Selby Town 4-1 Hall Road Rangers
Chris Jackson ensured Selby Town celebrated their 100th birthday in memorable fashion as his devastating hat-trick downed Leon Sewell’s Hall Road Rangers at the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium.
There was a carnival atmosphere as Jackson and his mate Luke Sellers lit the candles for Christian Fox’s swash-buckling heroes who followed the script to the letter apart from conceding a Richard Medcalf goal.
The victory places the Robins fourth in the Toolstation NCEL Division One table and on course to challenge for the promotion back to the top flight, something the club has craved ever since Fox arrived and raised the bar in 2017.
Crowds have continuously increased during his reign and to get 285 for the 100th anniversary fixture is another major achievement.
Most are likely to come back too based on the entertaining way Selby ruthlessly disposed of Hall Road. Facing a scary attack of Casey Stewart, Jackson, Liam Flanagan and Josh Walker, Hall Road always had an uphill task.
But they made it easy for the birthday boys. Possession was lost far too cheaply in the middle of their own half and in stepped the returning Stewart. He strode forward before laying the ball forward for the onrushing Jackson to slide it past Robins legend Jody Barford. Just five minutes had gone.
Hall Road had a brief spell of dominance and Tom Bennett could have done better with a chance he had.
Ultimately Selby regained their foothold and once as Sellers’ spectacular 35-yard low drive from the left doubled the lead, you could sense there would be no way back for Rangers.
The third came straight after the break – a majestic diving header from Jackson from a corner.
Hall Road’s attempt to find some kind of a way back were de-railed by the sin-binning of Fitzgerald.
Then with the defender 30 seconds away from coming back on, captain Conner Harman joined him in the dugout.
Whilst off-the-pitch, Harman watched his team-mates grab a goal back in bizarre circumstances. Medcalf’s shot was saved by Peter Lawrie and captain Ryan Gothard was on hand to clear. However, his clearance was blocked by Medcalf and it ricocheted into the net.
Selby were on the rack and they had a lucky escape a few minutes later, unmarked Medcalf headed only just wide.
Ultimately time was against Hall Road anyway and with the last act of the game, magic man Joe Dale, on a substitute, broke down the left and and played a neat pass into the feet of Jackson.
With a hat-trick in sight, Jackson had the weight of the world on his shoulders and nearly 300 people screaming “shoot” at him. With time and space on his side, plus a good angle, he steadied himself and fired home. With that the ground erupted to applaud a magnificent hat-trick and also blow out the candles on an unforgettable birthday for Selby Town.
The Teams
Selby Town: Lawrie, Rogerson, Sellers, Clamp (Snaith), Gothard (captain), Ann, Jackson, D Walker (Holding), Flanagan, J Walker (Dale) Stewart. Subs unused: Lawman, Bilton.
Hall Road Rangers: Barford, Waud, Whittington, Andrews (Foster), Fitzgerald (Murray), Knaggs, Bennett (Hastings), Harman, Medcalf, Harrison, Stone.
Who Was In Charge
Liam Smith (6/10)
Mr Smith had a good first half, but after the break it turned into a unnecessary yellow card-fest with two players sin-binned.
How Many Were There
285
Man of the Match
Chris Jackson (Selby Town)