Perfect weather for the time of year greeted the fans of Tadcaster and Workington as after 5 weeks and almost as many floods , the Brewers got back to home action. It was only their second game since they played Ramsbottom on the 8th February. Their visitors have been top of the Northern Premier North West Division for almost the entire season.

The pitch was, given the amount of water it has soaked up, in amazing condition but conditions were heavy and that would be a factor as the game wore on. With the exception of loan signing, Reives Boocock, Paul Quinn had a strong squad from which to choose. A crowd of 427 had turned up for the early kick off as had BBC Look North and BBC Radio York.

It was a perfect start for Albion; with just two minutes on the clock, Kain Rogerson put a beautiful long ball through to Jake Day loitering with intent on the right flank and from 25 yards he thundered a low drive into the corner of the net giving James Atkinson between the sticks for the “reds” no chance. 1 – 0

Almost immediately Donald Chimalilo broke through to the by-line but Day was a whisker from the dink into the six-yard area. Dan Hartley picked up an early yellow card for a late challenge on Workington skipper Conor Tinnion but Taddy were soon on the front foot again as Day won an aerial battle in the box to put Chimalilo away down the left but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Workington’s first meaningful attack came in the sixth minute as they broke quickly down the right but the menacing low cross was cleared for Taddy to break, only to be caught offside for the first of many occasions in the first half. Bradley Carroll tested Michael Ingham, with a dangerous cross from which again the Brewers launched an attack but again foiled by the offside trap as Rogerson put Chimalilo through. On the quarter hour Rinor Ejupi’s cross to the waiting day was deflected straight to Atkinson.

Football can truly be an upsetting game and all the hard work from the home side was put on pause when Jack Vann was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box – it was a ball to hand situation and the Taddyman simply could not get his arm out of the way. It gave no advantage to either side but the decision stood and Scott Allison thumped it into the back of the net with Ingham guessing correctly but the pace just too much. 1 – 1

Day again found the back of the net following great play between Hartley and Chimalilo but once more was caught in the off side trap. Ejupi almost got on the end of Milne’s cross whilst Hartley, very much enjoying the chance to get forward , put a defence splitter to Chimalilo for a one on one but Atkinson read it well.

With the game evenly balanced , Nathan Waterson’s speculative effort well cleared the bar whilst at the other end Day was beaten by the offside trap as Tadcaster broke quickly. Dan Wordsworth spurned a chance , heading wide from a 35-yard freekick from Tinnion. Play was halted for Bokinji Lebrun requiring help from the physio but able to continue.
With referee Tomlinson looking at his watch, Day coming in from the left, slid the ball beyond Atkinson only to see it cleared off the line - Chimalilo smashed the rebound towards goal but it was cleared for a corner.

Then in the final moment of the opening half Day was through for a one on one with Atkinson and as the two met the ball went straight forward towards an empty goal - the big man in an attempt to get closer before shooting was somehow caught by Tinnion whose sliding tackle rescued the ball – anything more would have been a penalty but the Reds captain had timed the intervention perfectly. It was a heart - breaking moment for Day who knew he had wasted a golden opportunity.

One goal each at half time against the league leaders would normally be considered a good shift – this time , however the Brewers could have been three up!

The second half was halted for several minutes when Workington’s Nathan Waterson fell awkwardly after challenging for a high ball. Both physios were quickly on the scene and diagnosed a dislocated shoulder, clearly very painful. (We are pleased to report that the joint was later put back in place and Nathan was allowed to travel home last night)

With The Reds edging play they took the lead in the 62nd minute; a clearance by Michael Ingham from a back pass went straight to Carroll who was promptly fouled some 25 yards out – Symington shaped to take the Kick but at the last moment Tinnion stepped up and accurately put a lowish ball into the far corner of the net. 1 – 2

Manager Quinn decided that it was time to ring changes with Juan Lomelin-Fox on for Rinor Ejupi. However almost immediately there was more consternation in the Taddy defence as Ioan Evans fell flat on his back after colliding with Ingham but thankfully was just winded.
Then on 69 minutes the ”Brewers” found the net; Jake Day exquisitely flicked a Chimalilo free kick into the path of the marauding Lebrun who buried it into the net. 2 – 2

Scenes of jubilation were, however, short lived. With 11 minutes to go, Tinnion found himself in space on the edge of the box and weaved his run in and out of the Albion defence before slamming home the third goal from 12 yards. 2 – 3.

Jake Rose replaced Kain Rogerson and then Santos was on the Monkhouse as the Brewers went for the equaliser but the Workington players seemed to have the upper hand energy wise at this stage. In the last minute of normal time the visitors put the game to bed when substitute Millenic Alli collected the ball on the edge of the area and with no obvious pass available, drove a low shot into the near corner – not the most convincing shot but executed with a degree of surprise.

It ended 2 – 4. Taddy had lived with their illustrious rivals for more than an hour but at the end of the day it was Workington who converted their chances and took home all three points to Cumbria

It was a great game of football in these unsettled times and wonderful to see the lads at home again after the recent storm damage. There were strong performances all round - Rogerson and Hartley in particular, both showed their potential
The result drops Tadcaster to eighth in the Northern Premier North West Division - there are still 33 points available but the play - off contenders are now al least 10 points ahead , Workington 20 points!

After the Match Workington Captain , Conor Tinnion, and young fan, Shayne Little, presented Tadcaster Chairman Andy Charlesworth with £300 - a donation from their fans, team and Directors, towards the Flood Relief Fund. There is more to Non League Football than the match result!

The Brewers have a Tuesday night game at home to Widnes scheduled but with most of non - league football postponed due to the Coronavirus, there is much doubt about the remainder of the season. You can keep abreast of news in this context via our web and social media sites

Ingham, , Hartley, Rogerson (Rose), Vann, Evans, Milne, Ejupi (Lomelin-Fox), Monkhouse (Santos), Day, Lebrun, Chimalilo. Subs Not Used; Mott, Burn (GK)

Report from John Clothier Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley