West Riding County Cup
Selby Town 4-2 FC Halifax Town
Liam Flanagan scored a hat-trick for Selby
Liam Flanagan got a hat-trick as Christian Fox’s Selby Town pulled off another scalp to reach the County Cup semi-finals.
Selby players, volunteers, officials and supporters were partying well into the night as the clubhouse was still rammed after 11pm. Fox has clearly inspired the club’s greatest period since the heady days under Bob Lyon.
Although National League side FC Halifax fielded their youth team, nothing should be taken away from Selby as Fox’s men put in a wonderful display.
Halifax were a decent side with skilful players, but Selby’s clinical penetration in the final third was the difference.
Selby enjoyed a dream start as their goalkeeper Paul Hagreen pinged a long ball downfield, which in turn sent Flanagan away and the striker was never going to miss.
Halifax responded pretty quickly with a James Sunderland strike.
Magic man Joe Dale was instrumental for Selby, as usual. Flanagan converted his cross for the second goal.
The excitement was clearly getting to Selby’s PA announcer as he then hilariously apologised to the 261 watching for not announcing the scorer of Halifax’s goal – claiming he had gone to the “toilet” and nobody had told that the visitors had scored when he returned.
Dale was involved again for the third, straight after half-time. His majestic run ended with a pass to Flanagan, who completed his treble.
A Ross Barrows goal briefly brought hope for Halifax, but a Selby penalty awarded within 60 seconds ended their hopes. Flanagan was the player fouled, but it was Charlie Clamp who superbly dispatched the spot kick.
A great result for the robins, another team from a higher league, coming to the Fairfax and being undone by Selby town, yep there was some youth team players for Halifax, but the manager must of thought them good enough to win, otherwise he would of played a stronger side, so let’s not that take away from Selby’s win and great performance, as Selby are a superb young team themselves, a wonderful hat trick from Liam Flannigan, and a good finish from Charlie clamp from the spot, just goes to show that this Selby team are on the up, holding on to a playoff place at the mo, and into the semi final of county cup, let’s hope they can carry on as well as they are now. don’t think who ever draws them in the semi will be looking forward to coming down to the Fairfax stadium, just hope more local people come down and get behind the team as they deserve to be playing in front of bigger crowds, #uptherobins @selby_fc
I am sure after this result and previous results – the town folk will start supporting the club in greater numbers. The club needs all the help it can muster. From all supporters in Spain… Well done to Christian Fox and all his staff
As a Halifax fan, we played the youth team due to the number of injuries to our first team, otherwise we would have played some first teamers but take nothing away from Selby beat what was put in front of them