TADCASTER Albion secured their first victory of the Pitching In Northern Premier League east season after last-minute goal from Freddie Sass secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Pickering Town, writes Olly Wood.

Tadcaster went into the game on a run of four straight defeats, the last of which was a 2-0 loss at Frickley Athletic at the weekend.

Pickering meanwhile had similarly struggled for form in the early stages of the 2021/22 - their 3-2 defeat at Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday was their fifth game in a row without victory.

Having seen an effort from Junayd Cassius-Gill cleared off the line early on, Tadcaster took a deserved lead on 13 minutes.

Captain Simon Russell delivered a dangerous corner which Jack Crook headed goalward and Church who controlled and volleyed powerfully home.

Seconds afterwards Oli Norman came close to double that lead when he dragged a left-footed effort wide of goal.

Sass also came close to opening his account for the day when he hit the crossbar midway through the half.

But soon after came the sucker-blow for Tadcaster as Pickering levelled the game.

A mix-up at the back saw new Pikes recruit Alhassane Keita nip in and loft the ball over goalkeeper Ally Hughes.

Pickering nearly put themselves in front when Jackson Jowett saw a shot rattle the post minutes later.

The Brewers regained control of the game before half time and with three minutes to go until the break, Cassius-Gill put them back ahead.

The striker showed fantastic skill to flick the ball with his heel into the far corner from Sass' delivery.

Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances after the break. Norman did manage to round Pickering goalkeeper Adam Kelsey, though his effort was agonisingly wide.

With 15 minutes to go, Pickering were reduced to ten men when Jordan Deacey was shown a second yellow card.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Pickering levelled matters on 87 minutes when Will Taylor nodded in a free-kick.

But Town again showed ill-discipline as Soni Fergus, who returned to the club on loan from Whitby Town last week, was handed a straight red card for a challenge that saw Cassius-Gill leave the field early.

Late on, Tadcaster managed to create one last chance which they converted. Romario Vieira whipped in a corner and Sass' diving header sparked passionate celebrations.

Elsewhere, Selby Town fell to their first defeat of the season in the Toolstation Northern Counties League division one after losing 1-0 away against Harrogate Railway Athletic.