Well, it was not raining but the wind almost reached gale force effectively making cohesive football impossible. Tadcaster fielded the same starting line up as for the mid-week draw away to Hallam. Sam Green, having signed Dual registration forms (Stockbridge Park Steels) was again between the sticks.

Green got his first touch on three minutes when the wind came up under the ball which seemed to hang in the air close to the line - full marks to the new shot stopper who did not take his eye off it for a split second.

On eight minutes Cody Collins chipped a free kick to Joe Crosby, the finish, however, on the wrong side of the upright. Oli Norman was then fouled just beyond the eighteen yard line but Collin’s effort was well taken by Bradbury. Collins was again instrumental in the next chance for the Brewers with an inch perfect cross to Josh Hardcastle, again foiled by Bradbury. Charlie Owen was next to try his luck but a half volley from eighteen yards was wide.

At the mid-point of the half, Frickley had two chances; Smith put Keita through but it was cleared before he could get a shot away, whilst a free kick resulting from Sam Kitchen’s foul on the left winger was cleared by Conor Qualter. Play was stopped for two minutes whilst Keita received treatment from the physio but he was fit to continue. Ben Tweed’s free kick ten minutes from half time looked to have opened up the home defence but both Qualter and Thirkell were a whisker short of connecting with it.

Tweed was clattered again some thirty-five yards out, this time his tantalising free kick finding Qualter but the finish cleared the bar. Collins shot from distance was so close. Tweed was yellow carded moments before the half time whistle for a foul on Morgan James.

All square at the interval was little to show for Albion’s dominance in the opening forty-five, but not for want of trying!

Tadcaster continued on the front foot with Norman slicing the ball from a tight angle across the six-yard area but there was no one available to finish the move. At the other end, centre forward Luke Walker’s twenty yarder was well held by Green. Norman blasted over after good play between Tweed and Crosby, before drilling the ball wide in a one on one with Bradbury.

On sixty-two minutes Frickley had their best chance thus far, a corner needing only a touch, before it was cleared. On seventy-two minutes Crosby burst down the left and having rounded his defender chose to pass the ball to Norman but it was intercepted and cleared.
Two minutes later Tweed was up ended some twenty-five yards out; he dusted himself down to take the free kick but Bradbury was again equal to the shot – ditto Dan Thirkell’s free kick four minutes later. Charlie Owen’s effort was wide whilst on seventy-eight minutes, Tweed’s twenty-five yarder landed safely in Bradbury’s grasp.

Luke Stewart was on for Crosby, the striker having pulled his hamstring, and was in the action straight away seizing on a header from Qualter before seeing his shot blocked. Junayd Cassius-Gill replaced Owen on 84 minutes , just before Jordan Hines took over from Ellington.

On Eighty-six minutes Tweed put Norman away but having brought the ball inside, Bradbury was again equal to the shot. He tried again in the last moments of normal time but this time the Frickley keeper saved with his feet.

Frickley had the better of added time although Hines was close with an opportunity which needed a more powerful header. A Frickley corner looked dangerous but Green did well to push the ball away to safety. The final action again went the way of the hosts with a free kick from James, but the wall held firm.

It ended goalless , Tadcaster’s fifth unbeaten league game on the trot. In fairness to both teams the swirling wind and freezing conditions hardly made for much else.

The Brewers final away fixture is next Saturday at Knaresborough Kick Off 3.00 pm. They then see out the season with three home matches, Maltby Main on the 2nd April (KO 7.45pm), Rossington Main 6th April (KO 3.00 pm) and finally Hallam (9th April 7.45 pm)

Green, Hardcastle, Owen (Cassius-Gill), Thirkell, Qualter, Collins, Ellington (Hines), Kitchen, Crosby(Stewart)), Tweed, Norman, Subs Not Used, Holmes, Ibrahimi.

Report from John Clothier – Photos Courtesy of Craig Dinsdale