Hull United eased to a 3-1 win at Selby Town
Hull United strolled to the top of the Toolstation Northern Counties East Division One table with a resilient 3-1 win at ten man Selby Town
After falling behind to Will Pepper’s 7th minute header, United responded immediately to extend their impressive unbeaten start to eight matches and storm above Hallam at the summit.
With a number of feisty early challenges flying in the early spoils belonged to Selby as they started the better of the two sides.
It wasn’t long after though that Selby opened the scoring.
A free kick just inside Hull United’s half was flighted towards the penalty area by Hope and William Pepper was unchallenged to glance home a perfect header on the penalty spot into the far corner past goalkeeper Adam Nicholson.
As so often this season though United were level just four minutes later.
After a short back-pass to Robins keeper Ciaran Gibson, Brett Agnew’s work-rate was rewarded when after nipping in to intercept – the United hitman was tripped by the marooned keeper inside the area.
With Agnew’s touch taking him away from goal, the Selby keeper received a yellow card.
The returning Agnew confidently stroked the ball into the net from the spot for his 10th strike of the season and racking up his ninth goal in four matches.
United began to settle down and after the wall stood firm from a Hope free-kick for the hosts, Jack Walters and Agnew linked up to provide a chance for Jamie Richardson. The pacy winger cut inside from the left and his stinging effort had to be palmed clear by Gibson.
With tackles flying in, the game was a physical affair, but was by no means a dirty contest. A request from Selby boss Dave Ricardo for his side to show more physicality.
Ricardo, may rue that plea as on 21 minutes the game was turned on its head.
A sliding lunge by Leister, was late, and off the ground and after a scuffle ensued between the two sides referee Danny Guest showed a straight red card to Leister whilst Ramsay was also booked for his part in the proceeding melee.
With the game finely poised midway through the first half United boss Curtis Woodhouse saw an opportunity to go for the jugular against the ten-men Robins.
He replaced midfielder Louis Nagi, who had been industrious and his withdrawal was no reflection on the former Wawne United player’s performance with striker Josh Tennant, who had led the line admirably during Tuesday night’s abandonment with Glasshoughton and immediately switched to a 4-4-2 formation.
The change saw Hull United take control, and proved to be a master-stroke by Woodhouse coupled with his side’s numerical advantage.
Selby held out until the 34th minute before United duly took the lead through another goalkeeper error.
With Selby having to work harder to close the space created by Leister’s sending off, they were over-run and Tennant opened his account for the club.
With Gibson’s clearance charged down by Tennant, the former Weymouth man capitilized and after the ball looped over Gibson from Tennant’s charge, the young striker tapped into an empty net from six yards.
Tennant, appeared to have the taste for goals and went close three minutes later, seeing his powerful strike narrowly fly over the cross bar after a surging run through the middle
The second half started well for the visitors and Richardson registered the first shot, just dragging his effort wide of the right hand post from the left angle.
Matty Start then had the next chance after a sweeping United move which ended in Richardson slipping the ball right to Start who forced a save from the legs of the busy Gibson.
The game was then put beyond any reasonable doubt nine minutes into the second half as Agnew notched his second of the afternoon.
Jack Walters laid on another assist, again from a scintillating cross from the left which Agnew rose perfectly to nod home from close range.
United really turned the screw in the final third of the match and with more ruthlessness in front of goal could of recorded more goals.
A dancing run by Richardson saw him break clear on the left and his run towards goal saw the winger try to clip past Gibson however the stopper saved at the near post.
Matt Plummer then advanced into a rare attacking foray with a great run from right back laying one to Richardson who fired over.
This proved to be Richardson’s final contribution as on 63 minutes he was replaced by Rhys Vazquez.
After Tennant (twice) and then Matty Start went close, Vazquez spurned a golden opportunity rolling wide when clean through
Selby, although well beaten did threaten to make the final eleven minutes interesting but some top drawer goalkeeping by Nicholson kept United’s two goal advantage intact. With the goal gaping Nicholson stood tall to defy the Selby attacker who’s presence caused Selby to panic and thus failing to pull the trigger, and the ball rolling out harmlessly for a goal kick.
United finished strong though and after Vazquez fired high and wide, Gibson saved smartly with his legs from Agnew’s powerful close range effort to see out the win.
Selby Town: Gibson, Banks, Robinson (Weatherald 64), Ramsey, Pepper, Mortimer, Hope, Leister, Chamberlain, Bunch (Parsons 69), Moorhead (Jones 76). Subs unused: Stonehouse, Kelly.
Hull United: Nicholson, Foster, Walters, McNamara, (Piercy 45) M.Hall, Plummer, Start, Bennett, Agnew, Nagi (Tennant 23), Richardson (Vazquez 63). Subs unused: Harvey, Hill.
Referee: Danny Guest
Attendance: 146
Thanks to Neil Winsor for this report.