'Naive' Tadcaster Albion suffer 'disappointing' opening-day defeat to Dearne & District FC
Tadcaster Albion got off to a “disappointing” start to the 2026/27 season, going down 3-1 at home to newly-promoted Dearne & District.
The Brewers reached the NCEL Premier Division play-off final last term and will be aiming to challenge once again this year, but were not at their best on the opening day of the new campaign.
Having fallen behind after just five minutes when goalkeeper Ally Hughes’ error gifted Justin Circuit the opening goal, Albion equalised on the stroke of half-time through a brave Olly Green header.
Dearne then re-took the lead early in the second period, and after home left-back Cole Roberts was sent off, Owen Fieldsend made the points safe when he nodded home late on.
"I am disappointed to start the season with a defeat, but credit to Dearne, they are very effective at what they do,” said Brewers boss Ryan Qualter.
"I thought that we were okay in the first half, but an individual error has cost us once again. We went 1-0 down, but I thought the lads reacted well.
"We didn’t panic, and I thought we played quite well. We created a few things and I think that quite rightly we went in at half-time with the score at 1-1.
"But, in the second half, we were a bit naive. We talked about nullifying their threat by not giving away throw-ins and corners, but we have done that, and unfortunately it has cost us.
"That’s on me, because I maybe put too much faith in certain individuals and it has cost us, so I need to look at that.”