LATE WINNER

SELSTON 1 STAPLEFORD TOWN 2

UCL DIVISION ONE AT THE PARISH

7 SEPTEMBER 2024 ---3PM

SELSTON V STAPLEFORD TEA TIME ON THE HOME BENCH

Stapleford bagged the three points with a penalty two minutes from the end of normal time that took them to one place off the play offs at the early part of this season, for Selston a disappointing late loss that sees them rueing missed chances as UCL season long battles for survival continue/

STAPLEFORD PUT THE PRESSURE ON

Yesterdays lovely bright weather allowed for some nice pictures from the Blaze Women's cricket match in the Queens Park, they are on Facebook.  But today was a sign of the fast approaching autumn and then winter with mist after early morning fog and now a persistent drizzle and rain making photos difficult but thankfully there are a few.

An early arrival for a visit to the nearby Coop, sadly no chippy in the close vicinity of The Parish, would provide a pasty and a bit of confectionary.

BLACK PENALTY MAKES IT 1-0 TO SELSTON

Usual friendly welcome at the gate and teams obtained there was time to see where my camera would perform best while multi tasking and eating the gathered in food as well.  This tight little ground was looking smart and the pitch pretty good to say the lack of rest most pitches have had after last seasons horrendous conditions.

The first half was a scrappy affair with Stapleford playing some retention football across the back before often then playing a big ball forward.  They did though have the possession and so often had the final ball have come off they would have been in the goals market before the inevitable happened and Selston scored.  Just before the half hour mark Jordan Black was upended in the box and he brushed himself down and smashed the ball down the middle as the visiting keeper Danny Brown went to his left.

YOU HAVING A LAUGH REF, I'AM

Now the home side had the confidence and looked more in control although referee Tim Lewis was annoying manager Craig Weston who was having quite a few challenges from the touchline until one loud enquiry about consistency saw him called towards the referee.  Weston brilliantly defused the situation by offering the official the biggest smile from the moment he ran towards him to the time he left the discussion.

THOUGHTFUL MOMENTS ON THE HOME BENCH

One thing of note today was Selston were operating a good public address system with some music something that a lot of clubs leave alone nowadays and although it needs somebody to operate thankfully the home side did and did it well too.

The visitors started the half well and somehow Selston kept the ball out of their goal just four minutes into the second period, Michael Robb stretched to head the ball back from a seemingly impossible position and then a spell of chaos as three close range efforts found woodwork, keeper and on line defender who all got in the way of an equaliser.

There wasn't too long to wait though for the leveller to arrive when on 63 minutes Jahred Russell weaved to just inside the box and hit a beautiful strike that curled inside the right hand post.

The visitors now went into fourth gear and you could see Selston finding it harder under pressure with the hope of a breakaway goal receding as defence become all encompassing.  It was heartbreak for the home side on 88 minutes a nudge in the box resulted in the Stapleford player going down and up stepped Sam Harbottle to despatch the second penalty of the game and more importantly for the men in sky blue secure the three points.

JAHRED RUSSELL GETS THE CONGRATULATIONS

A strange game were late losses are very hard to take and Selston could be relatively happy with taking Stapleford, who are flying high, close in this encounter.  For Stapleford though they probably just had the edge and deserved their win as they look to be a surprise package in Division One this season.