SELBY Town suffered their first home defeat of the new NCEL season on Saturday, when going down 3-1 to league leaders Horbury Town at The Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium.

The Selby management will be disappointed with the manner of the defeat especially with the ease of how the three goals were conceded.

James Cusworth opened the scoring for Horbury in the ninth minute, heading a cross into an empty net.

Ned Dry notched a late first half penalty for Town, Arran Fell got Horbury's second just after half-time when another cross was missed, and Luke Playford wrapped things up later in the game when the Robins' defence were slow to react to a free-kick.

In the early stages of the game Declan Racher got through on the right side but failed to cut the ball back and Connor Ryan saw a shot well held by Paul Hagreen in the Horbury goal.

Town were disappointed to go a goal behind in the ninth minute when Sam Auty, out on the right wing, was allowed to cross into the penalty area where Cusworth headed easily home.

Town came back and Harrison Rowley broke clear down the right but was foiled by a great tackle from Jason Spencer.

Minutes later Hargeen made an incredible save from a Harry Clapham header, scooping the ball away low down at his left post with the loose ball being fired wide.

Town quickly had another chance but somehow the ball was kept out.

However, not long later Selby got their equaliser when Clapham was brought down in the penalty area and Dry slotted the penalty under Hagreen.

Sadly within a minute of the start of the second half Town went behind again.

An innocuous cross from the left was poorly dealt with and Fell drove the loose ball home.

Minutes later, Cusworth should have had a second when again poor defending saw the striker nudge the ball wide.

However with 20 minutes left the visitors put the game to bed when James Smith sent a superb free-kick from the right of the halfway line, which evaded a town defender and Playford latched onto it and drove it across Bason into the far corner.

The game would fizzle out for Selby at this point and they will look to go again when they visit Ilkley Town on Saturday, August 10 (3pm).

SELBY TOWN: Bason, Mcgrath, Bull, Ryan, Love, Rowley, Marsh, Racher, Dry, Dawes, Clapham.

Subs all used: St. Juste, Wilson, Petch, Drury, Davison.

Attendance: 255