Near perfect conditions at the home of the West Riding Football Association greeted the clubs for this last game of season as Tadcaster faced last years winners Route One Rovers. Both teams had their fair share of injuries whilst the Brewers had to put last Saturday’s play-off final defeat firmly out of their mind!

Anticipation filled the air before kick-off and as the sun started to set behind the trees in Woodlesford, both outfits were getting ready to fight for silverware.

The match itself got off to a slow start. Both teams took the opening minutes to get used to the plastic pitch, learn the bounce of the ball and fully integrate themselves into the final.
Travelling armies from both sides showed up in their masses to provide support to their respective teams but it was the Tadcaster following who had the first moment of jubilation.

On the eighth minute of the game, Curtis Senior’s corner was headed away by the Route One defence but only away far enough to the boot of Charlie Owen on the edge of the box. His fiercely struck volley arrowed into the bottom right corner to give the Brewers an early lead. 1-0.

The aftermath of the goal saw few chances in the first half. Miguel Cassama hustled his way past the two centre backs to meet a high ball from Spencer Harris, but his shot was well saved by the goalkeeper. Rovers came close to an equaliser on 27 minutes, but the shot was deflected into the side netting whilst again, a minute later, a dangerous pull-back was adjudged to have already crossed the byline.

Other than a couple of blocked efforts, Route One Rovers were just about edging play but were limited to few chances by Tadcaster’s defence who stood firm until half time. Just before the whistle Des Okoro found Olly Norman in space but his shot was blocked.

The second half began almost as frantic as it gets as chances rained in for both teams and it was very possible that three more goals could have been scored before the 50th minute! Clarke-Thompson’s free header was inches wide and then on a fast counter, Oli Norman broke forwards down the right and played a perfect ball to Olly Green arriving in the box, but his shot produced a brilliant save from the keeper. The final of the three chances saw Route one’s number 10 flash a wicked low cross to the far post, but his striker could not stretch far enough to make contact with the ball.

However, Route One piled on the pressure with waves of attacks battering the Tadcaster defence. On minute sixty-six, a long ball over the top set the Route One number 9 on a one on one with Hughes but although he struck the ball with power, beating the keeper, it flashed wide.

Tadcaster dealt with the oncoming attacks brilliantly until the fourth minute of added time. The flawless Hughes faced a low effort from range that bounced just in-front of him causing him to spill the shot. A cloud of bodies immediately ran to the loose ball and as a result it found a way into the back of the net equalising the game right at the death. 1-1.

Tensions rose higher as penalties awaited the teams as both knew that glory could be theirs on the other side. The first eight penalties all found the back of the net comfortably leading sudden death to come early.

Adam Porritt had found the back of the net leaving all the pressure on the Route One number 9 as he stepped up to take his kick. Hughes dived low to his left superbly stopping the ball and effectively winning Tadcaster Albion the West Riding County FA Cup!

A remarkable end to a remarkable season and for Ally Hughes, a show of resilience and determination that won his team the trophy in the end.

All around, a fantastic match to end the 2025/26 season for both teams.

Tadcaster: Hughes, Owen ©, Senior, Metcalfe (90+3’ Mulhearn), Harris, Porritt, Norman, Clarke-Thompson, Cassama (67’ Brookes), Okoro, Green

Report from Charlie Ashworth – Photos Courtesy of David Lindsay