Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 - 0 Tadcaster Albion

New assistant manager Andy Monkhouse was in the dugout for the first time too see Tadcaster fall to back-to-back defeats as the Brewers lost 2-0 at a very foggy Bracken Moor.

Skipper Simon Russell who sustained an injury at Shildon was replaced by Romario Vieira in the starting eleven. Corey Roper deputised as captain for the first time this campaign.

The game started very evenly, Tad created the first chance after just two minutes - Jack Crook fired from distance but his effort was comfortably taken by the keeper, an early sighter for the visitors.

Ten minutes in, Donald Chimalilo tried his luck, found by Des Amponsah but the former struck over after spinning in the box to create the space to shoot. Five minutes later Taddy missed a golden opportunity, Amponsah was played through by Chimalilo but the winger, one on one, scuffed his effort and the ball rolled into the thankful hands of the keeper.

On the 20th minute, skipper Roper delivered a corner onto the head of Frazier Papprill who looped a header towards the far corner, but the keeper took it well.

The hosts then launched a counter attack; Kesi Omolokun made a fantastic last-ditch tackle initially, but a follow up effort looked to have beaten Harrison Davison-Hale only for Hartley, who had positioned himself brilliantly, to head off the line to keep the game level. Minutes later Amponsah found himself in on goal again; this time the winger drove an effort goalwards forcing the keeper into a fingertip save to deflect the ball over the bar.

Mid way through the first half Crook played a lovely ball in behind for Marco Basic who twisted and turned on the right edge of the box but his left footed effort lacked conviction and the keeper claimed it. The Brewers continued to push, looking to put one of their chances away but Stocksbridge were limiting Steve Waide’s side to efforts from range.

Just after the 30-minute mark, Roper drilled in a corner which was begging for a touch but the ball somehow flashed across goal and away.

The hosts did manage to have a couple of efforts in the last five minutes of the half, firstly Lewis Whitham cut in from the right and curled over, then, Nathaniel Crofts saw a deflected effort go wide.

Both sides went into the break level, but either could have been in front - the opening goal had eluded both teams.

Taddy came out strongly in the second half and began to control the game. After a stoppage in play for Vieira to receive treatment Tad really went up a gear - Vieira managed to get free at the back post but his goal bound effort was blocked by a last-ditch effort from the Stocksbridge back line.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw the hosts penned in their own half but like the first half Tadcaster still could not open up the defence to create clear opportunities.

Then came the turning point as Dan Hartley was shown a straight red card. The full back felt he was fouled off the ball and subsequently tripped his man but the referee brandished the red and Tad were reduced to ten and faced an uphill struggle.

Vieira was replaced by Joe Wilkinson in the aftermath of the sending off as the Brewers looked to settle after the heated drama around the red card. Despite losing a man, Tad continued to dominate the second half. Marco Basic, Amponsah and Chimalilo were linking up well in the middle of the park and causing problems running at the defence, Kieran Burton was a threat pushing up from full back. Chimalilo had Tad’s best effort during their good spell, the winger managing to spin in the box, but his effort bounced wide of the post.

With just over 20 minutes to go Chimalilo had a deflected effort which fell into the path of Amponsah, but the winger could not sort his feet out and another chance came and went for the Brewers.

The ten men who had fought so hard eventually fell 1-0 down as the extra man began to take its toll - in the 69th minute, ex Taddy striker, Joe Lumsden, fired into the far corner to put Stocksbridge ahead.

Five minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage. Through the fog, Lumsden again found the target; following a double save from Harrison Davison-Hale, he managed to work a chance on the right edge of the box and his shot found the top corner. 2-0.

Despite falling two down Tad kept fighting and working hard, but still when they created openings, they just could not get it right in the final third.

In the 85th minute, substitute Wilkinson fired a brilliant ball across the face of goal, like Roper in the first half, a cross that was begging for a touch, but nobody was there to provide the finish.

Another disappointing one for Tadcaster, but the Brewers deserved more, chances went begging and perhaps a little bit of luck went missing for Tadcaster who host Lincoln on Saturday, kick off at 3pm.

Eddie Church will be back available for selection after completing his three-match suspension.

Davison-Hale, Hartley, Papprill, Omolokun, Burton, Roper, Vieira (Wilkinson), Crook, Amponsah, Basic, Chimalilo.

Subs not used: Hughes, Norman, Giliga.

Report from Olly Wood