TADCASTER Albion opened the 2020/21 Northern Premier League north/west division season with a goalless draw at Trafford.

The Brewers did a league double over Trafford last season but were unable to make a breakthrough this time against the side who finished the place below them in 2019/20.

For Taddy, Kain Rogerson and Dan Hartley were in the starting line-up with Jake Rose sidelined due to a knee problem.

The Brewers were straight out of the blocks with a fast move down the left resulting in Ify Ofoegbu launching a 20-yarder but home keeper Matt Cooper was ready and waiting.

Corey Roper’s free kick a minute later was fractionally too high for Bailey Thompson on the far side of the goal. Simon Russell put Kevin Santos away but Thompson went wide from the resulting cross.

It was 10 minutes before the North showed their teeth but Ioan Evans cleared the danger before Ollie Ford could get the shot in. It was the big defender again on 18 minutes stopping Max Hazeldine in his tracks, resulting in both players needing help from respective physios.

Rogerson curled a corner dangerously into the area, where Evans rose highest but put his header wide.

On 38 minutes, Simon Russell threaded the ball to Thompson but his shot from 12 yards was pushed away by Cooper for a corner.

With five minutes of the half remaining Michael Ingham had his first save of the day as Dieter Downey’s cross into the packed six-yard area was firmly punched away.

Four minutes after the restart, a Rogerson corner was met at the back post by Jack Vann but Cooper tipped the ball away to safety while Santos’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked.

However, Trafford looked far more menacing after the break.

The hosts' captain Oli Roberts was leading by example but his close-range shot was scythed over the bar to safety by Russell.

Santos was yellow carded contentiously for what looked like a ball-to-hand infringement from close range. Substitute Florian Yonsian’s effort was dangerous but Ingham was perfectly placed.

The irrepressible Roberts had a go from 25 yards, only fractionally wide, while at the other end, Vann met Rogerson’s in-swinging corner kick but headed just beyond the upright.

With the game now end-to-end, manager Quinn decided to ring the changes with James Ngoe on for Rogerson, Junayd Pandor for Ofoegbu, and Santos making way for Jack Crook. In between, Roberts went close for Trafford, letting fly from 35 yards and clipping the outside edge of a post.

On Tuesday, the Brewers host Litherland REMYCA in the FA Cup first round qualifying (7.45 pm).

Pickering Town made a fine start to the season, drawing 2-2 with last season's table-toppers Workington.

Despite his side having finished the curtailed 2019/20 season bottom of the table, boss Steve Roberts was determined the Pikes would seek out a positive result - and they came within 15 minutes of doing so.

The Pikes went ahead in the fifth minute through Adam Warrilow and captain Wayne Brooksby made it two just before the break.

But with 78 minutes on the clock, Scott Allison pulled one back for the visitors and - just a minute later - Reuben Jerome made it all square.

Pickering are back in action at Mossley on Saturday (3pm).