Wednesday night in North Bradford saw the two teams’ line up against each other for a close match where both sides would take the game to each other. A very even game saw few opportunities for either team - defences spent the game on top as a bobbly pitch caused each outfit to struggle to create.

The tight encounter’s main chance came very late on for Tadcaster: A looped cross was won by attacker Oliver Green ahead of Thackley goalkeeper Liam Wilson and looked certain to be goal bound before Mason Wilson’s intervention, hooking the ball over the bar.

Tadcaster manager, Ryan Qualter started the game at centre back and played a solid 80 minutes as Thackley were reduced to very few chances at goal.

As the game got underway it became apparent early on that the main intention for each side on the bobbling service was to play a lot of the ball in the air and bank on individual defensive errors from their opposing number. Very few of these arose!

Thackley number 10, Hass Gorji had the first opportunity of the match when he beat his man on the right side of the box and fired a fierce effort to the near post that took a fantastic reflex save from Ally Hughes to keep the hosts out.

The Brewers then replied on 15 minutes with a big opportunity of their own. A ball over the top could not be fully controlled by the Tadcaster attackers and bounced free, out to Charlie Owen who, with a large portion of the goal to aim at, met the ball as it bobbled awkwardly, and the resulting shot flew over the bar.

The rest of the first half saw little action in front of goal and both sides could only manage the odd weak shot down their opposing goalkeepers’ throats. Gorji shot wide on 18 minutes, whilst Curtis Senior cleared the bar with a free kick.

The opening quarter hour of the second half followed a very similar theme to the first. Neither team able to really create a golden opportunity and strikers were left almost chasing shadows as the centre-backs dominated in the air.

The game, however, became livelier after the hour mark as Tadcaster turned it up and started looking for the elusive goal that would earn them the three points. Olly Metcalfe replaced Mulhearn and on the hour Des Okoro took over from Cassama up front.

That said on 66 minutes Ally Hughes came to Tadcaster’s rescue again, expertly saving Toby Mariott’s header that he tried to guide over the goalkeeper’s head.

With fifteen minutes left Noah Kiwomya took over from Norman and Qualter made way for Billy Marshall.

Joe Billet put a deep cross into the box that was well on target but keeper Liam Wilson was equal to it, Curtis Senior unleashed a free kick that unfortunately didn’t dip quite enough after clearing the wall and Owen tried his luck from range again with a first-time effort but it was too high.

On eighty-two minutes Thackley had their best move of the evening, but despite intense pressure in the box, the ball eventually landed in Hughes hands.

Again, the Brewers brought the game to Thackley, asking their defence more questions than they were receiving in return and looking the most likely of the two to force the ball home.

With six minutes left on the clock Green out jumped keeper Liam Wilson after a lofted ball into the box; it looked certain that the pressure from Tadcaster had paid off and they finally had that elusive goal. Unbelievably, former Tadcaster man, Mason Wilson was running back and able to flick the ball over the bar in remarkable fashion.

Wilson’s heroic clearance meant the game ended all square at 0-0.

Tadcaster are facing games thick and fast now, and a strong finish will be the target they chase for the rest of the season. In their final six league games, five involve teams in the top ten. However, next up this Saturday they travel to bottom team Wombwell who are still fighting for their place in the league.

Tadcaster slipped just out of the play offs following Handsworth's terrific win over the weekend away at Beverley Town.

Tadcaster: Hughes, Billet, Senior, Shepherd © (89’ Ibrahimi), Harris, Qualter (80’ Marshall), Norman (73’ Kiwomya), Owen, Cassama (60’ Okoro), Mulhearn (58’ Metcalfe), Green

Thackley: Wilson, Wilson, Parkinson, Washington, Coates, Sugden (23’ Whelan), Brooks, Mannings ©, Mariott, Gorji (69’ Greaves), Walker

Report from Charlie Ashworth – Photos Courtesy of John Clothier