TADCASTER Albion are not giving up on the dream of making the Evo-Stik League east division play-offs just yet.

Just under a month ago, the Brewers were sitting pretty in fourth, but three consecutive defeats have left them two places worse off and languishing six points outside the play-off spots with four games to go.

Tomorrow, Taddy travel to Frickley Athletic, knowing that defeat could put an early end to their push for the premier division.

Club spokesman Jay Taylor said: “There’s still a chance (of getting into the play-offs), although it’s looking slim. We have to rely on other teams to slip up. All we can do is win our four games and hope.

“Things may turn around but we’re in no position to focus on that given our last three games.

“There’s nothing more we can do really. (Manager) Simon Collins was proud of the players last week against Ossett (United) despite the (2-1) defeat. It was a good response to Stamford (where Tad lost 3-0) but unfortunately we couldn’t get the goals we warranted.

“Simon Collins is still optimistic about getting in the play-offs.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do now. All we can do is win our games and see what happens.

“If we lose, it would be all over.”

Tomorrow’s opponents, 12th-placed Frickley, are the highest-ranked of the four remaining teams. Up next are basement side Gresley, who are fighting for survival, before a derby game against Pickering Town and the season finale at home to Lincoln United.

In the reverse fixture, Joe Lumsden - the division’s third-highest goalscorer with 20 - bagged a hat-trick in a 4-0 Taddy win.

Since then, the Blues have brought in a new manager in Martin McIntosh - who has overseen only three league defeats since his December 8 appointment - while striker Jacob Hazel has scored 13 times to draw level with Lumsden on the top-scorers list.

Taddy will hope Lumsden can be at his goalscoring best, while the backline - boosted by the possible return of longest-serving player Josh Barrett after three months out - can keep Hazel quiet.

Taylor said: “(Tadcaster need to) be more savvy in not conceding and be more clinical.

“Goals change games and when you don’t take chances it gives the opposition hope.

“That’s what we did at Ossett. We were comfortable for large parts but we didn’t have enough in the final third.

“When we played (Frickley) earlier in the season, we produced one of our best performances of the season,” he added. “Some fans were saying it was the best they’ve ever seen.

“They’ve changed a lot of players so they’ll pose a tough challenge for sure. It’s not going to be easy and we’ve got to be on our game.

“Hopefully we’ll take the positives from last Saturday, find a winning formula and get back on track.”

Meanwhile, the club’s i2i Stadium pitch has been nominated for GreenFields’ ESL east division Pitch of the Year award.

At the other end of the table, 15th-placed Pickering’s fight to stay up continues at home to Brighouse Town. The Pikes lost 3-2 at Pontefract Collieries in midweek.

Scarborough Athletic - whose new manager John Deacy won his first game in charge last week - travel to premier division high-fliers Warrington Town.

In Northern Counties East League division one, Selby Town lost 1-0 at Rossington Main on Tuesday night. Tomorrow, the Robins travel to Armthorpe Welfare. Knaresborough Town host Harrogate Railway Athletic in the premier division.

Harrogate Town host Boreham Wood in the National League.