ROBINS OF SELBY FLY INTO NEXT ROUND OF VASE WITH WESTELLA WIN

WESTELLA VIP 1 V SELBY TOWN 3
FA VASE 2Q ROUND @ EURNONICS GROUND BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS
3 OCTOBER 2015---3PM

Westella saw their FA Vase journey come to an end early in this game when Selby stormed into a two goal lead inside the first ten minutes of the first half.  Despite a second half goal the home side couldn't pull level and it was the ever threatening visitors who extended their lead again when with 15 minutes remaining Will Ramsey secured the next round spot for The Robins.
A near mid morning for base station start saw the blog off to Hull with the top of the table clash in the NCEL in our sights and a chance to see Hull Utd take on free scoring AFC Mansfield in the village of Dunswell.  An early change saw us depart on a Bridlington bound Northern Rail service the peaceful start to the morning was soon to come to an abrupt end at Meadowhall not due to noisy shoppers but some loud Barnsley fans who made the train rock.  Thankfully they were joined on their journey to Doncaster by Transport Police and on departure from here normality was returned.  A close meander past the Victoria Pleasure Ground of Goole FC allowed us a look into the ground and further added to the thoughts of a 'must do' ground soon before we stopped at the towns station.  As we approached Hull there was time to pass North Ferriby Utd another for the list and then after passing the Humber Bridge we slowed down on our approach to Hull's Paragon station and had a view of the smart looking KC Stadium.

WELCOME TO HULL!

Along the way there was today no reading of papers or other literature as we looked up the news around todays chosen game only to find out just after 11am that the game had been called off.  Thankfully we had two other choices before venturing into the Humber League possibilities and we opted to take a look at Westella VIP who since their move from Bishop Burton College ground share at Barton Town on the Lincolnshire side of the Humber.  This was a nice way to catch up with a club who I had previously encountered with Clay Cross Town and after a few years of effort had finally got their chance to progress following their CMFL promotion last season and are doing nicely in their inaugural NCEL season.
Following a small dash around Hull city centre we made our way back to the bus station which is superbly placed adjacent to the train station.  Just after 1pm we boarded the 350 service to Scunthorpe which would take us past the KC Stadium then Hull City's old ground at Boothferry now built on by town houses and onwards over the remarkable Humber Bridge with its misty views all round today.  As soon as we departed the bridge the bus dropped us into Barton Market Place.  The town is a cracking little place to visit with some lovely old historical buildings and churches but todays first point of call was the Market St Chippy for a very good selection of fish and chips.  As time was going past 2pm we made the walk out to the ground via Marsh Lane and the blog wished their had been a little more time to have a look around but sadly this was not to be the case with time pressing.

THE HUMBER BRIDGE MAKES AN APPEARANCE

The approach to The Euronics Ground is via a road headed up by Barton Cricket Club and just before you reach the railway line that serves Barton station a few yards further up the track you turn right into a large car park and in through a smart turnstile block with the clubhouse on the right hand side.
It was a first visit for the blog to the ground and first impressions are once again of a smart ground which is completed enclosed by wooden fencing with a pitch perimeter of painted breeze blocked wall topped off by a varnished wooden shelf.  The goal by our entrance is hard standing and uncovered and over to the far side a large three rowed Atcost stand stands proudly.

Behind the far goal are two small terraced Atcost stands well positioned to either side of the goals.  Back along the dug outs side and the club house contains a very tidy bar and snack bar area along side toilets and the changing rooms for the teams.  The dugouts are smart and of metal construction with some neat swans, the landlords nickname, stencilled into the Astroturf at the front of them.

RUDY FUNK FINDS THE BLOG A LAUGH!

Having settled down with a beverage, non alcoholic, we spotted AFC Mansfield manager Rudy Funk who once again had popped along to see a couple of teams in his league to run the rule over them.  As ever it is always pleasant to catch up with Rudy and it seemed that much of the estimated crowd of 65 knew him!  Included in this was a couple of Scarborough fans, one of his former clubs, who were delighted to catch up with him one of them even had a Rudy Funk t-shirt on much to the AFC mangers delight.

WESTELLA CLEAR THEIR LINES

To the action and within 10 minutes Selby were clinical in the finishing department and found themselves two up and it looked like game over.   In the first minute Craig Muirhead angled one across the home keeper Nathan Otley and into the far corner of the goal.  Then on ten minutes the second arrived Danny Bunch fed Jamie Forrester and Dane Mortimer drilled the ball in at the back post. 
Just before half time Westella did have an effort cleared off the line but it had been a comfortable first half for the visitors.
The second half started much the same way but this time in the first minute Otley pulled off a great save to deny the Robins.

REFEREE O'LEARY ISSUS THE FIRST CARD OF THE AFTERNOON

The game was re invigorated on 51 minutes Alex Wood saw his shot well parried by Ciaran Gibson but as the ball flew up into the air Wood followed up to head into an empty net.
Selby then had an effort cleared from off the line before they returned to a two goal margin on 75 minutes Chris Jackson laid off to Will Ramsey who fired past the out coming home keeper.
The remaining minutes saw the visitors hit the woodwork twice as they looked to extend their lead further.

WESTELLA JAMES ATKINSON AND TOM CHAMBERLAIN OF SELBY

A steady little game and a match that Selby would have been annoyed had they not have won with the chances they created.  For Westella they have a first league season in the NCEL to concentrate on something they are doing well so far since their move up to step 6.
The reverse journey on the 350 to Hull was luxury and got us back into Paragon station with half an hour to spare for the express train back to Sheffield this time journeying via Selby another ground that needs to go onto our 'to do list'

A FIRST TRAINS HULL 180 AWAITS DEPARTURE