SELBY TOWN delivered a stunning performance at the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium on Tuesday night, as Ryan Cooper’s side defeated Parkgate 2-1 in their Toolstation Northern Counties East League division one clash.

Following a late victory against Nostell Miners Welfare last time out, the Robins knew the importance of building momentum against a Parkgate outfit who were searching for their fourth consecutive league victory.

But it was instead Selby who narrowly triumphed, their excellent run of form continuing with a fifth win in their last six games.

Cooper made one change to the Robins’ starting line-up, with Charlie Smith paving the way for Callum Brook.

Town also saw a reshuffle on the substitutes bench as Tom Palmer and Alisdair Kerr were added to the squad alongside Ryan Cooper, Marc Lumb and Charlie Clamp.

It was evident from the off that Town fancied something from the game and soon found themselves in the ascendancy without creating many clear cut opportunities on goal. 

Jamie Danby offered the better of said opportunities for Town whilst the visitors fired a low driven effort narrowly wide of Jamie Hassall’ s far post inside the opening 10 minutes.

A strong Town contingent weren’t to wait long for the opening goal however, captain Connor Qualter rising highest to nod Iwan Heeley’s free-kick past Jordan Greaves with little under 15 minutes on the clock.

Despite the visitors best efforts, Selby remained in control, but as has been the way of the Robins for the most part this term, lacked any real bite in front of goal. 

And they were subsequently punished on the stroke of half time, Brandon Whitfield levelling the scores with a strike from the edge of the box.

Town started brightly after the break, though yet again, no real clear cut opportunities presented themselves. 

That was until the 53rd minute as Jamie Hassall found Kyle Fish, who darted at the visitors’ defence through the middle of the pitch before passing to Alex Burton, who lost his man and fired a low effort in to the back of the net.

The hosts’ ascendancy in the tie grew with each passing minute and they looked evermore threatening going forward, with Qualter, Harry Clapham and Liam Flanagan all seeing efforts come up short. 

Selby did come close to sealing victory with six minutes remaining, but a well-driven effort flew across the face of goal.

Parkgate did offer an occasional attacking move of the their own, yet the Robins’ back line held firm, denying the visitors any hope of an equaliser. 

A tense finish was on the cards as the Robins went deep in to added time with the slenderest of margins, yet, with a little assistance from the stellar crowd, they held on to come away with the win.

Selby are next in action at home to 12th-placed Dronfield Town on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

SELBY TOWN: Hassall, McGrath, Heeley, Danby, Brook, Qualter ©, Fish, Davison, Flanagan, Burton, Clapham.