By Tom Devereux

SELBY Town will look to make a quick recovery from midweek defeat when they host table-toppers Hallam tomorrow.

The Robins suffered a blow to their play-off hopes on Tuesday when they were beaten 1-0 at second-placed North Ferriby, leaving them six points outside the top five.

Christian Fox's men were sunk late on at North Ferriby by an 84th-minute Louis Kirk goal, and they face another test on Saturday (3pm).

The hosts began with a distinct urgency, testing the Selby back line with great endeavour. Both sides saw opportunities go amiss within the opening 20 minutes, perhaps the better coming shortly after when Ferriby thought they had opened the scoring after breaking free inside the area, only for the effort to fire into the side netting.

Despite Selby having decent spells of possession throughout the half, Ferriby continued to press the Robins' defence, but could not break the deadlock.

Selby grew into the game and were denied by a spot of heroic defending by Levi Tarbotton.

The early stages of the second 45 Robins give a decent account of themselves and again perhaps felt they should have opened the scoring eight minutes in, when Dan Davison danced his way way through a packed penalty area but was unable to hit the target.

A smattering of opportunity came to the hosts soon after as the contest became increasingly fiery.

Both Liam Flanagan and Harry Clapham were booked either side of the hour mark whilst Adam Bolder was sent for an early shower after a heavy challenge.

Despite a frenzied few minutes, the attractiveness once witnessed soon began to seep back into the tie. Josh Whiteley rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort.

Town called for a second red card to be produced when n after Harry Clapham was brought down by what appeared to be the last man.

Selby remained on the front foot, producing some decent football. Liam Flanagan looked threatening yet was unable to produce anything of real danger.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Ferriby thought they had nicked it but Jody Barford rose to the challenge, producing a fine save down to his left.

But with six minutes to go, North Ferriby scored the goal the game had craved. A Danny Emerton corner from the right found Kirk, whose glancing header tucked in to the left of the Selby goal.

Tadcaster host Stockbridge Park Steels in the Northern Premier League east division, while Pickering Town welcome fellow strugglers Frickley Athletic to Mill Lane.