constant!

Albion took a little while to get past the home team’s tactic of aerial play, but when the ball started consistently staying on the ground, possession swung in their favour. The first goal of the match in the 24th minute came a no surprise - a short corner between Oli Norman and Alfie Dean made space for the front man to drill the ball beyond keeper Ben Voase and into the net, his first of the season 0 – 1.

The Brewers were flying high, and soon to score a second. Thirty - one minutes in, and Oli Johnson, on his debut, received a defence splitting pass into the box from Oliver Green, sliding the ball in cleanly for a satisfying 2-0.

Tadcaster kept up the pressure, with a skilful save from the Bottesford keeper in the 40th minute being the only thing stopping Norman from scoring his second goal of the match.
Yet the home team had not given up, with Luke Ayris smashing the ball against the post after forty-three minutes in what could otherwise have been an impressive goal for the Poachers. Instead, Ayris was booked a minute later for blocking a free kick.

In an unfortunate turn for Tadcaster, in the final minute of the first half Alex Clark went down in a lot of pain, with what appeared to be a calf injury. After medical assistance from the physio and support from his teammates, he left the pitch to be replaced by central defender Joe Billet.

At the end of the first half, Tadcaster had maintained their lead and fans were confident of it increasing providing the dynamics of the match remained the same.

The second half started with as much energy as the first, with a blocked attempt from Green on fifty-one minutes denying Tadcaster a third goal. Bottesford retaliated just two minutes later with a shot that forced Hughes into a brilliant save, tipping the ball over the crossbar.
With tension rising, the Poacher’s Jack Brown was sin-binned, seemingly for saying something the referee deemed unacceptable whilst on 56 minutes Albion made a double substitution - with Norman and Johnson coming off, and Charlie Thompson and Desmond Okoro replacing them.

Albion’s Nathan Heaton knocked heads badly with Bottesford’s Ayris 62 minutes in, but both were able to continue whilst at the mid stage of the half there were more substitutions for Tadcaster as Captain Andrew Shepherd and Alfie Dean made way for Fatlum Ibrahimi and Matthew Mulhern. Bottesford swapped Steve Ridley for Blakely Gregory around the same time.

As the second half progressed the home team began to find their footing, and in the 70th minute Ayris made a tight shot round the keeper to score 1 – 2.

Bottesford’s raised confidence kept Tadcaster on their toes with another attempt going just wide a minute later, and the pressure now definitely on Albion. Away fans watched anxiously.

Bookings for both Bottesford captain Scott Matthews and Albion’s Nathan Heaton with ten minutes to go kept the match tense, but it would be Tadcaster who emerged victorious.
In the 83rd minutes Green won the ball in the away half, he then passed to Okoro, who put a curved ball though to Mulhearn which allowed the attacking midfielder to round Voase and find the back of the net, the final goal of the match. 1 - 3

As the game drew to a close both Ibrahimi and Green had more chances - a fantastic game and a well-earned victory.

With Liversedge and Barton playing each other in a goalless draw, the win sees Tadcaster four points clear at the top as they prepare for Tuesday’s home game against Albion Sports. Kick Off is at 7.45 pm.

Players: Hughes, Pilkington, Clark (Billet), Shepherd © (Ibrahimi), Heaton, Hudson, Norman (Thompson), Clarke-Thompson, Green, Dean (Mulhearn), Johnson (Okoro)

Report from Annie Roberts, Photos Courtesy of David Lindsay