The hosts were much the better side in the first half as Jameel Ible towered a header beyond Michael Ingham giving them a deserved lead at the break. Both sides were reduced to ten men soon after the interval but it was the determined Brewers who turned the contest on its head.

Aiden Savory pulled his side level before a classy brace from Casey Stewart sealed Albion’s first win in four to keep their feint play-off hopes alive.

Albion boss Simon Collins named the same eleven that narrowly lost at Ossett United last week but was boosted by the return of Josh Barrett who was back in the squad for the first time since January after undergoing successful shoulder surgery.

Frickley have lost just twice since the turn of the year and they looked to continue their good form as they started the brighter of the two sides.

Leading marksman and captain Jacob Hazel posed a serious threat from the first whistle putting his weight about against both Harry Coates and Paddy Miller who were both up against a formidable forward. The first chance fell to that man Hazel on 4 minutes but his skewed strike was comfortably hooked clear by Chris Howarth.

There was no escaping the tremendously bobbly and unpredictable playing surface making it difficult to play any kind of passing football, but Taddy had a great chance to draw first blood 8 minutes later. Casey Stewart showed great hunger to rob Ousman Cham of the ball before pulling back to an unmarked Joe Lumsden but he couldn’t get hold of his shot. Stewart was the creator of another opportunity of 19 minutes teeing up Pete Davidson this time but another weak connection made it food and drink for the keeper.

Nevertheless Frickley took a deserved lead four minutes later when Jameel Ible rose highest on a free-kick and towered a header beyond Michael Ingham in the Tadcaster goal. Things could have got even worse for Taddy just seconds later as Hazel lashed off target after Ingham parried a dangerous free-kick.

Simon Collins was then forced into a change right on the stroke of half-time as Ellis Barkworth took a nasty knock to his ankle thus ending his afternoon, Aaron Hardy came on in his place.

On a surprisingly cold April Saturday in Yorkshire, things got a little heated five minutes into the second 45 as Joe Lumsden and Jamie McGuire tussled for the ball before a double headlock led to an almighty scuffle in the middle of the pitch. Once the altercation eventually calmed down, referee Lee Hible brandished a straight red card to both McGuire and then to Lumsden.

Once order was restored, Taddy opted to switch to a back three which saw Jason Mycoe drop into the defence and this seemed to ignite the comeback for Albion. It was a huge improvement from the visitors in the second half as they pressed hard for an equaliser with Chris Howarth and Aiden Savory both going close.

As the contest approached the hour mark Tadcaster drew level and it was thoroughly deserved. Will Annan slapped a ball in behind Athletic’s defence which allowed Aiden Savory to drive in on goal, his first effort was well blocked by Ible but after composing himself the number 10 brilliantly curled past Sam Wilson with his weaker left-foot.

There only seemed to be one winner from this point as the spirited Albion completed the turnaround on 71 minutes with a piece of sheer brilliance. Harry Coates’ ball forward was latched onto by Casey Stewart who plucked out the sky majestically and cheekily flicked past the goalkeeper in one sublime swift movement. Not a bad goal for his tenth of the campaign.

The home side had little to shout about in the second half but they did almost claw their way back into the game in the latter stages, in controversial fashion it must be said. The linesman on the near touchline flagged for a Tadcaster throw but Frickley took it quickly and the flag soon went down which majorly caught the visitors off guard. Michael Ingham did tremendously well to put off Ible, the same attacker was then brilliantly denied by substitute Porritt before the Taddy skipper saved another effort whilst on the floor.

However it was in fact the Brewers who had the last laugh as man of the match Casey Stewart jinked effortlessly past Charlie Jemson in the penalty area before confidently stroking into the back of the net.

A game of two halves has never been a truer statement.

Full-Time: Frickley Athletic 1-3 Tadcaster Albion

Frickley: Wilson, Byrne, Cham, Ible, Jemson, Young, Liversidge, McGuire, Hinsley, Walton, Hazel©

Unused: Watt, Carrick, Okafor, Mears, Stanccliffe

Tadcaster: Ingham©, Barkworth (Hardy 45), Howarth (Porritt 67), Mycoe, Coates, Miller, Stewart, Davidson, Lumsden, Savory, Annan

Unused: Rose, Hodges, Barrett