Tad All Over - Brewers Fare Well In Whites Fright Show

And so to the i2i Stadium and Ings Lane for the final Evostik Northern Premier Division One East league fixture of the season between Tadcaster Albion and Lincoln United.

Tadcaster Albion was formed in 1892 as John Smith's Football Club, with their stadium behind the John Smith's brewery - the club now play next to Samuel Smith's brewery store. The Brewers (unsurprisingly !!) played in the York League but the club ran into difficulties in the early 1920s, and came back in 1923 under the new name of Tadcaster Albion.

By 1926/27 they were back under the John Smith's name, with a second team using the Tadcaster Albion title founded in 1930. The clubs merged after World War II, keeping the Tadcaster Albion name.

Albion won the York League in the 1947/48 season, eventually moving upwards to the Yorkshire League for the 1973/74 campaign. The Brewers were a founder member of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 and won Division One in 2010.

Their best ever FA Vase run in 2015 resulted in a 6th Round replay at home to Highworth Town, which sparked ugly scenes featuring a pitch invasion, coin throwing and Town's chairman and goalkeeper injured in the melee. Highworth eventually won the tie 1-0.

The following year, after significant investment, The Brewers were crowned as NCEL Premier Division champions and promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One North (now East) with a play off push mounted this season. And the equation is simple - Taddy must win this afternoon and Sheffield have to lose at Brighouse Town (almost an El Classicoal !!). Two goals in the final 15 minutes against Gresley to overturn the away side's lead and an injury time equaliser at the Pikes of Pickering Town on Easter Monday leave the Brewers three points behind 'The Club' but with a better goal difference.....

The away side, 'The Whites' from Ashby Avenue, was established as Lincoln Amateurs FC in 1938 but only joined the Lincolnshire League in 1945 because of World War II. The following season the club transferred to the Lincoln League and in 1954 was renamed as Lincoln United, after taking on a paid player, Ray Bean, at 5 shillings a week (!).

United rejoined the Lincolnshire League in 1960, winning the title in 1964 before moving to the Yorkshire League in 1967, where they were twice champions of Division One.

The Whites were a founder member of the Northern Counties East League when the Yorkshire League merged with the Midland League in 1982, but joined the Supreme Division (!!) of the Central Midlands League in 1986. United won the Supreme championship in 1991, in a season where they became the only Central Midlands League team to play in the First Round proper of the FA Cup (losing 7-0 to Huddersfield Town) before reverting back to the NCEL.

The Premier Division was won in 1994/95 moving United up to the Northern Premier League Division One. Promotion to the Premier Division followed in 2004, but the club was relegated to Division One South (now East) in 2008 where they still reside - currently 13th out of 20 this campaign, but with only three wins this calendar year.

And so as Storm Hannah batters the UK it's a very wet and windy start to my journey. Past the Interior Curtain Centre which has already given us registration plates B11NDS and C11RTN - it has a new one T13 BAC today. Other car registration numbers that feature on this trip are FU55 ADO and O B11GSY.

Beyond that ELCTRICAL. TOILETORIES. sign it's onto the M60 and then onwards to Saddleworth Moor, Rakehead Viaduct and Windy Hill - The M62 Summit 'Highest Motorway in England 372 metres (1221 feet).

Then Sammonden Reservoir, Rainbow Bridge and Stott Hall Farm, bisecting the two carriageways. After Hartshead Moor there is a flurry of Sonic Direct hoardings in the surrounding fields, but these are preferable to the abandoned trailers and wind turbines elsewhere on the route.....

I join the M1 which becomes the A1(M), and exit at junction 44. Then into Tadcaster, dominated by the breweries, but also boasting local shops 'Simply A Party' and Vanilla Interiors (rather plain !!) and the impressive St Mary's Church.

The town itself is quiet, almost closed, possibly due to the weather. This is epitomised by the sign for Hardwick Smith & Dewar 'Open 10-4 Thursdays' - and that's it....

The i2i stadium on Ings Lane is at the end of the road housing John Smith's Brewery, and there is ample parking. £8 gets me in, with the clubhouse immediately to my right and then a short covered terrace. To my left is the all seater Loxley Homes Stand, and in the far right corner a smaller version, the Ken Gilbertson Stand. Trees line all four sides with the River Wharfe behind them on the opposite side.

