Selby’s play-offs dream up in smoke?

Toolstation NCEL Division One 

Selby Town 2-3 Grimsby Borough

Selby Town’s play-offs bid looks in ruins as Grimsby Borough overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to snatch a late victory and stay in the title race.

Chris Bilton’s opener and Gary Collier’s goal of the season contender seemingly set Selby on their way to making major inroads towards catching up with sixth-placed Glasshoughton Welfare.

However, Grimsby, whose forward play was superb, dominated the second half and fought back to deservedly take the three points. 

Referee Michael Brownsett had a hand in all of the visitors’ goals though, and he even caused trouble in the clubhouse an hour after the game. It is the second time this season Brownsett has been involved in controversy at a Selby game as he awarded Knaresborough Town their match-winning penalty back in December.

With Hallam drawing at Brigg Town, Glasshoughton are firmly in the driving seat as long as they win their remaining two matches.

Although they led 2-0 at the break, Selby rode their luck. New number one Chris Barratt was superb throughout the game and he was needed several times early doors.

Selby’s deadlock breaker was against the run of play. Liam Flanagan’s free kick just outside the penalty area hit the wall. The ball spun to Liam Snodin. His low, but weak volley sailed seemingly easily into the arms of Grimsby goalkeeper Scott Drury. The stopper proceeded to spill it, gifting Bilton the chance to fire Selby ahead.

Selby were then really living up to their superheroes billing as Collier scored with an unbelievable volley. From a difficult angle on the right of the penalty area, the veteran striker rolled back the years with a first time volley that had such power behind it that nearly took Drury’s head off. Even Mike Carmody, the manager of resurgent Armthorpe Welfare, stood up and applauded the strike, which will surely be remembered for years.

The Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium was bouncing. Christian Fox’s play-offs dream was alive.

Deep down, Selby have only themselves to blame as they then played like a team who thought the job was done at half-time. Maybe Fox’s men were tired after playing Non League giants Farsley Celtic in the West Riding County Cup final. But who knows? 

Grimsby found a route back through a penalty, enthusiastically awarded by Brownsett very generously after Josh Venney fell to ground very easily. Jack Debnam fired low and hard down the middle to score the penalty.

Selby struggled to cause their visitors any problems and an equaliser was only a matter of time. The controversy came in the build-up as Josh Sunter appeared to handle from a Selby corner. Brownsett waved away the appeals and Grimsby launched a counter-attack. Selby failed to get numbers back to defend, but you had to applaud the goal. It was a superb cross from the right by Debnam to find the towering head of Jack Bradbury, who was waiting in the six-yard box.

Although Grimsby would have scored the winner without his help anyway as Selby had gone, Brownsett saved his best intervention for the third goal. He allowed Grimsby to take a critical free kick 15 yards further forward. It may seem a bit nit-picky, but it allowed Grimsby to counter-attack and Selby were duly caught unawares. Because of Brownsett’s decision, the visitors were now camped in Selby’s penalty area. Eventually after two phases of play, Brownsett awarded Grimsby a dangerous free kick which Venney duly fired home – sparking scenes of jubilation.

Selby’s players had their hands on their hands. Their reaction told the full story.

The match might not be forgotten about for a while either as Selby’s devastating night was made even worse by Brownsett’s conduct in the bar. Brownsett almost caused unsavoury scenes after an unnecessary 15 yard walk across the bar over to over dozen Selby players, volunteers, supporters, officials and management to laugh in the face of chairman Ralph Pearse, just before leaving at 10.41pm – while still laughing as he made his exit. Mr Pearse didn’t react to the provocation, but the fact you could hear a pin drop showed just how tense the incident was. 

The Teams 

Selby Town: Barrott, Woodhead, Lock, Snaith, Foster-Vigors, Kennedy, Collier (captain), Snodin, Flanagan, Bilton, Dale. Subs unused: Cable, Gray, Pearse, Clamp, Malhotra.

Grimsby Borough: S Drury, Petronzio, Steel, Mascall, Sunter, Okenitwo, A Drury, Venney, Wroot, Debnam (captain), Winfarrah. Subs: Bradbury, Lovett, Sibbick, Trott, Lamplough.

Who Was In Charge 

Michael Brownsett (3/10)

Mr Brownsett’s behaviour in the bar rounded off a disgraceful night. Non League Yorkshire gave him 10/10 last week for his performance in Nostell Miners Welfare’s goal-less draw with Worsbrough Bridge. Now he becomes the first referee to receive a 3/10 mark in five years of Non League Yorkshire because his match performance and conduct in the bar. Referees want respect so why try and provoke people in the bar after a terrible display. Behaviour like that just makes life harder for other referees. The West Riding County FA need to have strong words with him. Bars are there for socialising, not the royal rumble.

How Many Were There 

84

Man of the Match 

Chris Barrott (Selby Town)