Tadcaster Albion boss Paul Marshall says his team’s brilliant form might force a change in priorities.
After joining the Northern Counties East League premier division for the first time in their history at the start of the season following a title-winning campaign, Marshall’s men have continued their rapid ascent of the ranks.
Albion moved into fourth place in the table with a 5-0 midweek thumping of Hallam. Two goals from Carl Stewart, the first in the third minute, a Lee Cooksey own goal and second-half strikes from Tom Woollard and 17-year-old Callum Ward, leave Tadcaster eight points behind leaders Farsley in the standings – with three games in hand.
Buoyed by their FA Vase win at Formby last weekend, a 3-2 victory that secured them a place in the competition’s last 32, confidence at Ings Lane is at an all-time high.
And having set out a stall of just being competitive in every match at the beginning of the campaign, the title might now be a real possibility for the Brewers.
Ahead of tomorrow’s scheduled trip to Bridlington to play neighbours Scarborough Athletic, whose interest in the FA Vase ended with a 3-0 loss against Spennymoor Town, Marshall said: “Winning the league isn’t something we have really looked at before. Like I have said all season we want to be competitive in every game.
“You can re-evaluate and we will see how the Scarborough game goes and look after Christmas. It’s down to the chairman what he wants to do with the club. If he wants promotion we have got the squad to do it and the objectives are changing.”
Teamwise, Danny Farthing is now back in training but Tosh Reid will be out until after Christmas with his injured ankle and 13-goal attacking midfielder Graeme Whitehead is a doubt after suffering a reoccurrence of a thigh injury.
Marshall was indebted to goalkeeper Aaron Reid for three “world-class” saves against Hallam during a period of 20 minutes where the boss believes his side switched off.
With another win in the bag, he will not be taking Scarborough lightly regardless of their heavy Vase defeat.
“It will be a tough game,” he added. “They lost in the Vase and I am sure they will want to put that right as soon as possible. Confidence is a massive thing. Get on a run of victories and it is great but a run of defeats is hard to get away from.”
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