NCEL: Knaresborough Town bag North Yorkshire derby win over Selby Town

Defender Sam Cook headed home the winner as Knaresborough Town claimed a gritty 2-1 win over North Yorkshire rivals Selby Town on Tuesday night.

Chris Jackson had put the visitors ahead on nine minutes as Knaresborough started sluggishly but Brad Walker levelled matters with an exquisite strike just before the half hour.

Knaresborough had the better of the second half and collected the points after Cook found space from a corner.

The victory means Paul Stansfield's squad still hold hopes of an inaugural play-off place in NCEL Division One but all-but ended the hopes of the Manse Lane visitors.

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Tensions were always going to be high between the sides in the nature of the North Yorkshire derby but striker Gary Collier's move to Selby from Knaresborough last week added extra flavour to the pre-match build-up.

That set out a frantic first half with chances at both ends and a number of strong tackles and fouls committed.

Knaresborough were slow out of the blocks and could have conceded before Jackson was given far too much space in the box from a defensive mix-up and he slid his shot into the corner.

Ben Parkes got the final touch before the ball crossed the line in a despairing lunge but the Selby striker was awarded the goal.

Walker forced Selby stopper Ciaran Gibson into a strong save as Boro looked for an immediate response before Collier came inches away from scoring against his former club.

The striker, who scored seven goals in a short stint at Manse Lane, rattled the bar with a stunning volley inside the area.

At the other end, Gibson thwarted Fraser Lancaster before Walker found the equaliser in brilliant fashion.

Selby switched off at the back after Jackson produced an ugly foul on Parkes and from the ensuing free-kick, in Knaresborough's half, the long punt forward found Walker who hooked over Gibson and into the top corner.

Knaresborough felt they deserved a penalty soon after when George Eustance danced through two tackles before falling over a third but their protests went unanswered.

Spells of possession continued to switch between the sides but the referees whistle was also becoming a prominent factor, much to the annoyance of the home support.

On the stroke of half-time, Lancaster fired a half-volley wide of the mark after finding space.

Selby petered out as an attacking force after the break as the game went through a quiet phase.

Fatlum Ibrahimi was dropped further back into Knaresborough's midfield and started to influence more until he was replaced by ex-Harrogate Railway teammate Mike Morris.

That defensive substitution came as a result of Wood's winning goal, where he lost his marker to pounce ahead of a stranded Gibson from Eustance's inswinging corner.

Boro goalkeeper Jack Rushworth only had one momentary cause for concern as Chris Banks' deep cross threatened to drop just under the bar.

Selby, who had previously gone three matches unbeaten under new joint bosses Nigel Emery and Reuben Pearse, offered little going forward as the game wore on.

And it was Knaresborough who could have extended their lead as Cook brought a tremendous save out of Gibson with another thumping header and Lancaster skewed over substitute Paul Atkinson's cross.

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