TADCASTER Albion were stunned by rock bottom Goole in a 3-1 defeat to end their 2024.

After Dan Thirkell cancelled out James Simmonite's early opener for Goole, the hosts scored twice via Callum Clark and Curtis Davies to earn the three points in East Yorkshire.

Tadcaster had been buoyed by a four-match unbeaten run and travelled to the Victoria Pleasure Ground to take on bottom of the league Goole.

The Brewers were without goalkeeper Sam Green, his place taken by Leeds United‘s under-18's shot-stopper, George Kenyon. Charlie Owen was suspended.

Goole dominated the opening segment and almost took the lead on seven minutes but a 20-yard effort was deflected to safety.

Tadcaster’s first foray into the hosts half saw a decent through ball to Elliott Andrew, but 'keeper Harry Garman was there first.

However, on eight minutes Goole opened the scoring when a good move down the right flank ended with a perfect cross from Kyle Austin, headed home from close-range by Simmonite.

Albion reacted positively and five minutes later equalised when their first corner from Fatlum Ibrahimi cleared the Goole defence, as Thirkell rose highest on the far post to powerfully head home.

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The hosts retaliated with and a 30-yard free-kick that needed just a tap in, but Nathan Heaton saw the danger and cleared with a last-ditch intervention. Just before the half an hour mark, Kenyon produced two confidence boosting saves.

Despite Goole starting to dictate play, Tad had a real chance to go in front when Luca Bolino found Cassius-Gill in the area, but the shot hit post. Almost immediately Bolino forced Garman into a good low save but there was nobody there to capitalise on the spill.

Tadcaster went behind again on 37 minutes when they cleared a long free-kick out to the left flank, but as it came back into the six-yard box poor defending left Clark with the easiest of conversions.

Albion again had the chance of a swift equaliser as the broke down the right side but the cross was too high for the waiting Andrew.

Kieran Greenway protects possession in Tadcaster Albion's 3-1 defeat to Goole. (Image: David Lindsay) The hosts fully deserved to be in front at the break – The Brewers needed to up their game if they were to get anything out of the second half.

The game continued where it had left off, although Andrew did get a shot on target on 57 minutes but it lacked power, whilst on the hour mark Heaton put a defence splitter through to Cassius-Gill but Garman was equal to the header.

The next goal would be telling as both sides threw everything; Senior was yellow carded to be followed three minutes later by Ibrahimi as tempers flared.

Goole still looked the more likely to find the net and Allott was just wide on 63 minutes. Albert Ibrahimi took over from Andrew moments later.

However, on 71 minutes the hosts effectively put the match to bed; Goole broke quickly from defence whilst Allott went on a blistering run to the byline on the right of the goal, slipping the ball to the completely unmarked Davies in the six-yard box. – he could not miss.

Kieran Greenway replaced Holmes on 74 minutes to bolster the attack and Steven Smith was on for Mason Wilson with ten minutes left. It was, regrettably too late to salvage anything from the game.

Fortuitously none of the other four teams beneath Tadcaster in the league won their games although, Knaresborough Town, who visit The Young Guns Arena next Saturday, did manage a point at home to Campion.

TADCASTER ALBION: Kenyon, Wilson (Smith), Cassius-Gill, Thirkell, Heaton, Holmes (Greenway), Bolino, F. Ibrahimi, Andrew (A. Ibrahimi), Kitchen, Norman.

Subs Not Used: Charlesworth, Knowles