Tadcaster Albion 'went toe-to-toe' with league leaders Liversedge on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Keith Handleyplaceholder image
Tadcaster Albion 'went toe-to-toe' with league leaders Liversedge on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Keith Handley
Harrogate Railway's promotion hopes were dented once again as they suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat on the road at South Leeds.
Having seemingly bounced back from a sequence of three consecutive NCEL Division One losses after the turn of the year when they thrashed Louth Town 5-1, the Starbeck out fit were turned over again on Saturday afternoon.
Very much title challengers at Christmas following a superb first half of the season, the Rail now find themselves fourth in the table and with very little chance of securing automatic promotion.
The damage was done in the first half of their clash with South Leeds as Anane Wireko (2) and Kieran Haigh struck before the interval.
Alex Burton did pull a goal back for the visitors in the 78th minute, but that effort proved to be a mere consolation in the end.
This Saturday, Railway entertain struggling Nostell Miners Welfare at Station View, 3pm kick-off.
In the NCEL Premier Division, Tadcaster Albion were edged out by league leaders Liversedge.
A fairly even contest was decided by Kelan Swales' 62nd-minute goal, though Brewers boss Ryan Qualter did not feel that his players could have done a great deal more to have got themselves a result.
"It's just really unfortunate that we've ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 defeat," he said.
"I knew that this game was going to be a battle. Liversedge are a very, very good side. They are very experienced and play some good stuff a times, but also know how to do the other side of the game.
"We had to stand up to them, and to a man, I thought that we were absolutely brilliant in the first half. I thought that we went toe-to-toe with them, so I am extremely proud of the boys.
"Realistically, I think we should have had a penalty. I think that the referee has got that one wrong. And we had a few chances in the final third where we snatched at them.
"These are all moments when, if it is going your way, one of them bobbles into the back of the net, but just at the moment, they're not."
Saturday's loss at Ings Lane follows on from Tadcaster's midweek defeat to Barton Town, and means that the Brewers have now lost three on the spin.
As a result, they have slid out of the play-off places and head into this Saturday's trip to Parkgate (3pm) seventh in the table.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, mid-table Knaresborough Town's scheduled fixture at home to Pickering Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
This Saturday, Simon Parkes and his troops visit promotion-chasing Sheffield FC (3pm).
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