The river burst its banks during Storm Desmond in the 2015/16 season, resulting in the Brewers being unable to play home fixtures for over ten weeks. There was further flooding last month and the pitch was under several feet of water; however crowd funding enabled a full clean up and no matches were postponed.  

The Brewers are in yellow and blue and their keeper in all white, forcing The Whites to play in change green and white. The match kicks off in driving rain and strong winds.

Unsurprisingly Albion force the pace early on, and United's custodian, Michael Emery, makes a fine save from Casey Stewart's shot. Within a minute, out of nothing and completely against the run of play, Lincoln's Matt Cotton arrows in a shot that hits the inside of the post and rolls into the net - United lead on 13 minutes.

That lead lasts all of six minutes with the Brewers' centre back Paddy Miller, made skipper for the day ahead of his retirement after this match, heading in from a corner. Four minutes later a superb Harry Coates pass sets Stewart free down the right and he squares for Aiden Savory to sidefoot home.

The third home goal in eight minutes is caused by a suicidal pass by Emery to Callum Dye. Luke Porritt intercepts and is then tripped by Dye; the penalty kick is confidently dispatched by Miller.

On 36 minutes the referee awards the Brewers a second penalty, a rather soft decision for holding on Savory. Miller scores in the opposite corner for his first ever hat trick, and 4-1 to Taddy.

Then in first half injury time Jason Mycoe shoots from 35 yards, the ball hits a divot and loops high over Emery's flailing arms and into the net. 5-1 to the Brewers at the break, with word reaching us that Brighouse and Sheffield are drawing 1-1.

There is no let up in the second period. Nine minutes in Aaron Hardy's beautifully weighted cross is headed powerfully home by Pete Davidson, to chants of 'Yorkshire Pirlo' and Albion go 6-1 up.

On 65 minutes Porritt plays in Stewart who scores comfortably, and he repeats the feat a minute later to make it 8-1 to the Brewers. More chances are spurned and then Taddy declare.

In fact some sloppiness slips into their game. With eight minutes to go Albion mess up a corner, allowing Lincoln's Ben Davison to race up the field and send the keeper the wrong way. A minute later his precision finish into the corner makes it 8-3, and the fightback is on....well maybe not !!

News reaches us of an injury time winner for Sheffield, who return to Brighouse on Tuesday for the play offs. The Brewers' season and Paddy Miller's career are over - but what an astonishing match and as for Miller scoring a hat trick in his last game - you couldn't make it up !!  

A Bonny Day For The Blues After Seahorses' Lame Performance.......

And so to Carleton Road and Frenchfield Park for my first ever Northern League fixture between Penrith and Whitley Bay in Division One.

Penrith AFC was founded in 1894, playing in local leagues before joining the Carlisle & District League which they won several times. The club moved to the North Eastern League for the 1907/08 season.

Before the start of the 1948/49 season 'The Bonny Blues' were elected to the Northern League where they remained until 1982 - their best finish being runners up in 1962.

The team became a founder member of the North West Counties Football League and finished second to Stalybridge Celtic in 1984. Promotion in 1987 to the Northern Premier League Division One saw a three year stay and then relegation back to the NWCFL.

The club rejoined the Northern League for the 1997/98 campaign and fortunes have fluctuated ever since, with four seasons in the Second Division and then promotion back to the top tier.

The Bonny Blues changed name to Penrith Town in 2007, and moved from Southend Road to Frenchfield Park. Thereafter there was a reunion with breakaway Penrith United with the club becoming Penrith AFC once more in 2008.

17th out of 22 last time, the club currently lie 18th and last in the league following Team Northumbria's close season resignation and disbandment, and Blyth FC's demise four games into the season. The Bonny Blues remain the only Northern League top flight side situated on the west side of the country.

The visitors, Whitley Bay FC, play at Hillheads Park adjacent to Whitley Bay ice rink; there has been a football club in Whitley Bay since 1896 when it was founded by Liam Patrick Mattimore, an ex Brazilian captain (!!). The club was known as Whitley and Monkseaton FC, before changing name to Monkseaton FC and then Whitley Bay Athletic.

