Toolstation NCEL Division One
Rainworth Miners Welfare 1-1 Selby Town
New signing Harry Clapham rescued a deserved point for Selby Town with the late equaliser in stalemate at Rainworth Miners Welfare.
Young Clapham notched his first competitive goal for Town with a 77th minute goal after the home side had gone ahead with a Craig Mitchell strike.
Town had not played since the Pickering Town friendly a couple of weeks ago and the opening day line-up contained some changes.
Ryan Gothard and Tom Giblin were missing due to injury and Reece Botterill was only able to make the bench along with Ryan Cooper.
Gracjan Klimczak was also on the bench and in came Harry Sheppard, Luke Sellars, and Sam O’Malley, with Liam Flanagan also starting.
This was certainly a game of two halves. The Robins appeared disjointed and certainly not at the races for the first half but showed a marked improvement in the second period.
However it can be said that if home ‘keeper Warren Squires had not pulled off at least four good saves Town may have journeyed back north with all three points.
With a troublesome crosswind Town started on the back foot against a big and physical home side. Goalkeeper Dylan Parkin was forced to palm a hopeful lob onto his cross bar and then a long throw from the left saw him struggling to reach the ball.
In Town’s first real attack Clapham appeared to be fouled on the edge of the home penalty area but appeals were waved away by the referee.
Home ‘keeper Squires then defied Clapham with a fine tip over from a shot but at the other end Parkin did well to collect a dangerous cross and Selllars made a timely headed clearance. Lucas Cotterill had a shot saved at the second attempt by Parkin.
At the other end Squires tipped a Kane Rogerson effort over the bar and a whipped in Rogerson free kick caused problems before the ball was hoofed. clear.
The home side took the lead on 26 minutes when a long free kick from the left was headed back into the Town six-yard area and Mitchell knocked the ball home.
Rainworth were now looking to quickly add a second and Parkin was forced into a save and then Sheppard somehow managed to block a point blank effort on the goal line.
Town had another go and a Rogerson free kick was tipped around the post by Squires. Just before the half time whistle Sellars made a fantastic block on the Town goal line to stop the home side increasing their lead.
The Robins came out for the second period and appeared in a better frame of mind. Flanagan blazed a shot over the bar and the home defence struggled against the speed of Clapham and a number of times he was the victim of cynical fouls.
One such foul saw a free kick punched away by the keeper and then Clapham soared away down the right and his cross was volleyed inches wide by Rogerson.
Flanagan then went on a run but saw his shot blocked.
Once again Clapham was the subject of a foul as he left the home defenders in his wake and once again he was brought down.
The resulting Flanagan free kick was pushed over the bar by the now overworked Squires. Charlie Clamp made a great run into the home 6 yard area and appeared to be upended but again the claims for a penalty were ignored.
Town got their reward for their endeavours 12 minutes from time when the ball was pushed through the penalty area and Clapham pounced to prod the ball home at the far post.
Now it was Town going for the winning goal with the home side hardly troubling Parkin. Flynn McNaughton saw a drive whistle past an upright. Clamp saw an effort from distance go over the bar and and in the final moments Squires came to his team’s rescue again when his knee diverted a Rogerson effort at the keepers near post.
Town are next in action when they entertain Rossington Main at home next Saturday at 3pm.
The Teams
Rainworth Miners Welfare: Squires, Coupe, Jones, Kyle Hempshall, Weston, Hempshall, Naylor, Hinchley, Mitchell, Cotterill, Williamson. Subs. Wesley, Herbert, Hewitt, Tittley, Wootton.
Selby Town: Parkin, Sheppard, Sellars, Davison, (Klimcak), Snaith, O’Malley (Vass), McNaughton, Clamp, Flanagan, Rogerson, Clapham. Subs unused: Cooper, Botterill, Lawman.
Who Was In Charge
David Windsor
How Many Were There
101
Thanks to Garry Mollon who has made a one-off comeback appearance with this report!