Selby Town topple Skelmersdale United to progress in Vase

Ned Dry got the all important goal for Selby early in the first-half, but despite creating a number of good goal scoring chances, Town could not find another goal to make the scoreline more emphatic.

In relation to team news, Dry came in for Harrison Rowley after the previous game against Maltby Main.

Dan Davison failed a late fitness test and Alex Marsh came into the starting line-up.

Despite the cold and windy conditions a good crowd of 280 witnessed the game with large numbers having travelled in support of the visitors.

Skelmersdale nearly took the lead in the first minute when Renato De Olveira broke clear but Liam Wilson in the home goal foiled him with his feet.

The Robins were exerting pressure on the visitors goal and the visiting keeper Ben Barnes just beat the onrushing Harry Clapham to a through ball.

Dry then headed the ball down in the area to Clapham who shot inches over the bar. James Danby also shot over.

Selby opened the scoring on 17 minutes. Clapham on the right chased down a huge kick from Wilson, and he squared the ball to Dry who knocked it home for his third goal of the season.

A bumper crowd was in attendance for Selby Town's 1-0 victory in the Isuzu FA Vase. (Image: Harvey Brewster)

Liam Love sent in a lovely cross that Clapham volleyed just wide and at the other end De Oliviera showed trickery with the ball at his feet forcing a visiting corner. Callum Sandle tested Wilson with a shot from 25 yards.

Just before the interval Dry should have got his second goal but with only Barnes to beat he hit the ball against the keeper's leg. From a corner Jack Bull saw a point blank header saved by Barnes.

In the first minute of the second half, Town thought they had a second but Clapham's header from a corner was ruled out for a foul on the keeper.

Clapham then had another great chance when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He elected to chip the ball over Barnes, and saw the effort land on the roof of the net.

Dry also shot wide when well-placed and Caden McGrath broke into the area but his pass towards goal only found the hands of Barnes.

Skelmersdale came back into the area with De Oliviera hitting a shot into the arms of Wilson and then Daren Askew looked to have a chance of a goal but Wilson made a good low save to down his right and in the last seconds of the game, Selby supporters had their hearts in their mouths as De Oliviera took aim only to see his shot go inches over the bar.

In the next round of the competition, Selby will host AFC Liverpool on Saturday, September 21.

SELBY TOWN: Wilson, Mcgrath, Bull, Ryan, Love, Washington Danby, Petch, Clapham, Dry, Marsh. Subs Cooper, Rowley, Racher, Dawes, Greening.

Selby Town under-21's were also in action, continuing their pre-season schedule with a 2-2 draw against Ilkley Town under-21's.

Ilkley had the advantage of their artificial pitch and sought an early advantage but Freddie Millard defended lustily and Selby's Alfie Heathershaw made the game's first save.

The Robins soon found their feet with Tyler Wilson, Harrison Whiteley and Jake Drury having a good spell of possession.

The subsequent through ball to Wilson was a touch too heavy though. The next ball up to him was controlled and Wilson forced the first save from the home keeper.

The game was being played at a fast pace and Selby broke a minute after clearing an Ilkley corner.

Millard and Whiteley were prominent in the build-up before releasing the ball to Wilson who slotted home with aplomb on twelve minutes.

Jack Binns has impressed in Selby's preparations and hustled for the ball and was almost on the end of another through ball.

Whiteley and Drury then set up Wilson who hooked his shot well but the move was adjudged offside.

The Robins had a real chance to go two up with their centre forward in plenty of space but his shot wasn't strong enough and gathered easily by the home keeper.

Ilkley were coming into the game more amd despite some heroic defending by Keaton Reed and Kairon Lee, Heathershaw was having to pull off some fine saves. Robbie Adamson did very well too at the back for the visitors.

Both sides were playing with a real sense of direction and along the deck which made for a very pleasing spectacle. Selby had a lovely spell of possession football and were good value for their lead overall so it was disappointing when they conceded just before the interval.

Joe Meek came on for the visitors and would play a prominent role in the second period.

Drury forced a smart save from the home keeper with his free kick just before the interval but they went in level at the break.

The second half was every bit as competitive as the first and one home player made his feelings known as he found himself in a non-passionate embrace as he tried to get forward.

An Ilkley player took up the challenge when his visiting opponent invited him to get past him and did just that by running upfield with the ball tucked away nicely in the closing stages to give the home side the lead for the first time in the game.

A 2-1 defeat would have been harsh on Selby and justice was done in the eighty-eighth minute when Drury put in a fine cross from the right which was met at the far post by Matthews who converted.

That wasn't the end of the action and the Robins went for the winner, really pressing Ilkley. Benton was on the gallop again and found himself on the receiving end of a really hard challenge which upended him and won a free kick.

Attention now turns to the young Robins' first home game, a friendly against Wiggington on August 29.