After many years in the minor leagues, Whitley Bay Athletic joined the Northern Alliance League in 1950, claiming the title once. The Bay then opted to play in the powerful North Eastern League between 1955 and 1958, but the team struggled - subsequently successfully applying to the Northern League and dropping Athletic from the club name.

The Northern League championship was won in 1964/65 and 1965/66 along with several local cups over the intervening years.

The Seahorses took up their position in the Northern Premier League Division One in 1988 and won promotion to the Premier Division, as league winners, in 1991. However two relegations in 1995 and 2000 took the Bay back down to the Northern League.

Whilst there has been the occasional flirtation with the league title, the Seahorses have enjoyed considerable FA Vase success - four time winners in 2002 (beating Tiptree), 2009 (Glossop North End), 2010 (Wroxham) and 2011 (Coalville Town).

The current campaign has been another disappointing season, with the Bay lying 12th, a position they cannot improve upon before the season's end.

So on a glorious spring morning, with the sun beating down, there's some familiar sights. T & T Pound Plus no longer selling ELCTRICAL. TOILETORIES, queues on Barton Bridge due to a 'stranded vehicle' and then on the M61 'Incontinence Supplies at Internet Prices' before I pass a forlorn looking Botany Bay. A couple of car registration plates too - M3 CRY and the excellent WH05 BAD !!

Then onto the M6, inevitable barrier repairs and delays between junctions 32 and 33, motorway graffiti 'Democracy is fracked' and some glorious views of the Cumbrian countryside. Past the pretty multi-coloured painted terrace houses in Tebay, Shap Summit at 1036 feet, Katy Cropper Sheepdogs and then off at junction 40 with the sign for Ullswater Steamers.

A quick stroll round Penrith with its artisan shops and impressive clocktower, and JR Arnison & Sons, drapers, costumiers and milliners since 1742, before I head out to Carleton village, turning at the Cross Keys pub, passing Hunter Hall school and the cul de sac finishes at Frenchfield Sports Centre.

A vast complex of football and rugby pitches - and vicious speed bumps !! - with Penrith AFC's modern stadium at the end. £6 on the gate and the all seater grandstand and clubhouse and bar are immediately to my left, Blues Café to my right. Opposite is the three step Walter Brogden Stand, terraced but with six plastic chairs.... The rest of the ground is tarmacked flat standing with some wonderful views of snow capped hills and Beacon Edge, with the A66 passing behind the goal to my right.

The Bonny Blues are naturally in blue with white trim, the Seahorses in change yellow and black as the match kicks off under blue sky and sunshine but with a chill wind. The latter explains the high number of balls that sail over the perimeter fence, epitomised early on when after one match ball flies out of the ground, the replacement is shanked to Bay keeper Daniel Lister who manages to punt that straight over the fence too !!

On ten minutes the referee awards a throw in to the Seahorses - a truly appalling decision. Bay lose possession and Penrith's captain Grant Davidson sets a swift counterattack going. The ball is played out to Matty Clarke on the left side and he speeds down the wing before crossing for Martyn Coleman to sidefoot home and the Bonny Blues lead. A dubious assist for the referee ?? !!

The Seahorses come more into the game as the half progresses, Olly Martin's header just over the bar from a corner their best effort but the half ends 1-0 to Penrith, despite Stu Dixon's flapping in the home goal.

The second period sees the Seahorses start brightly, Jonathan Wright given far too much time and space to turn and shoot - wildly as it happens. Davidson has a shot deflected just wide for the home team.

Then on 70 minutes Bay's offside trap is breached and Davidson plays in Coleman, who takes the ball past Lister but the angle is too tight and his shot trickles agonisingly onto the post and into Lister's hands. No matter as within a minute the trap is broken again with Shaun Gardner releasing Adam Main and he deftly finishes past Lister.

Lister makes a superb tip over save from sub Max Brown to keep the score at 2-0, with the Seahorses struggling to create a chance worthy of the name, and the Bonny Blues see the game out at 2-0 to take their recent run to one defeat in eight in front of the crowd of 157. Three vital points with relegation issues yet to be confirmed by the FA, but Penrith know that 4 points from their final two games will see them avoid bottom spot - remarkable given that their first league victory was only achieved in January.