245 were in attendance to witness second place Tadcaster face third place, and the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC and the majority will be overjoyed that the win takes the Brewers five points clear of their opponents who drop to fourth in the league.

Ahmed was well placed at the back post to knock in the winner in the 86th minute on his return to the Young Guns Arena following his re-signing for the club during the previous week.

Captain, Spencer Harris will have undoubtedly been amongst the most relieved after his 51st minute penalty was saved by Jamie Hassall - Oliver Green won the spot kick, drawing the sliding challenge from Sheffield’s Brandon Webster that was judged to have been mistimed.

Sheffield had squandered some golden chances in the second half and were ultimately punished for their misses.

Saturday afternoons autumnal chill encapsulated the tension around the ground before kick off for this high stakes match. There was a brief delay before the start after Sheffield keeper, Jamie Hassall, walked out in a yellow kit, which would clearly have clashed with The Tadcaster home colours.

When the game did get underway, it began in a feisty manner with strong tackles going in across the pitch, but referee Kyle Tasker was happy to let play flow.

Big chances, however, were few and fair between in the first forty-five with most the efforts from each side being either hopeful twenty yarders or tame efforts in the box. However, a five-minute period before the mid-point of the half saw both sides come close with golden opportunities to take the lead.

The first fell to Harris after a wicked Oliver Norman cross met the midfielder’s stride at the back post, but he could only flash his attempt across the face of goal and wide. Sheffield’s opportunity came after a deep cross into the box was kept alive by winger, Tom Zerboni who cut it back to Ryan Cook in-space ten yards out, but he could only fire a half volley well over the bar.

Oliver Norman was a bright spark down the Tadcaster left, frequently taking on and beating his man but his attempts were to no avail. Cassama found the net with a minute left of the half but was offside whilst the final action of the half saw a tame effort from Gregory that was no problem for Scales.

Goalless at the interval was a fair reflection of play.

It only took five second half minutes before the hosts were piling on the pressure. Oliver Green picked up the ball just outside the box and drove forwards dangerously causing Webster to feel the need to slide across. Referee Tasker judged Webster to have not touched the ball and a penalty was awarded a penalty: Harris chose the far corner, but Hassall pulled off a magnificent save to keep the score level.

Half-chances continued at a similar rate to the first half. Nathan Heaton nodded just wide from the post penalty corner whilst Alex Clark saved the day with a crucial clearance on the hour. Alfie Scales had no trouble with some harmless back post headers and the game looked set to end in a stalemate until the 86th minute when the deadlock was finally broken.

Charlie Owen drove into the Sheffield half from deep, resulting in Hassall leaving his goal to pressurise him, but Owen smartly opted not to go for goal himself but to roll the ball across the six yard box to the back post where Tawheed Ahmed was waiting to place home. 1-0.

Minutes later a fantastic cross found a waiting Sheffield head in space eight yards from goal, but the free header was miscalculated by Connor Cutts and the ball looped over the bar.

That was to be the last chance for Sheffield and although Tadcaster had a couple of chances to double their lead in added time from Matty Mulhearn and Des Okoro, the Brewers celebrated the final whistle as another three points were added to this season’s tally.

Tadcaster are next in action on Saturday away to Handsworth in the league. They sit in sixth place on 29 points having played one game more than the Brewers. Another real test for Tadcaster.

The Tony Howarth Golf Man of The Match Award went to Nathan Heaton for another powerful performance.

Tadcaster Albion: Scales, Billet (Pilkington 63’), Clark, Metcalfe, Harris, Heaton, Green (Thompson 83’), Owen, Cassama (Okoro 75’), Clarke-Thompson (Mulhearn 59’), Norman (Ahmad 65’)
Sheffield FC: Hassall, Greenhouse, Webster, West, Whitehead, Beaston, Spooner (Crofts 75’), Cutts, Cook (Hardwick 59’), Gregory, Zerboni (Portman 79’).

Report from Charlie Ashworth, Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley