Tadcaster travelled to Wombwell on Saturday looking to get back to the playoff positions whilst their opponents still battled to stay up after their first season in the Premier League. Conditions were near perfect at the Recreation Ground.

The opening five minutes saw Tadcaster dominant with Curtis Senior’s long range shot just wide and Charlie Owen clearing the bar with his effort. However, in their first attack Wombwell were unlucky not to take the lead as the ball hit the crossbar.

On thirteen minutes Albion went ahead; a long ball down the left flank was cleverly flicked on by Des Okoro as Charlie Owen started a run towards goal and having outpaced Alex Kemp he stroked the ball beyond keeper Kyle Wass from some twelve yards out. 0 – 1.

The “Wellers” quickly came back with a long free kick into the six-yard area which eluded the defence and fell to Charlie Rogerson close to the far post for a simple nod back to striker Oliver Fearon to tap home. 1 – 1.

On twenty-six minutes the Brewers had a chance to retake the lead when Okoro met Senior’s free kick only to see the header rebound off the crossbar. Wombwell immediately broke forward as the dangerous Fearon lobbed Ally Hughes, but the ball landed just on the wrong side of the upright. Josh Lake kept up the pressure only to see his shot suffer the same fate.

With ten minutes to go before the break, Spencer Harris’s powerful header from a corner was cleared but only as far as the waiting Andy Shepherd whose half chance was wide. Despite Tadcaster upping the pressure the hosts defended well, the score remaining level as Referee Barnet blew for half-time.

With play held up following an injury to Wombwell’s Alfred Thompson, Taddy went back in the lead on fifty-three minutes when Okoro put Olly Green away on the right flank and having outpaced two defenders slipped the ball into the back of the net as the keeper advanced. 1 – 2.

On the hour, play was again held up whilst Okoro was treated for a nosebleed, time for Oli Norman to replace Kiwomya and Marshall to take over from Metcalfe. Almost immediately Norman went close, but his shot rebounded off the bar. Okoro was just wide on 69 minutes whilst manager Ryan Qualter made way for Mike Morris moments later.

Tadcaster were searching for their third goal which arrived in the seventy third minute and provided Billy Marshall with his first goal for the club; Senior put Norman away down the left flank and kept on running for the return which he threaded back through a packed box for Marshall to drill home from just inside the eighteen yard line - a clinical finish. 1 – 3.

There was still time for Miguel Cassama and Matty Mulhearn to replace Okoro and Shepherd but not for any more goals!

The win, which extends the unbeaten run to five games, sees the Brewers notch 56 points and brings them back into the play offs in fifth position. Next up they visit high flying Campion this coming Friday, Kick off 7.45 pm and the following Tuesday its off to Parkgate again with a 7.45 start. The next home game is on Saturday 21st March when Pickering visit the Young Guns Arena.

Hughes, Billet, Senior, Shepherd © (Mulhearn), Harris, Qualter (Morris), Kiwomya (Norman), Metcalfe (Marshall), Okoro (Cassama), Owen, Green.

Reports and Photos from John Clothier