Tadcaster made it back-to-back draws after Dunston last time out and picked up their second clean sheet of the campaign. Neil Sibson and Craig Ogilvie welcomed Roy Fogarty and Theo Hudson back to the starting line-up.

With little between the two sides and clear chances few and far between throughout the majority of the first 85 minutes, in the final five, the game sprung into life with a flurry of chances and an open end to end finish.

The Brewers almost took the lead in the most fortuitous of manners in the 14th minute. A miss-hit back pass from Derry Robson flew beyond the keeper but wide of the upright.

The visitors best chance was squandered by former Tadcaster loanee Oli Metcalfe who drove wide from inside the box after 18 minutes.

Neither side managed to get the upper hand in the opening half an hour; Tadcaster could only muster a couple of crosses which failed to cause the Ossett backline too many issues and likewise, at the other end, the Tadcaster defence quelled any Ossett advancements.

After going down twice, Luke Hinsley was forced off in the 27th minute through a pulled hamstring , Jordan Hines coming on in his place.

In the 33rd minute Tadcaster had their best chance of the half when Charlie Jebson-King whipped a brilliant free kick over the wall but his effort cannoned back off the upright.

It was the visitor’s turn to hit the woodwork in the 40th minute, Metcalfe firing from range but his shot bounced off the far post.

Late on in the first 45 minutes Nathan Croft danced his way down the right before digging out a dangerous cross but nobody managed to connect with it. Less than a minute later Jebson-King delivered a free kick which Dan Hartley got on the end of, his header looping over the target with Tadcaster edging closer.

The final chance of the half came from the visitors, the returning Nathan Curtis firing a powerful shot wide of the target.

Craig Nelthorpe saw an effort fly over after finding himself free at the back post early on in the second half, whilst in the 55th minute, Max Culverwell produced the first of a several important saves for Tad, the stopper denying Danny South with a smart stop.

From the resulting corner, after a bit of a scramble, Culverwell clutched the ball and launched a counter attack playing a long ball over for Croft who beat the keeper to it before being clattered midway into the Ossett half. The referee deemed the foul worthy of a yellow card only.

On the hour mark Nelthorpe again squandered a big chance for the visitors, the full-back heading over at the back post from a corner. Ten minutes later Roy Fogarty picked out Croft on the left - the winger got his head down again, drove at his man, and fired the ball across goal but it had too much pace with nobody there to finish.

Culverwell was again called upon in the 72nd minute, the keeper denying Janus Lipka from close range.

Fogarty had his first attempt of the night in the 79th minute. Again, good distribution from Culverwell to pick out Croft who teed up the Tad number nine who shot wide of the target.

Harry Coates headed over in the 81st minute with Ossett benefitting from set pieces without hitting the target on many occasions.

The game then became frantic and end-to-end, with both sides chasing the goal to break the deadlock.

In the 89th and 90th minutes respectively Tad bodies, notably James Beaston and Hartley produced outstanding defending. The first saw Beaston block before Hartley vitally headed away maintaining the clean sheet.

Deeper into the final minute of normal time Tom Classie almost set Croft away but Edward Hall in the Ossett goal was quick off his line to read the danger and clear. Jebson-King drove forward moments later; urged to shoot by the home fans, the full back duly obliged but his left-footed shot flew wide of the target.

Rob Guilfoyle, who was an 82nd minute substitute, had the chance to win in in the first minute of stoppage time; a self-created chance saw him show great balance and agility to beat three Ossett defenders before Hall made a big save to deny the striker from six yards out.

Back came the visitors at the other end, Hartley positioned himself brilliantly to block on the goal line before Culverwell claimed the ball gratefully.

Deep into stoppage time Fogarty was denied by the keeper, his shot, though well hit, was straight down Hall’s throat. Again, Ossett countered, against a sea of yellow shirts thrown into the firing line - Culverwell saved initially before the follow up was blazed over the bar.

A frantic finish where either side could have won it at the death but it finished a draw, a fare reflection in the end after an evenly contested Yorkshire Derby.

The Brewers are back on the road next Saturday with a long trip to Nottinghamshire to face Long Eaton United, kick off is at 3pm.

Priory Vodka Man of The Match – Max Culverwell

Culverwell, Smith, Beaston, Hartley, Jebson-King, Classie, Valentine ©, Croft, Hinsley (Hines) (Guilfoyle), Hudson, Fogarty. Subs not used: Hey, Smith, Dyer.

Report from Olly Wood, Photos Courtesy of John Clothier