The warmest day of the season by a country mile greeted the Tadcaster players as they arrived to take on near neighbours, but Northern Premier South East division, Frickley Athletic. The pitch was in good condition but the Blues had received a set back when captain Todd Jordan pulled out in the pre match warm up.

Taddy were without the injured Alex Wiles but Lebrun Mbeka was pronounced fit to play after the gash he received at Pontefract

The Brewers were out of the blocks immediately with Jake Day taking a glorious through ball from Casey Stewart but was well off side. Jack Walters free kick saw Jonno Margetts almost in a one on one but keeper Thomas Jackson got there first.

The away faithful did not, however, have to wait long when with 6 minutes on the clock Margetts put the visitors in front; Having been brought down on the right flank, the Taddy sharp shooter positioned himself behind the Frickley defence as Jack Walters free kick was curled in and he rose highest to guide his header into the top corner of the net. 0 – 1.

The young Frickley side took 15 minutes to settle and although they were penned in their own half for the opening 45, they battled against wave after wave of attack from the away side - Game on!

Day had a chance from Donald Chimalilo’s inch perfect through ball before the Blues had the first meaningful assault on the Tadcaster goal; Having given away a free kick when he clipped the heel of Jack Harrison, Mbeka headed the ensuing cross out but only as far as Cody Prior who fired in a low effort through a melee of legs but it was wide of the mark.

Stewarts in swinging corner was cleared but fell to Day whose 25 yarder was off target.Frickley has another rare chance on 22 minutes but as Jack McMenemy ran onto a long ball from defence, Michael Ingham was out of his box in an instant to head the danger away. A short corner for the hosts fell to Oliver Russon whose 20 yard curler was tipped over by the Taddy shot stopper.

Referee Fryer stopped play on the half hour mark for a very necessary water break for the players but it was not long before The Brewers were back at their hosts; Stewarts corner was cleared but returned back to the Taddy forward – he crossed to Mbeka who unleashed a bullet but was inches wide. Jake Rose found Stewart on the flank and although the cross into the box created mayhem nobody could get the shot in.

Day collect Josh Barrett’s long throw , moved the ball from right to left foot, but Jackson tipped it over the bar. The blues had a late rally but it ended when Ingham was pushed as he jumped to collect a high cross. Stewart was fouled from behind as he sped into the box but the visitors kept up the pressure until the half time whistle

One goal to the good at the interval was the least The Brewer’s deserved after 45 minutes where they had bossed proceedings but the lack of conversions in the final third was concerning.

Frickley were a different team from the restart and had a really good chance to level immediately had it not been for Andy Milne’s perfectly timed intervention. Johnny Pugh drilled a low pass across the face of the goal just evading McMenemy as he slid in. Pugh then tried his luck from 18 yards but the ball as it seemed to move sideways in flight was blocked by the vigilant Ingham.

Tadcaster settled but were not finding any success in the final third – whatever had been said the Frickley players at half time was clearly working! It was over 10 minutes before Taddy had a clear sight of goal but Margetts cleared the bar. Day took a ball in the stomach and without flinching glided beyond two defenders before shooting wide. On 65 minutes John Lufudu was on for Stewart.

A dangerous cross from Frickley on 67 minutes saw Ingham pushed as he rose to claim it whilst simultaneously Milne was clattered lying face down in the area.. With the central defender back on his feet Henry Rollinson was on for Margetts.

Lufudu was causing problems with his forays down the right flank but shots were few and far between; Rose tried a 30 yarder whilst Day was well over with a chance on 73 minutes.
Milne received a dubious yellow when it seemed he had just chested the ball. From the ensuing free kick Currie blasted over the five man wall and the cross bar. Rose was yellow carded for dissent. Chimalilo was again running at the Blues defence but having dribbled pass two defender his shot was wide.

Curtis Woodhouse made his last throw of the dice with 7 minutes to go, Kain Rogerson replacing the tiring Chimalilo.

It would be wrong to say that Tadcaster were hanging on, but certainly the balance of play had changed. Mbeka was the next to receive a yellow but as the game rolled to a close the Brewers found renewed energy. Barrett played a one two with Day but the crucial pass was intercepted, Lufudu was put away by Day but could not finish and Day, himself, might have put it all to bed in the last minute but his screamer from the edge of the box just skimmed over.

Frickley also had a last minute gasp but Currie could not find the elusive header from Liversidge’s inch perfect cross.

Not an easy win but Tadcaster are through to the First Round of the competition and now ready themselves for Bank Holiday Monday’s home league game with old rivals, Pickering Town. KO 3.00 pm

Ingham, Barrett, Walters, Milne, Evans, Mbeka, Chimalilo (Roggerson), Rose, Day, Margetts (Rollinson) Stewart (Lufudu)

Report from John Clothier