Atherley were undone inside a five minute spell crossing over either side
of half-time, a period containing all three conceded goals in a 3-1 defeat to Selby Town
in the NCEL Division One on Saturday.
Alfie Bakes’ headed consolation goal followed too late, inside the final minutes at the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium.
Harry Clapham’s 42nd-minute header opened the scoring
closely followed by Dan Davison’s goal before the break and Sam Calvert completing
Selby’s scoring by the 46th-minute.
Paul Clarkson made four changes to the side which drew with
Nostell. Charlie Auty & Bailey Wright were promoted from the bench of eight
days ago. Nicholas Lalousis & Harrison Landon completed the inductees.
Expected, Selby went wide straight away. What wasn’t foreseen
was Bailey Wright rounding his full-back on the outside to enter Selby’s box
from the left within minutes of the start.
Host 'keeper Liam Wilson kept play in motion, quickly looking directly for Calvert
up top who’s presence was enough of a distraction for the Athersley
centre-halves that the ball continued to drop into the path of Clapham’s inside run
before he was fouled.
An early yellow for James Woodhouse was the only setback for
Rec as the free-kick, well-positioned right-of-centre, just yards outside the box, was hit
straight at the wall.
Clapham again had space to run into but in a race with Woodhouse
while chasing a first-time pass in-behind, Rec’s full-back was able to poke the
ball behind.
Enzo Guarini in the opposite corner was firstly fortunate for the
rebound off Selby’s defender but unlucky in seeing his shot roll just wide when
aiming across goal, his run adjacent to the edge of the box.
Effah’s crucially aware to Clapham’s threat on the next occasion
when the forward’s one-on-one, blocking the shot once both had entered the box.
Pickard’s first to a Selby corner from the right but in
reaching for the punch, he’s grounded and out of position when the rebound is
directed goalward, just recovering in time to block with a leg at the bottom of
his right-hand post.
Clapham timed his run behind well, matched with Charlie Petch’s
through pass between Rec’s defence. The drilled cross from right to left across
the face of goal is aimed too far ahead of Dan Davison, just minutes past the
half hour mark.
James Woodhouse had opportunity to cross from an advanced
position thanks to the aggressiveness of Lalousis’ work on the opposite flank,
the delivery dealt with by one half of the sizable pair at the heart of Selby’s
backline.
The lead, Selby’s way, to come from a set-piece wasn’t reflective
of the open start. Harry Clapham’s aerial threat was again
proven with a header following a corner on fourty-two minutes.
The advantage was doubled two minutes later, Dan Davison running
onto a loose ball central inside the box before placing past the left of Pickard,
the hosts entering half-time benefitting from the 2-goal gap.
It was extended within sixty seconds of the restart with Sam
Calvert one-on-one before a side-footed finish. Rec’s two introductions at the
break, Luke Moorhouse & Brad Green with little time to influence yet.
Rec were advancing further upfield through Jimmy Purcell’s
leading of the line after the break. He again chased a ball behind to win the
race and tee-up Luke Moorhouse’s cross from wide left. The delivery was dragged
across the floor, fortunate to meet a Rec attacker inside the box but the touch
reinforced any suggestions he won’t have expected the cross going short.
Green was the next to favour from Athersley’s advanced
position, round his defender down the left before firing the ball across the
face of goal with no touch central.
Athersley would reduce the deficit into the final minutes of
normal time. Alfie Bakes was on the end of a corner from the right, heading inside
the far post.
But there wasn’t enough time to further pull-back into the
game, despite the ball almost falling for Purcell positioned on top of the
penalty spot, the points going the way of Selby.
Rec host Shelley on Friday evening to continue their NCEL
Division One campaign.
