TADCASTER Albion's seven year stay in the Northern Premier League came to an end with defeat against Stocksbridge Park Steel on Saturday, confirming relegation.

A deflected Alex O’Connor goal in the first half and a Luke Rawson strike in the second half were enough for the visitors to take all three points, ending Andy Monkhouses’ side’s three game unbeaten run at the So-Trak Stadium.

Monkhouse handed Jonny Shepherd a first start after joining on loan from York City, whilst Theo Hudson dropped to the bench where he was joined by the returning Raj Palit.

The Brewers made a bright start to the game, as Rafael Ferreira threatened on the right, beating his man before delivering a fierce cross. Tadcaster kept the move alive as Scott Smith saw his shot charged down.

In the third minute Shepherd made himself busy battling with his marker before feeding the ball wide to Ferreira who again got the better of the fullback before flashing another ball across the face of goal.

The Brewers created a good opening in the eighth minute, winger Omar Sanyang got in behind inside the box but couldn’t work a shooting opportunity and was tackled.

On the half hour mark Tadcaster saw an effort whistle wide of the post, Ferreira again tormenting his man before drilling a powerful shot wide.

Stocksbridge who had had very little in the way of chances took the lead in the 34th minute.

Bailey Tye-Baker drove forward and shot at goal, his strike inadvertently hit teammate Alex O’Connor on the head and wrong-footed Josh Mazfari in the home goal, making it 1-0 to the away side.

The visitors finished the half the stronger, five minutes after taking the lead Lewis Macaskill squandered a big chance to double the lead, his half volley from eight yards out flew wide of the target.

Macaskill again forced Mazfari into a smart stop, the winger hit a bouncing effort on target but the Huddersfield loanee blocked and then gathered well under pressure.

Tadcaster started the second half in similar vein to the first half, pushing Stocksbridge back and looking lively, playing on the front foot.

In the 49th minute Sanyang played a clever corner into the box for Ferreira who shot over via an important deflection.

Two minutes later Ferreira won a free kick on the edge of the box, on the right-hand side. Sanyang stood over the free-kick, James Beaston met the cross and produced a clever back heel flick which was on target but for a clearance in-front of the line.

The ball came back into the middle and Beaston’s defensive partner Dan Hartley volleyed fiercely wide.

Tadcaster continued to push for an equaliser launching a quick attack, Ferreira drove forward and slid the ball wide for Scott Smith the busy midfielder dribbled inside from the right before firing left footed wide of the near post.

On the hour mark Stocksbridge had a rare attack, a golden opportunity to make it 0-2. Luke Ranson failed to capitalise on a one-on-one screwing his shot well wide from inside the box.

After 64 minutes the visitors made it 0-2. Rawson, where all number nine’s should be, finished from inside the six-yard box, knocking the ball home off his thigh.

The final chance of the afternoon came in the 88th minute. Raj Palit curled a well struck free kick on target, Ben Townsend was at full stretch to save for Stocksbridge.

The defeat confirms the Brewers relegation to the Northern Premier League East Division.

Tadcaster travel to Stockton Town next Saturday for a 3pm kick off.

Mazfari, Johnson, Beaston, Hartley (c), Wadsworth, Sharry, Porritt (Bratkowski), Sanyang (Palit), Ferreira, Smith, Shepherd (Dyer).