That the game was on, given the recent weather, came as a pleasant surprise but by the time Tadcaster properly focussed the visitors were one goal in front. At the start of the match both teams were on forty-five points and looking to cement themselves in the play offs. Back in September the sides had played out a goalless draw in torrential conditions. It was a return to the Young Guns Arena for two ex-Taddy players, defender Fraser Paprill, and striker Lewis Stephens.

In the fourth minute Grant Tait got on the end of a cross from Josh McKiernon and launched a thirty yarder which skimmed the bar. The first corner went the way of the visitors with a free header for Paprill, thankfully wide. Finn Abraham miskicked from ten yards out. Aydemir looked to have opened the scoring from a corner, but Curtis Senior cleared off the line.

It was still all one way after the first quarter hour as Abraham shot from within the six-yard box but was foiled by a reflex save from Alli Hughes between the sticks for Taddy. The Tad keeper then did well to divert another thirty-yard opportunity for the visitors.

Barton opened the scoring on 21 minutes, a wakeup call for the Brewers! Stephens got on the end of a corner and guided the ball into the net from short range.0 -1.

Hughes foiled a one on one as Waudby threatened but just after, Tadcaster's first real attack came on 27 minutes when Oli Norman broke down the left flank, but it was too tight an angle to bother keeper Jonathon Dash making his debut for the Swans.

A more cohesive Albion continued to try and find a quick way back; Just after the half hour Matty Mulhern’s effort was saved on the line whilst Olly Green tried an overhead kick saved by the keeper.

With ten minutes of the half to go Barton extended their lead; Hughes did well to push Waudby’s effort away, but the ball then fell to the marauding Aydemir to hammer it home. 0-2.

Barton kept up the pressure with Stephens just wide from the eighteen-yard line whilst Waudby saw his twenty-yarder hit the crossbar. A Tadcaster free kick was well taken by Dash but then as Norman challenged in the box, he was fouled in front of Referee Blackham who immediately pointed to the spot. Norman duly sent the keeper the wrong way moments before the half time whistle. 1– 2.

Des Okoro was on for Morris as play resumed but the visitors were straight at the Brewer’s defence, although Hughes was equal to Aydemir’s early shot. Norman went close to equalising on the end of Curtis Senior’s short corner, but Dash managed to push it over. Adam Porritt seized on Norman’s pass, but the shot was just wide.

Ryan Qualter changed the team around with Billy Marshall on for Metcalfe and Jayden Clarke – Thompson replacing Mulhearn: It nearly paid dividends on 71 minutes when Marshall’s free kick was headed inches wide by Nathan Heaton.

However, almost immediately Barton extended their lead: Abraham was yellow carded for a clinical foul on Norman but in their next surge forward down the left flank, Stephens collected the ball and at close range gave Hughes no chance 1- 3.

The final changes saw Green and Owen replaced by Cassama and Shepherd with ten minutes remaining, but the die was already cast with no way back.

The win sees Barton fifth in the league, three points ahead of Tadcaster with one game in hand. Campion are up to Sixth two points ahead of the Brewers in seventh. Pickering and Parkgate, both of whom we have to play, are also in with a play-off shout.

On Saturday Tadcaster host Liversedge, the league leaders with a massive sixty-two points against the Brewers forty-five. KO at the Young Guns Arena is at 3.00 pm.

Tony Howarth Golf Man of the Match - Adam Porritt

Hughes, Porritt, Senior, Metcalfe © (Marshall), Heaton, Morris (Okoro), Norman, Harris, Green (Cassama), Owen (Shepherd), Mulhern (Clarke-Thompson),

Report from John Clothier – Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley