IT WAS a day of the braces at the i2i Stadium as Carl Stewart and Chris Almond both netted twice as Tadcaster Albion drew 2-2 with Prescot Cables.

It was the visitors who drew blood first, breaking the deadlock in the seventh minute.

Almond popped the ball off to Josh Dolling, who returned the favour before the number 11 slotted into the bottom corner.

With the Brewers not mathematically safe, they were keen on picking up all three points to virtually secure their place in Evo-Stik first division north next season.

And seconds after Tom Corner stung the hands of goalkeeper Marcus Burgess, the hosts were back on level terms.

It was a simple goal with Stewart wandering in unmarked at the back post to nod in Josh Greening’s corner.

Chances continued to arrive for both sides as Stewart's close range effort was deflected wide and Dale Wright fluffed his effort after a slick counter-attack.

But it was the Merseysiders who retook the lead eight minutes from the break.

A ball over the top of the Taddy back-line was latched onto by Almond and touched beyond the advancing Chandler Hallwood for his second goal of the afternoon.

However, the Brewers pegged back Cables for a second time right on the stroke of half-time.

Similarly to Almond’s second goal, it was a ball over the top of the defence and Stewart controlled on his knee and stuck with real venom at Burgess who couldn’t push it to safety.

Albion boss Billy Miller can’t have been overly impressed with the first 45 minutes as he made a change at the break, welcoming Josh Barrett back after injury, replacing Fatlum Ibrahimi and moving Dan Thirkell into midfield.

The alteration made an immediate impact as the home side began the second half in much livelier fashion, and Taddy frontman Tom Corner continuously threatened to find the net.

Nevertheless, the visitors still looked dangerous as Dolling lashed inches wide of the mark and James Edgar was denied by Hallwood’s feet.

Josh Greening went close when his fizzing strike from 20 yards was pushed away by Burgess.

Taddy kept piling the pressure on, and that pressure was ramped up a notch when the visitors were reduced to ten men with six minutes to go.

Right-back Valter Fernandes was already on a booking when he lashed out at Conor Sellars, leaving referee Daniel Jarvis with no choice but to issue a second yellow followed by a red.

The Brewers’ final chance to take all three points was a penalty appeal in the dying embers.

Thirkell sprayed a brilliant ball in behind to Stewart who raced in on goal, rounded the goalkeeper and went to ground.

Massive shouts for a penalty rang around the i2i, but Mr Jarvis waved away the protests.

* PICKERING Town were unable to close the gap on Northern Counties East League premier division leaders Cleethorpes Town – despite a 1-0 victory at Handsworth Parramore.

Sam Denton was the Pikes' goalscorer to consolidate second spot, but their title rivals also earned an away maximum – winning 4-2 at Liversedge – to remain two points clear with three games in hand.

In the same division, Harrogate Railway Athletic are 17th after their 1-0 home triumph against Clipstone.

In division one, there was also a win for Selby Town, who defeated Eccleshill United 1-0 thanks to Liam Flanagan's finish, while Simon Parkers' goal gave Knaresborough Town another 1-0 win at Teversal.

Elsewhere, Cameron Murray and Benny Igiehon were the match-winners for Scarborough Athletic in their 2-0 Evo-Stik first division north triumph at Mossley.

Harrogate Town were beaten 3-2 at Tamworth in National North.

A Dan Jezeph own goal and Simon Ainge finish twice cancelled out Danny Newton goals for the hosts at the Lamb Ground before Ben Fox struck four minutes from time to inflict a third defeat of the year on Simon Weaver’s men.