It was almost the perfect start for Tad in the opening three minutes as the inform Mark Ferguson got on the end of Eddie Church’s knock down; stretching, he volleyed over from inside the six-yard box.

After a good opening chance for Tadcaster the hosts started to get control of the game, and despite the surface, started to pass the ball around. In the fifth minute Craig Nelthorpe tried his luck from range but his curling effort was off target.

Walshaw was a threat leading the Ossett line; in the opening 15 minutes he sliced a dangerous volley and then a driven shot wide after Aaron Haswell picked him out from the left.

As the game ticked towards the 20th minute, Kieran Burton was on hand, showing his speed to recover and beat Haswell to the ball as he looked to be away. Church then took aim from thirty yards, a well hit shot which the keeper did well to parry at the second attempt after the ball kicked up off the turf.

In the 25th minute the Brewers created another half chance - Burton managed to flick on a Ferguson long throw; but the ball dropped kindly for the keeper to claim.

As the game approached the half hour mark Ross Hardaker broke in behind the Tad defence but not beyond Harry Fisk who was out smartly, staying big to smother the effort.
In the 37th minute Des Amponsah drove infield, getting into the box before letting fly but his effort was blocked - the ball broke for Church who also saw his shot charged down by a sky-blue shirt.

A minute later Ferguson lined up a free kick and having scored two in the last three weeks, looked to test the keeper but his effort deflected off the wall into the path of Amponsah whose strike was also well taken.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half Ossett broke the deadlock. A free kick won by former Brewer Ify Ofoegbu was hit by Walshaw, a fortunate bounce off the pitch took it over Fisk’s dive and into the corner.

Tadcaster came out well in the second half and looked more threatening going forward
after surviving an early scare which saw Ossett hit the side netting.

In the 52nd minute Jack Carr charged down the left and crossed the ball across for Church, but his header was blocked. Chris Howarth, off balance chipped an effort wide of the upright.

Two minutes later Fisk was beaten by Walshaw in the air, but Burton was well positioned to hook away off the line.

In the 65th minute Kesi Omolokun up from left back fired from the edge of the box, his strike was well saved by the keeper as he managed to push to safety.

In the 72nd minute another of Ferguson’s long throws was launched in the box but Ossett dealt with it well like they had with most of the balls into the box throughout the match.

Ossett almost doubled their advantage in the 77th minute, Haswell fired low across goal, narrowly wide of the far post.

With ten minutes left Tadcaster created their best chance of the afternoon - Omolokun picked out Ferguson at the back post but unmarked, the forward could not keep his header down as the ball went over.

Tadcaster’s last chance came in the 90th minute when Amponsah flicked a header goal wards which looked to be bouncing in, but the keeper managed to claim ahead of Church.

The final attempt went the way of the hosts in stoppage time, Walshaw, with a free kick, went low again but the shot was wide of the upright.

A frustrating afternoon for the Brewers who lacked the cutting edge and saw their unbeaten run end but with little to play for with survival confirmed on Saturday and only having one day to rest, it was a largely subdued affair.

Next up for Tadcaster is the final league game of the season against Yorkshire Amateur at the Global Stadium, kick off 3pm.

Fisk, Howarth(c), Hartley, Burton, Omolokun, Roper (Godden), Deacey, Carr, Church, Amponsah, Ferguson. Subs not used: Hughes, Racher.

Report from Olly Wood, Photos Courtesy of Ian Parker with Tadcaster Albion’s Thanks