For the third time this season, Tadcaster faced promotion hopefuls Campion having lost the home game back in October 0 – 2 and exited the West Riding Cup quarter final 3 - 1 just a few weeks ago. Tadcaster narrowly lost this game 3-2 on Friday night in an almost indescribable 90 minutes of football: Three red cards, a sin-bin, and a nearly sensational comeback made it a memorable match, albeit mostly for the wrong reasons.

The away side could not have had a worse start to the game. Campion forward Joe Wood opened the scoring from the spot after just 3 minutes despite Sam Green getting a glove to it. The goal would have been painful for the goalkeeper, as he had just made two major saves within the opening minute. 1-0.

Eight minutes later and it was almost two, as full-back Parker-Wells spearheaded a counter-attack and fired in a low cross to Aidan Day, who scuffed his shot wide from very close range. A let-off for the Brewers who had not yet got into their stride.

Junayd Cassius-Gill initially appeared to have taken a knee to the head in the box, but no penalty was given despite half-hearted appeals from Tadcaster players.

Tadcaster finally began to show their horns as the half progressed, almost equalising after Greenway whipped in a great ball after 24 minutes, but new signing Hayden Habetz could not anticipate it in time as the ball whizzed past the six-yard box.

However, all the hard work in getting back into the game was about to be obliterated in a moment. First, Shepherd, who was already booked, for an earlier sliding tackle, received a red card after getting involved in a fight between both sides. A great loss for Tadcaster, who also saw Thirkell sin-binned in the commotion which spread into the dugouts as both benches exploded in anger.

Immediately, Campion capitalised on the two extra men, throwing long balls forward as Tadcaster piled players back to keep some sort of defensive shape, eventually settling into a 3-3-2 formation as the rain began to pour in Bradford.

Half-Time Campion AFC 1-0 Tadcaster Albion

After the sin-bin scare, would Tadcaster go into the second half a more cautious side? No such thing - both teams erupted once again six minutes into the half after Nathan Heaton went straight through the back of a Campion player right in front of their manager, whose furious reaction sparked another tussle between both squads and coaches. Now The Brewers were down to nine men for real.

A second goal seemed inevitable at this point, and Campion got just that on 58 minutes after a cross by Joe Wood was met with a thumping header by talisman Harvey Booth. 2-0.

They then scored a third on 62 minutes to seemingly end the game with half an hour to go. After an initial save by Green from a corner, Harvey Booth scored his second via a rebounded strike into the centre of the goal. 3 – 0

A flurry of substitutions followed, with Jamie Tomlinson’s arrival plugging some space at the back numbers as the Brewers settled into more of a 4-1-3 formation, with Bolino joining the attack.

And it was a bit of Bolino magic that gave Tadcaster a goal back in the 80th minute, as he skipped past several defenders and forced a save out of Wilczynski before the ball was parried in by Tomlinson for his first goal in yellow, or rather blue on this occasion. 3-1.

With two minutes to go Tadcaster dragged another back after a Fatlum Ibrahimi free kick found James Knowles in the area who hammered the ball into the back of the net , his second in consecutive matches. 3 - 2

In a final chance to equalise, Bolino made a fantastic run behind the full-back but at a difficult angle sent the ball over the bar in the last kick of the game. Campion got away with a late scare.

After the whistle, the drama continued, with Thirkell, who was previously sin-binned, receiving a straight red card for dissent against the referee.

Next up for the Brewers is the all-important game at home to Knaresborough Town next Tuesday 25th February KO 7.45 pm

Full-Time - Campion AFC 3-2 Tadcaster Albion

Tadcaster: Green, Heaton, Wilson (Tomlinson 63’), Thirkell Knowles, F.Ibrahimi, Norman (Kitchen 45’), Shepherd, Habetz (Bolino 63’), Greenway (Davy 63’), Cassius-Gill (Smith 59’)

Report from Felix Cox – Photos courtesy of John Clothier