SELSTON FC (Parish Hall Ground)

FA VASE 1st QUALIFYING ROUND, SELSTON 2-1 BARROW TOWN, ATT: 122

After my initial plan of York City vs Hereford fell victim to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the away camp, the finger of fate led me to Nottinghamshire for an all United Counties League FA Vase tie between Selston and Barrow Town.

Selston is a former mining village 13  miles north of Nottingham. Selston Football Club was formed in 1968 as a Sunday league club before moving into the senior game in 1986 when they joined the Central Midlands League. They moved to the Midlands Regional Alliance in 1992 but rejoined the Central Midlands in 1997. They won promotion to the Supreme Division in 1999 but were relegated back to the Premier in 2002.

The first team went into abeyance for three seasons, as the club concentrated on its youth set-up, but returned in 2006 to re-join the Midland Regional Alliance, winning the Division Two title in 2008 before moving to the Nottinghamshire Senior League in 2011. In 2015 they rejoined the Central Midlands League, winning the South Division title in 2016 and again 2017, and they were then promoted to the East Midlands Counties League.

After the restructuring of the non-league pyramid in 2021 they were transferred across to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League.

Selston play their home games at the Parish Hall Ground in the centre of the village. The ground is three sided, as it is shared with the local cricket team.

This Vase tie was an entertaining game to watch. Barrow will probably be wondering how this game got away, but it proved the old adage that it's not how you start it's how you finish. 

The Riversiders were much the better team in the first half and, after taking an early lead when Nick Reeves (8) headed home from a corner, they failed to capitalise on their advantage. 

Selston equalised somewhat against the run of play after 19 minutes, when Lucas Brough broke clear but his effort was saved by Randall but the rebound fell to George Layton who fired home, despite the Randall recovering to get a hand on the ball. Even at 1-1 the visitors still looked the more likely as their two wingers were causing all sorts of problems for the Selston defence.

In the second period Selston nullified these threats and, after taking the lead on 65 minutes, when Layton drilled home his second of the afternoon, they were quite comfortable in seeing the game out as Barrow simply ran out of ideas.

An enjoyable game to watch on a pleasant afternoon in Nottinghamshire.