Smith header seals big win for Selston

Manager Lee Stevenson made four changes from the weekend win over Mickleover RBL, bringing in England, Reynolds, Batterham and Hines, and his side couldn’t have asked for a better start. Straight from kick-off, a flowing move involving three quick passes released Jack Cockram wide, whose excellent delivery was met by Nick Hines, glancing a looping header over the goalkeeper inside the opening minute.

Selston dominated the early exchanges, moving the ball well and looking dangerous down the flanks, but were caught out against the run of play when Wynne was afforded space on the edge of the box and calmly slotted into the bottom corner to level the scores.

The game opened up into a competitive contest, with both sides enjoying spells of possession. Selston looked the more composed, with Ben Moore dictating play from midfield, while at the back they remained largely solid. A forced change on 41 minutes saw Jordan Black replace the injured Mason England, and the sides went into the break level.

The second half mirrored the first in dramatic fashion, with Gresley striking almost immediately. Wynne again was involved, delivering a dangerous ball into the box that found Bowen, who finished via the post to give the visitors the lead.

Selston responded with urgency and intent. Moore continued to drive the team forward, linking play and breaking up opposition attacks, while the wide players looked to stretch the game. The equaliser arrived on 61 minutes when a dangerous ball into the area wasn’t dealt with, allowing Jordan Black to react quickest and slot home from close range.

With momentum firmly back on their side, Selston pushed on and were rewarded on 69 minutes. A pinpoint free-kick from Cockram found Josh Smith, who rose superbly to glance a header into the bottom corner, sparking jubilant scenes around the ground.

Stevenson looked to manage the closing stages, introducing Layton for the tiring Batterham on 84 minutes. The final moments were feisty and hard-fought, with Gresley pressing for an equaliser, but Selston’s defence stood firm, showing resilience and composure under pressure.

The final whistle confirmed a vital three points for Selston, keeping them firmly in the hunt for the title and promotion.

Joint Manager Ben Moore said: “It was a proper battle tonight and I’m really proud of how the lads responded. We started brilliantly, and even when we were pegged back or went behind, there was never any panic.

“The character and togetherness in this group is outstanding — you can see how much they fight for each other. We had to show a different side to our game at times, digging in and putting bodies on the line, but we also played some really good football in spells.

“There’s still a long way to go, so it’s about staying calm, recovering well, and keeping that focus right through to the end of the season.”