TADCASTER Albion fell to a 2-0 defeat against step two Scarborough Athletic on Tuesday night.

The Brewers had enjoyed their visits to the Seadogs over the last two years, having won them both, but the difference in divisions showed, with Scarborough coming out of the blocks immediately.

There was a wakeup call in only the second minute when striker Frank Mulhern headed goalwards from close range but the ever-agile Joe Wilton tipped it over.

A minute later Luca Colville put a Scarborough trialist through on goal, but his effort was heroically cleared off of the line by Charlie Owen.

Tadcaster had their first attack after 10 minutes when Fatlum Ibrahimi set Tawheed Ahmed down the left flank, but his cross to the incoming Lewis Stephens was just too heavy.

At the other end Purver went close from the edge of the box, quickly followed by Colville who curled a twenty-five yarder just over the bar.

On 19 minutes, the impressive Lewis Maloney unleashed a thunderbolt from thirty-yards , just over, whilst a trialist brought out another fantastic save from Wilton.

On the 30-minute mark Ahmed rounded Bailey Gooda for a one on one with Cracknell but the goalkeeper read the chance well and diverted wide.

Dom Tear's close-range effort was stopped by Wilton, again positioning himself perfectly, whilst one of the trialists tried his luck from close range but the angle was too acute.

It might have all changed in the last minute of the half as the ball came across to Mulhern, fractionally outside the six-yard box, but his powerful shot was saved again by the Brewers shot-stopper.

Heading into the second half, Jake Charles produced an overhead kick from just inside the box – it looked destined for the goal, but again Wilton just managed to deflect it.

However, almost immediately Harry Green curled a cross to the far post and Charles rose highest to head his side into the lead.

With Sam Kitchen and Dan McDaid on for Sam Kay and Lewis Stephens, Ryan Qualter, brother of Conor, had a go for the hosts on 71 minutes but Wilton was equal to it.

However, the match was sealed with three minutes to go when a Scarborough trialist curled an unstoppable shot from all of thirty yards into the far corner.

Scarborough deservedly grasped the win, but from Albion’s point of view, against a side who will doubtless challenge again this season for promotion to the National League, this was a battling performance with brilliant defending throughout.

Tadcaster play their final pre-season game this Saturday against York City, kick off 1.00 pm. The Vanarama National League side will be an even tougher test for Mick and Josh’s men.

Wilton. Hardcastle, Owen, Thirkell, Qualter, Ibrahimi, Crosby ( Walters) , Greenway, Stephens (McDaid), Kay (Kitchen), Ahmed (Trialist)