TADCASTER ALBION (Ings Lane)

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, TADCASTER ALBION 5-1 BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS, ATTENDANCE: 288

For the final game of Easter Saturday I headed south to the famous brewing town of Tadcaster.

Tadcaster has long been associated with the brewing industry due to the accessibility of the local water as the town lies on the River Wharfe. 

Three breweries are still in production today. The Tower Brewery (owned by Coors), John Smith's and Samuel Smith's Old Brewery, which is also the oldest brewery in Yorkshire and the only remaining independent brewery in Tadcaster.

Naturally it would have been remiss of me not to sample a wee drop of ale whilst in the town so I did that before tucking into some of the best fish and chips i've had in a long time.



A rather odd structure behind the goal

Founded in 1892, Tadcaster's ground is on Ings Lane right in the shadow of the John Smith's brewery. They actually began life as John Smith's FC before becoming Tadcaster Albion in 1923. Unsurprisingly then their nickname is "The Brewers"

They were founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 and won the Division One title in 2010. They are having a good season this year and are on course for a top six finish.



Tonights opponents Barton Town Old Boys, from Humberside, are not far behind them in the table so a close game was expected. Ahem.

In fairness though, for the opening hour or so it was pretty close, sometimes it was borderline dull or maybe that was just me starting to wane a wee bit after such a long day.

After Tadcaster missed a penalty in the opening two minutes, Ashley Dexter (20) gave the visitors the lead before Terry Taylor (39) equalised to send the sides in level at the break.

The turning point occurred. Callum Ward was sent off after 61 minutes for violent conduct and it totally changed the game, but not in the way that was expected.

Assuming Barton would then take control with their man advantage, the opposite happened.

Taylor gave Tadcaster the lead after 67 minutes and the game was fizzling out until the last 10 minutes when the homesters went nap, with some sensational strikes to boot.

Goals from Stuart Rice (80) a Phil Winn own goal (85) and Chris Youldon (88) meant a convincing victory for Albion.

KIRKBYMOORSIDE (The Sports Field)

WEARSIDE LEAGUE, KIRKBYMOORSIDE 2-2 JARROW, ATTENDANCE: 35 (h/c)

Having chosen this game ahead of Vase Semi-final, I hoped my first ever dip into the Wearside League (step 7 of the non-league pyramid) would not let me down.

Kirkbymoorside is a small market town in North Yorkshire and the Kirkbymoorside Sports Field is on the edge of town and there is every chance you have seen this ground if you have ever travelled along the A170 between Helmsley and Pickering.  The facillty has a bowling club, cricket pitch and, most importantly, a football club.

Formed in 1890, Kirkbymoorside played in the Scarborough and District league for many years before joining the Teeside League in 2005, after finishing runners up in 2008, they were promoted to the Wearside League where they have played ever since.

Today The Moorsiders were taking Jarrow and it was a really decent game.

Jarrow began brightest and the Moorsiders were guilty of a few robust challenges as they tried to get into the game. Once John Brown let fly from 25 yards, to blast a screamer into the top corner, the homesters settled down and began to play football.

The visitors drew level a couple of minutes into the second half when the home 'keeper spilled a shot and Grant Pressling had the simple task of rolling the ball into the net (pictured left).

Jarrow were soon in front when another long range effort, this time from Peter Kirkham found the back of the net.

I was having a wee chat with a Jarrow official and when Kirkbymoorside got a corner he remarked that Jarrow struggle against height due to some of the players they have missing. Right on cue the corner was swung in and Jordan Rivis headed home to level the game.

Honours even, and in my opinion fairly so, this was also Kirkbymoorside's first league draw of the season.

 

BRIDLINGTON TOWN (Queensgate)

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, BRIDLINGTON TOWN 3-3 SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC, ATTENDANCE: 1,247

As is now tradition, there is an organised Easter groundhop and, for the second year in a row, this took in games from the Northern Counties East League.

As I had done three of the four grounds on the Friday, I picked up the hop on the Saturday to visit the two grounds out of the three I needed, though this was after much dithering and debating, more of which later.

The early kick off pitted Landlords v Tenants as Bridlington Town clashed with Scarborough Athletic. This was the first time I'd seen Scarborough since the club was reformed in 2007 after the liquidation of Scarborough FC.

The game was 4th v 1st, so a good game was anticipated and it did not disappoint. I can't think of a better non-league game i've witnessed all season.

The game swung either way and both sides had chances to seal the victory, but in the end had to settle for a draw, which was probably a fair outcome.

Paddy Miller (20) gave Scarborough the lead with a 25 yard drive into the bottom corner, but within seconds Bridlington were level when Chris Batchelor (21) fired home. On 35 minutes Nathan Cook headed home for Bridlington to give them the lead but in stoppage time the scores were level again as Jimmy Beadle headed in from close range after the ball spilled up off 'keeper Aaron Wilberforce.

Just three minutes into the second period Scarborough went in front again as Tony Hackworth squared the ball to give Ryan Blott a simple goal. Bridlington then had a glorious chance to level once again but somehow Scott Phillips scuffed his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. As an ex-Scarborough player you can imagine the stick he got!

They were level soon enough when Josh Greening burst through to steer the ball home. Boro's James Bennet had an effort cleared off the line and Phillips headed against a post when it was easier to score. Bridlington were also reduced to 10 men when skipper Tom Fleming recieved his second yellow card.

The game was held up late on whilst an ambulance was called to take Bridlington's Frank Belt to hospital, having dislocated his shoulder in a challenge, and in the additional time both teams had chances to snatch the points.

A bumper crowd made the day better and I stood amongst the 'Boro fans in the first 45 minutes and the atmosphere was fantastic and the banter superb.

A thoroughly enjoyable first game, having been to Pickering before the dilemma now was where to head for my second game of the day. I dithered, debated, hummed and ahhhed and in the end plumped for some Wearside League action....

OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS (Aitchison Playing Fields)

WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS 2-0 ROMAN GLASS St GEORGE, ATTENDANCE: 80

I set off along the M4 blissfully unaware of the congestion I was about to run into. Where the M4 meets the M5 it was absolute chaos and the signs were saying it was a 63 minute journey to do what should have only taken 20 minutes. It was time for yet another change of plan!

A quick call to Brislington to confirm their game was a 3pm kick off meant another alternative was needed as it had been moved to 1pm and the homesters were 1-0 up at the break.

It was 'Hobsons Choice' as the only game I could realistically get to now was Oldland Abbotonians, so I now headed to Castle Road. I do not mean that in a derogatory manner it was just the fact the turning to Oldland Common was the next junction after the turning for Brislington which meant more time on the gridlocked M4.

I wasn't the only 'hopper caught out by the change of kick off time at Brislington as there were a few present here that would have otherwise gone to Ironmould Lane.

It was a bright sunny afternoon but bitterly cold and, to be honest, the game did little to warm the cockles.

It was a poor opening 45 minutes, the only talking point being a wayward shot that went through the back window of a van parked behind the goal!

The second half was a better affair as the The O's gradually took control of the game and Luke Bryan scored two goals, his 8th and 9th in just four games, to seal the victory.