Tadcaster Albion remain unbeaten after 1-1 draw at Dunston

Both matches last season played between the two sides were hard fought but the hosts took all six points.

The Brewers were without Kain Rogerson and Omar Sanyang (both suspended) whilst Michael Ingham, Corey Roper and Marco Basic all still injured.

Dunston were quickly in attacking mode with Scott Heslop through in the first minute but, thankfully for the Brewers, ruled offside.

On four minutes, Jack Vann lobbed the ball into the area but it was nodded safely back to keeper Liam Connell.

Bailey Thompson was fortunate to have received just a yellow card for a sliding challenge on The Feds captain, Michael Wood, on seven minutes and as the home side began to threaten, Elliott curled a shot way over albeit from a tight angle.

Jack Crook slipped as he went to clear the ball but again the resulting effort was high.

Andy Milne’s clearance hit Ioan Evans but the deflection was wide as Albion broke out of defence only for Thompson’s cross to be hand-balled.

Nevertheless, he latched onto the free kick but slipped as he attempted to launch a 25-yarder.

Dunston were now having the better of the exchanges and Will Appleyard saved the day with just a quarter hour played.

From a corner, striker Liam Thear headed powerfully down a yard off the goal line but was thwarted by a superb reaction save from Tadcaster’s new keeper.

In a rare attack, Thompson was through for a one on one with Connell but the Dunston shot stopper was easily first to the ball.

At the other end Thear came in unmarked from the right but the cross-come-shot was well held by Appleyard at the second attempt.

With encouragement from manager Paul Quinn, the Brewers were doing their best to battle back and Santos, in particular, was causing problems.

Having negotiated two defenders, he put James Ngoe through but the shot was inches wide, whilst his cross to Ofoegbu on the half hour needed only a touch but eluded the striker.

The Feds were far from finished as Heslop screwed a golden opportunity wide on 34 minutes.

Dan Hartley, meanwhile, could not find Thompson as he crossed the ball into the box but when the Taddy striker did get through on 36 minutes it took a brilliant stop from Connell to deal with the volley from Ofoegbu’s cross

The breakthrough for the hosts arrived with three minutes remaining before the interval.

Elliott charged down the right flank and although Appleyard saved the shot, Thear had read the situation and hammered home the rebound.

The timing could not have been worse for the visitors and within a minute the same players combined again but this time Thear failed to connect.

It would be an interesting half-time talk from Quinn – the depleted squad, tired after Saturday’s epic FA Cup win at Mossley, simply had to find a way through the Dunston defence whilst acknowledging its speed and efficiency on the break

Junard Pandor was on for Thompson and Aaron Burn for Appleyard who had picked up an injury.

Jack Crook tried a long ranger but was wide whilst Santos continued to work his magic only to see the ball clear the bar from the edge of the box.

Inevitably Dunston broke away but Evans was there to coolly head the goal bound effort off the line.

On 65 minutes, Burn produced a save of the season as a goal bound shot to the top corner of the net was spectacularly pushed over to safety.

The equaliser finally arrived on 72 minutes, courtesy of Pandor who outwitted three defenders as he glanced a header from Vann’s deep cross into the far corner of the net.

The Feds had plenty of gas left in the tank, however, as Burn kept the Brewers in the game with a spectacular save before Vann cleared the ball off the line.

With 15 minutes to go, both teams looking for a winner.

Santos put Crook through but his 20-yard strike was again inches wide whilst Burn again kept Tadcaster on an even keel diving low to yet another goal bound effort.

Hall tried his luck from a tight position but Evans was there to head it clear.

In the penultimate minute Ofoegbu was fouled just beyond the area but Santos shot straight into the wall.

Elsewhere in the Pitching In Northern Premier League north/west division, Pickering Town sealed their first victory of the season in their fifth match, beating Ossett United 2-1 at Mill Lane.

On 25 minutes, Jason Barnes put the Pikes ahead, a lead that Steve Roberts’ side would hold on to until George Green’s equaliser before the hour mark.

The game looked destined to finish level until teenage striker Harry Jessop, who only joined the club on loan from Scunthorpe on Monday, scored with just ten minutes to go.