Evo-Stik League Division One North: Ramsbottom United 2 Tadcaster Albion 1

JEROME Wright's audacious free-kick five minutes from time consigned Tadcaster Albion to an opening-day defeat at Ramsbottom United.

Tom Corner cancelled out Wright's opener before an outrageous free-kick in the dying embers from the same player sent Albion home empty-handed when a draw may have been a fair result.

Michael Morton came into his first competitive game in charge of Tadcaster without the likes of Danny Frost, Sam Akeroyd, Corey Roper and Jason Mycoe. Morton did, however, give new signing Cam Murray a start, along with midfielder Jake Ellam.

It was not the best of beginnings for Albion though as the home side broke the deadlock with the season just seven minutes old.

A ball in behind Aaron Hardy looked to have been retrieved by the former Huddersfield Town defender but Wright persevered, came up with the ball and slotted it into the back of the net.

Taddy had a decent chance to draw level four minutes later when Andy Milne set Aiden Savory through behind Rammy's back-line but the former Farsley man could not find the target.

The Brewers certainly grew into the contest and kept the ball better as the half went on but there was not much between the teams, with few clear-cut openings.

Having said that, Rammy spurned a glorious chance to double their lead in the 34th minute. Appeals for a high boot were waved away and, as the protests continued, Tom Brooks dragged the ball wide of the goal from close range.

After a high number of niggly fouls and soft free-kicks, Albion levelled proceedings five minutes from the break.

Conor Sellars' deep, curling free-kick was nodded down by Milne and poked into the net by Corner to open his account for the campaign.

With the sun continuing to shine down on the Harry Williams Stadium, Taddy came out for the second 45 and were gifted an opportunity to take the lead shortly after the restart.

A loose header back by a United defender allowed Savory in behind and he did well to control and get his shot off while under pressure but Martin Fearon thwarted the effort.

Both sides could not be separated at this point as they battled hard to gain a foothold. Chances began to fall at both ends and Greg Daniels tried his luck twice in two minutes after the hour.

First of all, the No 10 curled the ball harmlessly over the bar, before secondly doing well to get his shot off in the area without troubling Michael Ingham.

Substitute Josh Greening came off the bench in the hope of producing that bit of magic required and he had a good chance to do so 12 minutes from time but could not generate enough venom on the shot to test the Rammy goalkeeper.

But there was to be a third goal and it was the home side who scored it.

Wright stood over a free-kick five yards in from the right-hand touchline and any normal player would simply curl it in or hang it up towards the back post – but not Wright.

The former FC United of Manchester man whipped a stunning free-kick over the wall and in off the post, catching Ingham out.

As Taddy pushed for an equaliser in stoppage time, Ramsbottom were reduced to ten men as Max Hazeldine caught Ingham late and was shown a second yellow card.

There was to be no late equaliser for the Brewers, however, but there were still plenty of positives to take into tonight's home opener against Ossett Albion.

Ramsbottom United: Fearon, Heathcote, Brownhill, Stott (captain), Thompson, Roscoe, Brooks (Williams 81), Pierce (Moran 74), Gaskell (Hazeldine 63), Daniels, Wright. Unused substitutes: Meaney, Rother.

Tadcaster Albion: Ingham, Hardy (Grant 73), Howarth, Davidson, Milne (captain), Barrett, Murray (Greening 66), Ellam, Corner, Savory, Sellars (Dixon 84). Unused substitutes: Crouz, Shepherd.