There was one enforced change to the starting eleven with Freddie Sass serving a one match ban for his red card at Brighouse last weekend, as in came the returning Romario Vieira after completing his respective suspension.

Tadcaster started brightly. Donald Chimalilo caused problems on the left wing, driving at his marker before cutting inside and letting fly just five minutes in but his shot was comfortably taken by the keeper. Des Amponsah was causing similar problem on the other flank and an early goal for the Brewers looked a distinct possibility.

However, after nine minutes the hosts drew first blood. A Tadcaster attack was cleared by Tom Coulthard and driven halfway up the pitch through the defence as 16-year-old Alfie Conway outpaced the Tad back line; in a one-on-one with Ally Hughes, the striker’s effort had enough power to find the back of the net despite a hand from the keeper 1-0.

Tad responded well, Des Amponsah showed good feet on the wing before driving forward to feed Chimalilo who again cut inside but his shot lacked power and bounced through to the keeper. A quarter of an hour in, Vieira stepped up to take a free kick won by Jack Crook on the edge of the box but the strike on target was well held by the goalkeeper.

In the 22nd minute the hosts threatened again, Nathan Steel this time had a strike which went just over. Three minutes later Stockton were awarded a penalty as Vieira impeded Mikey Roberts - Roberts took it and beat Hughes who dived the right way, but the well struck penalty put the hosts two up. 2-0.

It went from bad to worse for the Brewers as the game was more or less put to bed a little after the half hour mark - Dan McWilliams up from left back found the bottom corner with a shot from outside the box. 3-0.

A minute later Eddie Church had his first sight of goal but the striker could not generate enough power with his shot to trouble the keeper.

In the last ten minutes of the opening half the hosts had two more attempts at goal; first Kev Hayes was denied by Hughes then Steel headed wide from a corner.

At the break skipper Simon Russell was replaced by Jordan Deacey, who had last featured away at Cleethorpes Town. A couple of efforts then went by from Stockton, nothing troubling Hughes though.

In the 57th minute Charlie Marshall was brought on replacing Corey Roper as Tad changed system to try and force the issue. A couple of minutes later Church had another effort but this time he could not keep his shot down.

In the 66th minute the hosts added a fourth through Adam Nicholson who stooped and headed in from a corner.4 – 0.

In the last ten minutes Tadcaster created a couple of good chances; firstly, Church curled an effort agonisingly past the far post from just inside the box . The striker then turned provider, a brilliant ball over the top for Marshall whose left footed shot deflected just wide of that same post.

In between those chances Hughes made a smart save down to his right to deny McWilliams.

As time ebbed away Church also had the ball in the net, converting a Deacey corner but it had gone in off the striker’s arm and was ruled out.

A disappointing day for the Brewers who had been on a good run of form of late but they remain in fifteenth position in the league with 13 points from 15 games.

Tad now have to dust themselves down ahead of a long-awaited return to the Global Stadium as we welcome Hebburn Town, Saturday 27th, kick off 3pm. Hebburn have exactly the same number of points as Tadcaster from the same number of games but are one place ahead in the league table courtesy of a slightly better goal difference

Hughes, Vieira, Omolokun, Burton, Hartley, Roper (Marshall), Russell (Deacey), Crook (Ejupi), Amponsah, Church, Chimalilo.

Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Papprill.

Report from Olly Wood, Photos from John Clothier