Tadcaster travelled to Sheffield yesterday for the away fixture with Hallam. The teams had met at the So-Trak Stadium just three weeks previously when the match was abandoned after an hour with the Countrymen one goal in front. Mick O’Connell had anticipated fielding the same team that had beaten Albion Sports last Saturday, but keeper Joe Wilton was injured in the warmup giving 18-year-old Sam Green, on loan from Stocksbridge Steels, his first outing for the Brewers.

With the hosts playing down the slope the first half would be the most difficult for Tadcaster. On seven minutes Bradbury volleyed from the 18-yard line but Green was well placed for his first taste of action. Albion replied with a break up field and almost took the lead when Oli Norman saw Warhurst off his line and audaciously lobbed the ball goalwards, but it just cleared the bar.

Green was in action again on the quarter hour punching away a dangerous cross from the right to safety and a minute later denying Macaskill’s on target header.

Bradbury was yellow carded for clattering Sam Kitchen but then, just past the half hour, the hosts had a real let off when Ludlam headed back to Warhurst, an own goal only being denied by the cross bar; Joe Crosby followed the rebound, but his shot was cleared.

On thirty-five minutes Hallam took the lead when Danny Buttle produced a defence splitter into the Tadcaster box as Pudil took up position some eight yards out, his powerful header giving Green no chance. 1 – 0.

On thirty-nine minutes chaos broke out when Pudil was fouled from behind and everybody except the Tad keeper seemed to be involved. Raeece Ellington, Pudil and the Countrymen’s skipper Warhurst were yellow carded. Full marks to Tadcaster Skipper, Dan Thirkell, for doing everything he could to calm the situation.

When play finally restarted it was Green again keeping Tadcaster in with a chance with a superb save from Macaskill - it was just the single goal which separated the teams at the interval.

Hallam started the second half on the front foot, but Albion were beginning to look menacing with the slope now in their favour. Conor Qualter’s pass to Ellington saw him shoot wide, Collin’s in swinging corner was punched out by Warhurst and the on 55 minutes Sam Kitchen blasted goalwards with a twenty-five yarder but again it was just on the wrong side of the post.

On sixty-two minutes Albion equalised; Charlie Owen’s effort was blocked but came straight back out to Cody Collins who unleashed a powerful low drive beneath Warhurst, 1 – 1.

The Brewers had a chance to double their score on 68 minutes when Norman almost intercepted a back header to Warhurst. Collins, however, was dismissed on 76 minutes for a double yellow, the second for upending Basille Zotters.

With both teams looking for the elusive winner, Pudil’s free kick was over the bar, whilst at the other end Warhurst did well to save from Crosby’s stinging effort. On 82 minutes Macaskill headed wide from Brownell’s cross whilst with four minutes of normal time to go, Qualter’s challenge on substitute Eckhardt forced the shot into the side netting.

The four minutes added time was tense for the ten men. Ben Tweed was cautioned whilst Pudil’s last action of the match saw his free kick from twenty-two yards clear the Tad wall but wide of the goal.

A fair result in very difficult conditions sees the fourth consecutive game unbeaten for the Brewers, who now ready themselves for their Match on Saturday away to Frickley Athletic, Kick Off 3.00 pm.

The other remaining matches for the season are.
Saturday 30th March Knaresborough away KO 3.00 pm Tuesday 2nd April Maltby Main Home. KO 7.45 pm Saturday 6th April Rossington Main Home KO 3.00 pm Tuesday 9th April Hallam Home KO 7.45 pm

Green, Hardcastle, Owen, Thirkell, Qualter, Collins, Ellington (Hines), Kitchen, Crosby (Holmes), Tweed, Norman (Ibrahimi). Subs Not Used; Cassius-Gill, Walters.

Report and photos John Clothier