It was exactly the same starting line-up for the Brewers as the last match at Trafford with Andy Milne touch and go after the knee injury but Paul Quinn taking no chances and keeping him on the bench.
Brighouse were one of only two teams in this league to win at the Global Stadium in the current campaign and with just three points separating the sides, this was bound to be a dogged affair.

The opening 20 minutes saw both sides cautiously testing one another – quite low key by Tadcaster standards. The first chance came on four minutes but it was Town with a menacing corner which dropped into the hands of Michael Ingham at the far post. A Jack Walters long clearance was moved on by Jake Day but Donald Chimalilo could not capitalise. Lebrun Mbeka was then well placed on the 18-yard line but the final touch deserted him.

Jake Rose was yellow carded for a rash tackle on James Hurtley and from the free kick Reece Kendall on a run into the box, nodded just wide. Alex Wiles put Mbeka through on the quarter hour but keeper, Jordan Porter got to it first. On 23 minutes Alfie Beestin put through a dangerous cross to the waiting Wiles at the far post which was headed out for a corner – that, again from Beestin ,was met with a bullet header from Jack Vann but a Brighouse head got in the way and the ball was eventually collected by Porter – Taddy’s best chance thus far!.

Porter had a “Moment “ when his miscued clearance came straight back to him and he rushed way out of his box to mis time the second attempt – Beestin sensed the opportunity and thumped it towards goal from almost the half way line but it was agonisingly wide of the near post.

With both teams having thrown caution to the wind it was, all of a sudden, end to end play; Chimalilo was clear through on 27 minutes but flagged for off side whilst at the other end Luke Rawson looked to be on his way but was denied by a well-timed intervention from Ioan Evans. Wiles was causing problems to the visitor’s mid field and in the space of five minutes both Jagger and Grant were yellow carded for fouls on him .

Jake Day headed wide under pressure from Walters free kick and from a long Ingham clearance, helped along by Mbeka, was through for a one on one but Porter again got their first. Beestin launched a speculative effort from 20 yards but Porter was ready and waiting.

Goalless at half time was a fair reflection of the game – one goal from either side could easily clinch the points.

It was an explosive restart from the Brewers; Wiles was through for a one on one - Porter performed miracles to save it on the line and as the ball came out to Day he carefully teed it up beating the keeper but on the wrong side of the post. A tenacious Adam Porritt, battling hard, found Beestin who moved the ball onto Day but the shot was over the bar. Porritt then robbed a Town defender near the corner post but his dangerous cross eluded the front runners and another chance went begging.

On 55 minutes Walters executed a quite brilliant block as Khan teed up a close-range shot. Jagger had a good effort ruled offside but Ingham saved it anyway. Manager Quinn replaced Rose for Kevin Santos in an effort to unlock the Brighouse defence with 58 minutes played.

On 70 minutes Brighouse had their best chance to break the dead lock when substitute, Alhassane Keita dribbled beyond two Brewer’s defenders and with Ingham to beat from close range, side footed it wide. From a Beestin cross, Chimalilo found Mbeka on a run into the box but the shot was well over. Chimalilo had a chance with six minutes of normal time remaining but Santos’s cross was too high for him to control.

As the final whistle beckoned, Day did well to collect a long Ingham clearance and set up Santos but the shot was weak. Wiles set up Beestin for a 20-yard screamer pushed away by the unbeatable Porters around the post. From the second successive corner Jack Vann headed for goal but the Town keeper had other ideas.

It ended all square and goalless. Taddy had done enough to edge the result but Porter had been magnificent. The result sees Tadcaster up to Fourth in the league as Marske did not play. Workington, Marine, and Ramsbottom all won - The Brewers still have two games in hand over all three

On New Years day Tadcaster travel to bottom club, Pickering Town. Kick Off is at 3.00 pm

Attendance 347

Ingham, Porritt, Walters, Rose (Santos), Evans, Vann, Mbeka, Wiles, Day, Beestin, Chimalilo.
Subs Not Used; Annan, Milne, Valladolid-Collins, Burn

Report from John Clothier Photos Courtesy of Keith Handley