Evo-Stik Division One North: Bamber Bridge 0 Tadcaster Albion 0

IN A game of few chances, Tadcaster Albion and Bamber Bridge played out a goalless draw at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium as both sides consolidated their play-off places.

The Brewers made just one change to Tuesday’s excellent 2-1 victory over Glossop North End, with Fatlum Ibrahimi being handed his second start of the season in place of Rob Youhill, who was ill.

Also, there was a place on the bench for Dan Thirkell, who was making his first appearance in the squad after recovering from injury.

Josh Barrett’s inviting through ball behind Bridge’s defence was close to being pounced upon by Josh Greening, but captain Matt Lawlor just did enough to halt the attack.

However, it was the home side who started much the brighter on a sunny Saturday afternoon, and they had a very good chance to take the lead after seven minutes.

Josh Greening’s scuffed clearance was picked up by Stuart Vasey, who curled the ball over the Brewers’ backline to Glenn Steel, who had sprung the offside trap but couldn’t guide his free header on target.

Bamber came even closer to the opening goal with another header.

Jamie Milligan’s sweeping cross from the left was flicked narrowly wide of the left-hand upright by frontman Adam Dodd.

The home side had the vast majority of the ball and had more efforts at goal but never tested keeper Michael Ingham as Kitt Gregory also failed to hit the target.

Taddy’s first shot at goal came ten minutes from the break when the nippy Conor Sellars was narrowly wide with his weaker left foot from 24 yards out.

The best chance of the half was probably created by Taddy, however, and it was that man Sellars once again.

Picking the ball up 20 yards out, Sellars then left Steel for dead before driving into the box and firing inches the wrong side of the post.

The second half began in similar vein to the first, with Bamber Bridge pushing hard but lacking quality in the final third.

The first real chance of the half, and it was a difficult one at that, came ten minutes in as Jono Greening switched play to brother Josh, who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and thundered a shot agonisingly over from 30 yards.

Bamber sent umpteen crosses and corners into the danger area but Andy Milne and Gregg Anderson again colossal at the back, dealing with everything thrown at them.

Last season’s top scorer Josh Greening was asked to improve his work-rate this year, and he has certainly done that as he ran his socks off all afternoon.

This was shown with 13 minutes to go as he tracked all the way back to his own six-yard box to make a goal-saving challenge, with Milligan waiting to tap in.

Tadcaster Albion: Ingham, Barrett, Jeff, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Jono Greening, Beadle (captain) (Binns 86), Sellars (Corner 69), Josh Greening, Ibrahimi (Shepherd 86). Unused substitute: Thirkell.

Bamber Bridge: James, Wilson, Hunter, Lawlor (captain), Steel, Vasey, Gregory, Potts, Bell, Dodd, Milligan. Substitutes: Livesey, Marlow, Linney. Unused substitutes: Doughty, Churchman.

Attendance: 162.

Referee: Daniel Hitchell.