A WEAKENED Tadcaster Albion proved to be no match for NCEL premier division leaders Campion as they fell to a 4-1 defeat at the So Trak Stadium.

The prolific Olly Norman scored the hosts’ only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the second half, but the damage had already been done long before then.

Despite the River Wharfe and the persistent rain during the preceding week, the ground staff had worked wonders and the pitch looked in great shape for the fixture.

But the Brewers’ saw their squad hampered with injuries and suspensions, a situation exacerbated just nine minutes into the game when Cody Collins was substituted following an upset stomach.

With the replacement of Collins for striker Joe Dixon, it needed some quick thinking from manager Mick O’Connell as Luke Stewart dropped from centre forward to fill the gap in a central defence, already propped up with Sam Kay at left-back in place of the injured Dan McDaid.

The sides had played out a goalless stalemate in Bradford at the start of September, but there was little chance of that on Saturday.

The signs were ominous, and it was no surprise that Campion took the lead on 17 minutes when Paddy Sykes headed beyond Joe Wilton from the second of successive corners. 

Albion had a rare chance just before the half-hour, but Joe Crosby just failed to get on the end of a clearance from defence.

Instead, things went from bad to worse for the Brewers as the visitors broke through their defence, leaving Nicky Boshell one-on-one with Wilton, and he made no mistake to coolly slot the ball home to double his side’s advantage.

Josh Hardcastle earned the Brewers’ first corner as he combined well with Norman down the left flank, but though Kieran Greenway found Junayd Cassius-Gill in space, he could only blast his effort well over the crossbar.

Illingworth was then yellow carded for a foul on Norman as the Tadcaster star raced forward.

Stewart headed away a dangerous free-kick but Campion were relentless, coming straight back as Day and Sykes combined well.

Wilton was equal to the former’s low effort but saved his best until the visitors’ next attack, somehow winning the battle with Sykes as he looked to poke home from the touchline.

The Brewers did have their chances just before the half time whistle, but Cassius-Gill saw his shot deflected for a corner, before Dixon failed to control a pass, the visitors instead taking in a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.

Tadcaster looked to have started the second half on a flier after Sam Kitchen put Norman through on goal before he appeared to have been clinically hacked down in the box by Karl Fitzgerald.

Despite the referee being in close proximity to the incident, play was waved on.

And Campion wasted no time in extending their advantage in the 49th minute, with the Tadcaster defence left watching on as Dan Illingworth headed a corner back across goal and into the back of the net.

Five minutes later, Cassius-Gill was booked for a dive inside the box, with the Brewers then finding themselves a man down after Kitchen was controversially sent to the sin bin.

The 10 men though soldiered on, Hardcastle clearing a Campion shot off the line, before they were presented with a golden opportunity to bring themselves back into proceedings.

During a rare foray forward, Hardcastle was tripped by Brad Emmerson. Norman buried the resultant spot-kick into the bottom corner, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it.

Jordan Hines replaced Cassius-Gill, but with 10 minutes left on the clock, Campion had their fourth when ex-Brewer Mark Ferguson was left with the simplest of tap-ins after the ball was drilled across the box.

The defeat sees O’Connell’s side drop one place in the table to 15th, two points below Barton Town, whom they will visit in their next NCEL fixture on Friday (7:45pm).

Before that, they host Vanarama National League north side Farsley Celtic in the Second Round of the West Riding County Cup this evening (7:45pm).