On an open hill on the outskirts of Cleckheaton, Tadcaster fans rubbed their hands together with the cold as they waited for the start of what would be one of their hardest away matches yet - the toughest of battles against fourth in the league Liversedge.

Currently having a seven-point lead over the rest of the Premier Division, the away team hoped to increase it further with all three points, but Sedge had yet to be beaten at home this season. Three familiar faces greeted the Brewers in the shape of ex-players Dan Hartley, Josh Grant and, hot off the press, Alfie Dean.

The game began with a fantastic shot into the box by Tadcaster’s Charlie Owen just one minute into play, but with no one there to flick it into the net, Albion were denied an early goal. Alfie Dean, more used to playing in the Brewer’s signature yellow but this time playing for the opposition, went in for Liversedge’s first chance of the game, a shot safely saved by Tadcaster keeper Alfie Scales.

The intense play made for a thrilling and noisy watch for the crowd. Yet it would be Liversedge who scored the first goal, with Antony Brown, who would be a thorn in Albion’s side all afternoon, putting a header from a corner into the net 12 minutes into play. 1 -0.

With the home team’s confidence increased, Tadcaster tried to hold back against the Sedge’s stride. However, despite being briefly down to ten men, when Harris was sin binned, the Brewers denied the home team any further goals before the break. With the second half just around the corner, all was still to play for from both teams, and as the players came back onto the pitch, excitement ramped up in the stands.

Tadcaster started the second half with a substitution 53 minutes in, with Oliver Norman making way for Rob Guilfoyle. Another great shot by Owen narrowly missed the goal, before the away team made their second substitution, bringing on Jayden Clarke-Thompson in place of Matthew Mulhern at 58 minutes.

Harris, bouncing back from his brief stint in the sin bin in the first half, sent a clear shot towards the goal, but it was straight at Liversedge's keeper. Guilfoyle then made a great go of it with a left-footer, but Hassal made a fantastic save to keep the ball out. It was a good start to the second half, but Taddy just could not get a goal in.

In a bittersweet turn of events for Tadcaster fans, Alfie Dean would score the next goal for Liversedge in the 71st minute – giving him space in the box inevitably lead to the hosts doubling their advantage 2 – 0.

Albion made three substitutions in relatively quick succession in the 77th, 81st and 84th minute, making way were Oli Johnson, Charlie Owen and Oliver Metcalfe, and coming on, Charlie Thompson, Desmond Okoro and Mason Wilson.

The Brewers battled on, but it was an uphill climb and they could not stop the third and final goal of the match being scored by Liversedge’s Alex Wollerton in the 85th minute. 3 - 0.

As the game drew to a close, the Tadcaster players showed no signs of giving up but realistically there was no way back.

Albion retain their place at the top of the NCEL Premier, but Barton Town are now four points behind with a game in hand whilst Liversedge are just five points behind but having played two games less, could overtake us.

Tadcaster will be hoping to get back on their winning streak in their next fixture away to Golcar United on the 3rd of October Kick Off 7.45.

Players: Scales, Pilkington, Clark, Metcalfe (Wilson), Heaton, Harris ©, Norman (Guilfoyle), Owen (Okoro), Green, Mulhern (Clarke-Thompson), Johnson (Thompson).

Report from Annie Roberts – Photos Courtesy of John Clothier