SELBY Town recorded their second win of the week on Saturday when they entertained Armthorpe Welfare at a cold but dry Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium.
Town had halted a run of four defeats last Tuesday night with a good win at Appleby Frodingham and they went into this game confident that they could gain three more points against a side that they had beaten earlier in the season.
They set off at pace with Harry Clapham securing an early lead and despite the visitors drawing level, a brace of goals from Liam Love gave the home side a good half-time lead. Man of the Match Connor Ryan sealed the win with 10 minutes left.
Selby were forced into changes in the back four regarding the game. From the Appleby game Jack Bull was unavailable and Charlie Petch was ill.
Ryan came back in for his first start since injury and there was a debut for under 21s player Brennan McNulty, who had a good, confident game.
The game had only just got underway, when in their first attack, the Robins took the lead when a ball was fed in from the left and Clapham flicked the ball home at the near post.
Minutes later Finlay Wade bundled the ball home, but the effort was ruled out for handball. Then Wade fired over the bar with a couple of Town players unmarked in the penalty area. Dan Davison saw a volley just clear the bar.
With Selby so dominant it was disappointing to see Armthorpe equalise on 22 minutes. Poor defending allowed an attacker to take the ball around keeper Joe Wilton, and the ball was played to the far post where William Gomes slotted home.
Seven minutes later Town re-took the lead. Ryan played a superb ball over to Clapham on the right and the captain crossed for Love to hammer home.
The Robins then saw a corner kick blocked on the goal line before they added a third goal on 35 minutes. James Danby charged a clearance down and the ball fell to Clapham who repeated the earlier move, passing across goal to the inrushing Love, who again hit the ball home.
Just before the break the visitors were nearly caught out again. Danby nipped in but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Reece Westcarr.
Selby opened the second-half looking for a fourth goal. Wade saw a shot blocked and Caden McGrath shot inches over the bar. Clapham saw an effort saved by the legs of Westcarr.
Armthorpe were trying to come back and Wilton was forced into a good, and important save, tipping a low shot around the post and then McNulty managed to deflect an effort over the bar.
Town came back, Danby headed inches wide, and Westcarr was lucky when his clearance hit Clapham but bounced wide of the goal. Wade set Danby up but his shot was blocked off the goal line.
Ryan got the goal that sealed the game with 10 minutes left. A superb Declan Racher free-kick in from the right found Ryan at the far post and he headed powerfully into the roof of the net.
Just before the end Westcarr made a great save from a Clapham header.
Town remain eighth in the league and they are back in action at Athersley Recreation next Saturday (3pm).
SELBY TOWN: Wilton, McGrath, Racher, Parker (Dawes), McNulty, Ryan, Davison (Adams), Danby (Greening), Clapham, Love (Dry), Wade
Attendance: 241
