JOE Lumsden fired his 15th goal of the season to give Tadcaster Albion a 1-0 victory over Carlton Town.

The result sees the Brewers leapfrog Pontefract Collieries into second place in the Evo-Stik East League as well as reaching another new high in the club’s history.

With a hectic run of important games ahead, Simon Collins opted to start Casey Stewart ahead of Billy Whitehouse.

Following plenty of overnight rain, the pitch at Stoke Lane passed a 10.30am inspection but the surface was far from ideal for slick passing football.

As expected, it was a real slog in the mud with players frequently slipping over but the first dangerous moment fell to the hosts as a free-kick had to be well cleared by Ellis Barkworth.

It was Albion who had the first effort on target though when Aiden Savory’s header was comfortably claimed by Carlton stopper Jack Steggles on six minutes.

Top scorer Lumsden looked as sharp as ever for the visitors, and he had his first sniff after 12 minutes but couldn’t quite touch past Steggles.

Carlton, who beat the Brewers on the opening day of the season, couldn’t convert during a positive five-minute spell which culminated with Luke Smithson shooting over the crossbar from 30 yards.

Despite the treacherous conditions, Taddy were determined to play attractive football and more openings started to appear in the final game before Christmas.

Chris Howarth did well to latch onto a Savory flick down but his first touch took him too wide past goalkeeper Steggles and Stewart couldn’t find the desired contact from the resulting cross.

When Carlton did manage to break beyond Tad’s defensive line, James Hodges was quick to extinguish the danger with the goalkeeper doing well to deny Joshua Kwadu.

The only goal of the game came six minutes before half-time. Stewart sent a raking cross into the box, Savory headed down and Lumsden was the quickest to react, poking into the back of the net.

The Brewers started the second period well without finding the killer pass required to double their advantage.

Carlton’s best chances to draw level both fell to Niall Davie in the space of a couple minutes. The midfielder couldn’t quite turn home a free-kick at the back post before an ever better opportunity saw him drive over the mark from inside the box.

The pressure intensified on the Brewers’ back-line with numerous long throws launched into the mixer but Josh Barrett, Harry Coates, Jack Walters and Hodges continued to deal with them impressively.

Taddy’s best chance came on 73 minutes after an excellent counter-attacking move from a Carlton long-throw.

Stewart carried the ball into the opposition half before getting it back off Lumsden. Barkworth then dummied his cross to Savory who slid agonisingly wide.

Albion were almost made to pay for that missed opportunity when the Millers’ half-time substitute Henry Rollinson struck inches wide of Hodges’ goal with a rasping effort from distance.

There was still time for Savory to drag a late chance wide of the mark as the Brewers recorded a sixth straight away victory, extending their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

In the same division, Pickering Town will be 18th at Christmas after a painful 5-1 home defeat to Sheffield FC.

Ryan Blott's 81st minute goal was the only bright spot for the Pikes as James Gregory's brace helped the visitors to an easy win in front of a crowd of 173 at Mill Lane.

Luke Rawson gave Sheffield a second-minute lead before Gregory's first-half double was added to late on by Mitchell Dunne and Jamie Yates.

Premier division high-fliers Scarborough Athletic netted a 3-2 away win at Workington – Michael Coulson, Bailey Gooda and Wayne Brooksby on target for the Seadogs.

In the Toolstation Northern Counties East League premier division, Knaresborough Town are third after recording an impressive 4-1 success at Goole AFC.

Joshua Garbutt (12 minutes), Daniel Thirkell (18), William Lenehan (24) and Brad Walker (64) were the visitors' scorers.

Fraser Lancaster salvaged a point for Harrogate Railway when they visited Hall Road Rangers, levelling six minutes from time to cancel out Reagan Waud's opener.

In division one, a much-changed Selby Town side served up a poor performance which saw them deservedly beaten 2-0 at Swallownest.

Oliver Grady opened the scoring for the hosts on 65 minutes before Axel Lill doubled that advantage five minutes from time.

As a result, the Robins slip to fifth place in the table as their promotion hopes were a blow.

In the National League, Harrogate Town were beaten 2-1 at Eastleigh despite taking a second-minute lead through Joe Leesley.