Emirates FA Cup
Selby Town 1-1 AET (3-5p) Kendal Town
Selby Town manager Christian Fox has put the pride back in the badge and galvanised a community after the epic FA Cup replay with Kendal attracted the club’s biggest attendance for 14 years
The local community turned out in force as heroic Selby Town gave higher level Kendal Town a major fright before losing narrowly on penalties in the epic Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round replay.
Almost 400 people – the biggest attendance at Selby in nearly 15 years – watched on as the underdogs took the lead through their key greyhound Sam Cable on the stroke of half-time.
A Mark Buchan penalty levelled matters early in the second half. Kendal’s Brad Carroll was then sent off as the end of normal time approached.
It could have gone either way in extra-time. Magic man Joe Dale nearly became Selby’s hero in the final seconds when he raced through. However, Kendal’s goalkeeper Stuart Dixon made a fantastic save.
Carl Stewart’s miss in the shootout was decisive as Kendal converted all their spot kicks.
Selby can’t look back in anger at the defeat. To be undefeated against a team two higher leagues over normal time and also galvanise a community to come out on mass for the biggest game in a decade shows just what an incredible job Christian Fox is doing.
Fox picked up a club last year that was lucky to get 100 watching. He has awakened a sleeping giant that is only going to get bigger. The former York City midfielder has also put the pride back into the badge of Selby Town. Last night definitely proved it, once and for all.
Of course, Selby did ride their luck at times. The first half was tight and no-one expected the turn of good fortune that Selby enjoyed as the half closed.
Sam Cable headed Selby Town in front with a fine header. Picture: Malcolm Bryce
Goalkeeper Michael Clancy, an emergency replacement for the ill Pete Lawrie an hour before kick-off, made an exceptional save at point blank range and Selby countered. The ball was played out to Liam Flanagan on the left and his fine cross was met by the leaping Cable, whose header into the far bottom corner was simply brilliant.
Selby held out until the hour when Kendal were awarded a penalty, successfully converted by Buchan.
Selby did massively ride their luck as Kendal wasted numerous good chances. Fox’s side only real chance late-on was Cable’s volley which flashed just wide.
Despite deservedly losing Carroll to a second yellow card at the close of normal time, Kendal still played like a team with eleven men. They hit the post in extra-time and Selby had a couple of other close shaves.
Selby’s chance to win it came in the final 60 seconds when Dale finally made one of his trademark breaks. He did everything right and only a desperate last ditch save from Dixon prevented him writing himself into Selby folklore.
It wasn’t to be in the penalties, but the performance and results in normal time over two fixtures with an Evo Stik outfit suggest Fox is on the brink of something special at Selby.