THE mood is "buoyant again" at Tadcaster Albion as the Evo-Stik League east division play-off challengers prepare to take their rejuvenated form to Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Striker Joe Lumsden is one key player enjoying a resurgence in front of goal, scoring four times in three games after having netted just once in the previous six. He is particularly looking forward to the trip to Stocksbridge, from whom he moved to Tadcaster before the start of this season.

Lumsden was on target twice at the weekend to help the Brewers to a 2-1 win over visitors Marske United and lift Taddy back into the play-off spots following the previous week's 2-1 victory at Loughborough Dynamo.

Club spokesman Jay Taylor said: "It's buoyant again. They were our first back-to-back wins of 2019, so obviously very good for us. It's a mini run that we can hopefully build on.

"We weren't at our best and Marske were probably disappointed to leave empty-handed, but Joe Lumsden took his chances very well, very clinically.

"I think everyone knows Joe is our main man for goals. Last season, our top scorer had 13 goals. Joe has 20 and we still have 10 games to go, which shows how important Joe is to our success.

"His confidence seems to be coming back. He's not overthinking his chances and it's great to see him back with goals and with a smile on his face."

On Lumsden's return to Stocksbridge, Taylor added: "He made a lot of friends and scored an obscene amount of goals there. He told me he wouldn't over-celebrate, but he didn't say he wouldn't celebrate."

Taddy's two most recent victories come off the back of a period of just one win in seven following the Boxing Day defeat to Pickering Town.

The Brewers are still not quite at their best, Taylor believes, but he is confident of coming back to the i2i with the spoils on Saturday.

After Stocksbridge come home fixtures against bottom-half sides Wisbech Town and Spalding United, three games from which Taddy should be targeting nine points if they are to maintain their play-off challenge.

Taylor said: "Our form recently hasn't been the best, so if we're still picking up points, that's good.

"Away from home, we have that nous and winning formula, and Joe is even more pumped to fire in front of goal. We'll go into the next three games and respect our opponents and hopefully get the three points.

"If we don't pick up the points, it shouldn't be too much of an issue because the teams around us won't necessarily pick up all theirs.

"It just makes Saturday more important."

Josh Barrett and Aaron Hardy are still out but Jack Walters returns.

Pickering Town's new manager, Denny Ingram, is still looking for his first win in the Pikes' hot seat. Town host Cleethorpes tomorrow while premier division play-off hopefuls Scarborough Athletic travel to Witton Albion.

In Northern Counties East League division one, Selby Town will be eager to bounce back from their 5-1 thumping at Campion when they host Dronfield. Premier division basement side Harrogate Railway host Athersley and Knaresborough Town are at home to Barton.

Harrogate Town host Dagenham & Redbridge in the National League.