Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 2-1 Selby Town
Andy Horbury celebrates scoring his equaliser for Glasshoughton
Brave Glasshoughton Welfare had to dig deep to defeat play-offs rivals Selby Town and to move to within two points of the top six.
Ryan Ferguson’s hour mark winner completed a miraculous turnaround.
That’s because Glasshoughton should have been smashed to smithereens by half-time, but Selby missed a penalty, along with a series of good chances – opportunities that came back to haunt them.
Magic man Joe Dale had given Selby the lead in the seventh minute and the visitors were cruising until Andy Horbury’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time changed the whole outlook.
The big victory ends a perfect month for Welfare who have won all four of their league matches to continue their stunning journey from no mans’ land to the brink of the play-offs.
Based on their first half display though, no-one would have given them a chance of winning for the fourth consecutive time.
Christian Fox’s brilliant young Selby team were carving them open for fun in the first stanza. Since his much-heralded inauguration last summer, Fox has created a team that is irresistible going forward and one that arguably offers the most value for money in Division One.
That was plain to see again. Dale’s cool finish from the edge of box broke the deadlock and many will have thought Glasshoughton were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat.
The chances continued to flow for Selby. Flanagan hit the post with a free kick before wasting an easy chance after going through on goal.
Dale then hit the post with a speculative effort from distance. The moment when Selby should have killed their hosts off came after new Glasshoughton goalkeeper Jacob Collier, who had a good game, brought down Dale inside the penalty area. The usually-reliable Charlie Clamp blazed the spot kick wide of the goal.
With one of their first real probes of Selby’s defences, Glasshoughton drew level. Horbury netted his 12th goal of the season after his powerful strike took a massive deflection and looped over Selby goalkeeper Paul Hagreen, who was Glasshoughton’s stopper during the 2013/14 season.
Glasshoughton never looked back. They were much more solid in the second half and more dangerous going forward.
The path to the winner began with good defending. Wing wizard Connor Rollinson, playing in the right-back position, took control of the ball and used his fine vision to pick out the out-wide Horbury with a long and exquisite pass. Horbury had a easier task with his killer pass into a central area for Ferguson to run onto. Hagreen rushed out, but former Leeds United youth player Ferguson beat him to the ball and took it round him. One last Selby defender remained on the winger’s case, but he held him off to score into the empty net.
Tom Carr then rattled the crossbar with a long-distance free kick.
Selby went down the other end and hit the crossbar themselves, but that one of few moments where Glasshoughton were really threatened in the final half-hour. Selby had lots of possession and showed good build-up play, but there was no cutting edge.
The only time that Glasshoughton’s defence was breached in the second half was in the third-minute of stoppage time. Adam Walsh’s missed header left them vulnerable and Flanagan snuck in unmarked inside the penalty area. His strike lacked conviction and Collier was able to watch it go wide.
That concluded a fine contest, one that could be pivotal moment for both teams.
Liam Snodin moves away from Glasshoughton left-back Matt Cuncliffe
Conor Glavin blocks Snodin’s path
Joe Dale fires Selby Town ahead
Glasshoughton defender Adam Walsh in battle with magic man Joe Dale
Charlie Clamp’s missed penalty was a major moment
Tom Carr fires a trademark long distance free kick towards the Selby goal
Carr in an aerial battle with Selby’s former Glasshoughton goalkeeper Paul Hagreen
Glasshoughton celebrate Horbury’s equaliser
Ryan Ferguson scored the winner for Glasshoughton
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Collier, Rollinson, Cuncliffe (Marsh 74), Hunter (captain), Pashley, Walsh, Ferguson, Glavin, Horbury (Simpson 83), Carr, Oldham. Subs unused: Hullock, Varley, Horn.
Selby Town: Hagreen, Woodhead, Lock, Snaith (Foster-Vigars 65), Gothard (captain), Kennedy, Cable (Collier 55), Snodin, Flanagan, Clamp (Metcalfe 81), Dale. Subs unused: Jones, Pearse.
Who Was In Charge
Neil Munday (9/10)
Mr Munday has vastly improved since Non League Yorkshire first came across him two years ago. He was excellent at Leeds Road. He had some big decisions to make, including one after just eight seconds, and he got them all right.
How Many Were There
135