Toolstation NCEL Division One
Selby Town 3-0 Glasshoughton Welfare
Magic man Joe Dale looks thrilled for Ali Ann after his goal in Selby Town’s 3-0 win over Glasshoughton Welfare. Picture: Dave Haddock
Devastatingly brilliant Selby Town fired out a statement of intent as Christian Fox’s men romped to victory over Glasshoughton Welfare.
The memorable performance was almost like the perfect night-out. A good start, followed a quiet middle part before ending on a high by pulling a girl and taking her home.
Selby’s attacking play in the kill zone in the opening and last quarters of the match was utterly brutal and worthy of the £5 admission.
Liam Flanagan and Ali Ann scored in the first half, with magic man Joe Dale pulling a rabbit out of the hat by scoring the deserved third and a candidate for goal of the season in the final few minutes.
The Robins also did the ugly parts well as for a long period the match was less than pretty, but they managed the game superbly. Man of the match Will Ramsay was colossal in midfield. He consistently broke up play and allowed midfielders Chris Bilton and Charlie Clamp to play and help set up the devastating attacks.
The local derby had been billed as the ‘Return of the Showman’ as Glasshoughton’s superhero Ryan Poskitt had returned to the club earlier in the week. The Showman was arguably Welfare’s best player, but he could do little to prevent Selby moving within two points of top spot.
With a sensational crowd of 204 watching – another marker for what the Fox-effect has done for Selby – the Robins flew out of the blocks.
Suspended Glasshoughton duo Ryan Ferguson and Sam Pashley watch on as Selby star Liam Flanagan attacks. Picture: Dave Haddock
Selby cut their visitors open inside 60 seconds, with another man of the match contender Carl Stewart heading just wide. The constant waves of attacks continued for five minutes before Welfare did settle.
What will probably be forgotten is that Glasshoughton should have actually taken the lead aa Matty Bowman broke through and was denied by goalkeeper Peter Lawrie. Ultimately Bowman should have scored.
It mattered as Selby struck twice in eight minutes to put themselves in a very strong position. Unmarked Flanagan netted with a volley from close range from Stewart’s headed knock-down.
Quality striker Stewart then played a role in the second goal as he held the ball up from a Selby corner. He passed to his captain Ryan Gothard, whose blocked pile-driver created a bit of ping-pong in the six-yard-box. The ball dropped to Ann who couldn’t miss.
Glasshoughton did alright in patches, but they struggled to really trouble Selby. Poskitt was excellent in his deep attacking role and nearly scored two spectacular goal, but Lawrie read both efforts well.
Chances were few and far between for most of the second half as Selby very effectively controlled proceedings. Fox’s men turned the screw as the game reached the final 15 minutes.
The Robins were too hot to handle and Glasshoughton goalkeeper Mat Zaniewski had to be on top form. He denied Stewart twice before denying him with a magnificent save from an equally as good goal-bound overhead kick.
New signing Fraser Hansen, on as substitute, also reaped havoc. He was also denied a debut goal as he had beaten Zaniewski, but an offside Dale tapped it home on the goal-line.
There was an inevitably about Selby’s third goal and when it came it was a cracker. The foreplay was superb as Stewart beautifully held off Adam Walsh with the ball at his feet on the half-way line. Dale appeared and literally sprinted away with the ball. He beared down on Zaniewski before finally getting the better of the goalkeeper by taking it round him and placing the ball into the empty net to send Selby’s fans home even more jubilant.
The Teams
Selby Town: Lawrie, Woodhead, Robinson, Ramsey, Gothard, Ann, Bilton (Neal), Clamp (Snodin), Flanagan (Hansen), Stewart, Dale. Subs unused: Pearse, Lawrence.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski,,Sokol, Mumbanya (Chipasha), Knight, Walsh, Hunter, Semley, Willis (Klimczak), Collier, Poskitt, Bowman. Subs unused: Cunliffe, Pickering.
Who Was In Charge
Liam Smith (7/10)
How Many Were There
204