Knaresborough Town denied fourth straight win as derby rivals Tadcaster Albion strike at the death

The men from Manse Lane, who are flying high at the top end of the table, took the lead three times against their struggling hosts, but were pegged back on each occasion and just failed to see the game out in stoppage time.

Ben Gelder fired Knaresborough ahead on 22 minutes, calmly slotting a low finish past Harry Stead after Slater Barnes had beaten Albion’s offside trap and teed him up.

But, the away lead lasted just six minutes. After George Brown managed to keep the ball alive from Oli Norman’s deep, left-wing cross, Jayden Clarke-Thompson was left with a routine opportunity that he did not pass up.

Boro were back in front soon afterwards, Harry Coates forcing the ball over the line following a scramble caused by Sam Leverett’s corner-kick delivery.

The Brewers would however get themselves back on terms for a second time 10 minutes into the second half.

Brown drilled a right-wing free-kick into the away box, and having taken several deflections, the ball eventually found its way through to captain Charlie Owen, who applied a finishing touch.

With 77 minutes on the clock, Knaresborough went 3-2 up through Nathan Cartman, who caressed a clinical first-time shot across Stead and into the far corner having been set up by Barnes just seconds after arriving from the substitutes’ bench.

Spencer Harris was then sent off for a second bookable offence, leaving Tadcaster a man down and facing a mountain to climb with time running out.

But, they managed to salvage a point in the 92nd minute thanks to a fine curling free-kick from Curtis Senior, that Boro goalkeeper Edd Hall could only help on its way into the top corner of his net.

Friday’s draw leaves Boro fourth in the table, where they sit eight points behind leaders Dearne & District, but with two games in hand.

Albion, meanwhile are now winless in eight league and cup outings and find themselves third from bottom of the pile, but manager Ryan Qualter was able to take plenty of positives from the way his players performed on Friday evening.

“To come away with a point, I am really proud of how the lads kept going to the end. And we deserved it, we really did,” the Brewers boss insisted.

“In a proper local derby against a very good side, we showed plenty of commitment, plenty of fight and I actually thought that we played some really good stuff.

“We have been clinical to score the three goals, but we have got to cut out the mistakes at the back.

“We were too reactive in defence. We were letting balls bounce and we weren’t tight enough. There were mistakes, and that is just the way it’s going at the minute.

“But this shows that we are still fighting. We are not where we want to be at all [in the table], but that performance shows the fans that there is still plenty of spirit and that we are still working hard.”

Knaresborough return to Premier Division action this Wednesday night when they visit Penistone Church (7.45pm), before entertaining Retford this Saturday (3pm).

Tadcaster travel to Horbury Town on Tuesday (7.45pm), then play host to Albion Sports on Saturday (3pm).