By John Clothier

TADCASTER Albion sit sixth in the Northern Premier League north/west division following a 1-0 defeat at Marine.

Former Curzon Ashton striker Niall Cummins hit the only goal of the game in the first half for the third-placed Mariners.

Taddy travel to 15th-placed Colne tonight with a five-point gap between them and Marske United to claw back in order to return to the play-off spots.

The trip to Marine was the first outing for the Brewers since February 8, during which time the Brewers have suffered from three storms and four ground floods.

There were a few changes for Taddy with the departure of Jack Walters, the suspension of Ioan Evans and Adam Porritt, and the absence of Will Annan. Andy Milne came back in for defensive duties and Stuart Mott was on the bench, while Kain Rogerson made a welcome return at left-back.

The hosts had the wind to their backs from the kick off but the open encounters were even. On seven minutes, Morecambe loanee Michael Howard slipped beyond Rogerson but Monkhouse cleared the danger.

Juan Lomelin-Fox fizzed an inch perfect pass to Jake Day but the volley lacked pace and Liverpool loan keeper Daniel Atherton was well placed.

Taddy’s best chance of the first period came on the half-hour when Santos lost two defenders to put Day through one-on-one but he was caught fractionally offside.

The Mariners took the lead on 34 minutes when captain Cummins got in between three Taddy defenders to head into the corner of the net.

The home team piled on the pressure with a succession of corners. They went close again as half-time beckoned but Ingham brilliantly pushed away Solomon-Davies’ effort before Cummins dived in for the rebound, his header hitting the upright.

The last action of the half again came from a Marine corner but this time Day was on the goalline to clear.

Taddy started came out after the restart on the offensive. Monkhouse had a close-range chance blocked and Santos put one over from the edge of the area.

Day put a sublime ball across the goal for Donald Chimalilo, who was a whisker away from converting.

With 20 minutes to go, Jack Vann put a 30-yard defence-splitter through to Santos but he could not get a shot away.

A Santos corner was well met by Vann on 80 minutes but Damien Reeves headed over.

However, as the game moved into added time the Brewers had chances which could have seen them take all three points.

First, Borinji-Mbeka Lebrun found himself unmarked 10 yards out but the shot lacked power and Atherton was ready.

Then, two minutes later, as Taddy bombarded the Marine goalmouth, the ball dropped to Reeves and from four yards he blasted the ball for what looked momentarily a certain goal. However, credit to Atherton, who pulled off an amazing reflex save and managed to push the ball away.

Bottom side Pickering Town suffered an agonising 3-2 defeat at Widnes after fighting back to level from two goals down.

Kingsley Williams put the hosts in control with a brace before Ryan Cooper pulled one back with 13 minutes to go.

Nathan Perks must have thought he had earned the travelling Pikes a point with his 87th-minute equaliser but Jamie Rainford popped up with a last-minute winner.

Pickering host a vital basement battle against second-bottom Kendal Town tonight.

Northern Counties East League division one title-chasers Selby Town lost 2-0 at home to new table-toppers Winterton Rangers.

A crowd of 410 - the Robins' largest of the season - saw Selby fall to their first defeat in five, with the goals coming from Luke Anderson and Craig Nelthorpe.

Tonight, the Robins visit 11th-placed Dronfield Town.