Selby Town's play-off hopes are still alive - just!

SELBY Town kept alive their faint hopes of reaching the Toolstation Northern Counties East League First Division play-offs - until Monday at least.

The result also confirmed Brigg Town's relegation to step seven next season, and the outcome was apparent before the first half was over.

As usual, Selby made changes.

Chris Barrett returned in goal, with George Foster-Vigors in the back line, so that Chris Bilton could play midfield for the absent Charlie Clamp. Danny Gray was also in for the rested Joe Dale.

Just as on Thursday night, Selby scored two early goals, this time through Liam Flanagan and Gary Collier.

Both might have been better defended but the Robins then returned the favour, allowing Jack Tierney to pull one back for Brigg.

Five minutes gone and three goals, and the healthy crowd was dreaming of a veritable goal fest.

Then the match settled down somewhat, with Brigg pressing for an equaliser, which duly came via Matthew Steeper.

The Zebras looked capable of turning the game on its head, and it took a brave save with his feet, by Barrett, to keep the visitors from taking the lead.

Brigg were taking risks, and leaving themselves more open than they would have liked.

Sure enough, Selby were able to work the ball across to the left of the penalty area to Jordan Snodin, who fired in to give the Robins the lead once more, but Selby kept pressing and Gary Collier extended Town’s lead just before the interval.

But Selby were visibly tiring in the second half and seemed largely content with containing the visitors.

Meanwhile, Brigg Town worked hard, and never gave up, but looked to lack enough quality to seriously trouble the Robins' defence.

That isn’t to say there weren’t chances. Flanagan hesitated and lost the chance to shoot when well placed, while Brigg Town had a deflected shot which looped over the goalkeeper, only to come to rest on the top of the net, thus avoiding a nervy last few minutes.

Selby’s play-off prospects rely on both Glasshoughton and Hallam not winning their last matches, against Worsbrough Bridge Athletic and Knaresborough Town respectively.

Unlikely as that sounds, it would still require Selby to win their three remaining home games next week, starting with FC Bolsover on Monday.

Winning three games in four days is a monumental ask, but Selby have already achieved a ninth-place finish, their best since 2012, but with an inferior goal difference it will be difficult for Selby to overtake the sides above them.

* In the Premier Division, Pickering Town, who are likely to finish second behind Pontefract Collieries, triumphed 3-1 at Bridlington Town.

Billy Logan, Ged Dalton and Lewis Taylor were on target in the first half, with Chris Jenkinson replying in the 48th minute.

Harrogate Railway Athletic, who have already been relegated, lost 2-0 at home to Garforth Town, for whom Callum Ward and Mark Simpson netted.

First Division champions Knaresborough Town won 2-0 at Dronfield Town, with Nick Black and Coklin Heath getting early goals.

In Evo-Stik League Division One North, Scarborough Athletic sealed the second promotion place with a 2-0 home win over Ossett Albion, courtesy of goals by James Walshaw in the32nd minute and Jimmy beadle in the 87th. 

Second-placed Harrogate Town, who have a week off as they await the winners of the Vanarama National League North play-off quarter-final between Kidderminster and Bradford Park Avenue and Stockport and Chorley, beat Curzon Ashton at the CNG Stadium.

A fantastic five-goal haul from Dom Knowles ensured that Harrogate ended the season in with the National League North's best home record.

Knowles bagged goals in the 24th minute, then 14 seconds after the break and completed his hat-trick four minutes later.

With the game entering stoppage time, Jake Wright was brought down inside the box, allowing Knowles to claim his fourth from the penalty spot.

And Knowles struck once again in the second minute of time added on with Harrogate's 100th league goal.