Tadcaster Albion 2 - 3 Ossett United

Despite fighting back from a goal down, to lead 2-1 Tadcaster, could not hold on to get a result in their final outing of 2021.

The Brewers donned their old blue away kit in support of the ‘No Home Kit’ scheme raising awareness for homelessness.

John Deacey named the same starting eleven for the second consecutive match, making no changes from the side that fought back to beat Sheffield last time out. Ellis Farrar, Oliver Metcalf and Jack Carr were all handed their home debuts but new arrival, James Burgess, will have to wait a little longer before making his start after isolation made him unavailable.

The game started in a scrappy fashion which was how much of the first half played out, neither side managing to get a hold on proceedings.

The first sighter of the game went the way of the visitors; James Walshaw got his head to a corner at the near post but the flicked effort went over. A minute later Walshaw again was involved narrowly missing the far post with a shot which deflected off Kieran Burton’s boot.

A large majority of the game was being played in the middle of the pitch; neither side could take control of the game and chances were few and far between with Taddy not managing to register a shot.

A little before the half hour mark, Ossett’s Tabish Hussain burst through and looked to be in on goal but Farrah and Burton forced the winger to shoot from the edge of the box, his effort whistling over.

On 29 minutes, after having the more of the chances, the visitors took the lead; Aaron Haswell got in behind the Tad defence and slid the ball passed Ben Bottomley. 0-1.

Tadcaster responded with their first shot of the half, Des Amponsah driving a powerful strike which looked to be sneaking in but a smart save denied the winger levelling the game.
Just over five minutes before the break Ossett won a penalty; Walshaw won the spot kick and stepped up himself but his powerful effort was brilliantly denied by Bottomley.

Half time brought about a change for Tadcaster as skipper Simon Russell came on to replace Metcalf and with it came a change of impetus. In the first minute of the half Russell linked up with Jack Crook on the right wing before the latter looped in a deep cross which was met with a brilliant acrobatic volley from Carr rifled into the bottom corner to level the game and open his account for the Brewers. 1 – 1.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Brewers turned the game on its head. Carr pressed the Ossett back line, charging down a defender’s clearance - the ball fell at Eddie Church’s feet in the box, a gift the striker was not going to pass up on as he turned and fired a deflected effort passed the keeper for his eighth league goal of the season.2 – 1.

Less than five minutes later Church almost netted again; Jordan Deacey picked him out from a free kick, but Church powered his header wide. However, Ossett had not gone away. Haswell, who had been lively all afternoon tried a very clever lob which narrowly evaded the Taddy goal.

In the 65th minute the visitors drew level; Dan Hartley did really well to initially clear the ball off the line as Bottomley was beaten, but the Brewers did not fully clear their lines. A cross into the box was headed out by Farrar, a shot came in from Louis Beckett, and the effort deflected in off Reon Potts. 2 – 2.

John Deacey responded by brining Junayd Cassius-Gill on for Jack Crook who had worked hard in the midfield, but Tadcaster were looking to regain the lead.

However, with 15 minutes left to play it was the visitors who re-took the lead, A free kick was launched into the box, an Ossett head knocked the ball on and at the far post Charles Wood managed to sneak in and find the back of the net.2 - 3

In the 78th minute Deacey made his last roll of the dice, Rinor Ejupi replacing Church, who looked to have sustained an injury.

Tadcaster finished the game strongly, despite Ossett looking to kill any momentum from their hosts. Carr, fed by Cassius-Gill, cut inside but his effort was blocked - Cassius-Gill got to the rebound be he saw his effort saved comfortably by the keeper low down to his left.

In the 88th minute Amponsah almost danced his way through the whole Ossett defence but the ball just did not break to anyone in blue. Ossett cleared and launched a counter of their own but Beckett was brilliantly denied by Bottomley preventing the visitors putting the game to bed.

In the final minute Tad had the last chance of the game; Farrar delivered a dangerous cross, the keeper punched, only as far as Russell who looked to side foot into the back of the net but Zaniewski managed to get a hand to it and deny the Tad captain at the death.

It was not to be for the Brewers who failed to back up their win last time out at Sheffield. On another day they may have come away with something, but that wrapped up 2021 for Tadcaster. It leaves Tadcaster third from bottom in the league but just a win away from the four clubs above them

Next up is a trip to Pickering Town on New Year’s Day, kick off 3pm – an enormous bottom of the table clash.

Bottomley, Hartley, Omolokun, Burton, Farrar, Crook (Cassius-Gill), Deacey, Metcalfe (Russell), Amponsah, Church (Ejupi), Carr. Subs not used: Hughes, Roper.

Report from Olly Wood – Photos Courtesy of Ian Parker (Ice Photography)