SELBY Town dug in for a 1-1 draw in their feisty derby with Knaresborough Town at Manse Lane.

The game’s latter stages were laced with controversy that centred on the two goalkeepers. The home side had Jack Rushworth sent off for an apparent headbutt before they were denied a winning goal, with Selby stopper Pete Lawrie clearly carrying the ball over his own line.

Despite the acrimony, a point each was probably the right result from a Northern Counties East League division one contest watched by a healthy crowd of 132.

Selby started confidently, with left-back Ash Lattimore’s surging runs causing early problems.

Former Pickering striker Callum Ward tried to chip Rushworth before a low Mike Braithwaite shot deflected past the right hand upright.

They went behind in the 39th minute though, as Sam Cook headed past Lawrie from a Brad Walker corner.

In chasing the game, the Robins withstood spells of pressure and were firmly on top for much of the second-half. Wayne Brook had a well-struck shot saved and Dane Mortimer found space to head over.

The encounter sparked into life ten minutes from time when Rushworth was giving his marching orders, after winger Brook had upset him with a firm challenge.

From the resulting corner, Jason Crisp’s inswinging effort swooped over substitute keeper Dan Dekanski and nestled in the top corner.

Despite their man advantage, Selby were on the back foot in the dying moments. Paul Atkinson missed an absolute sitter and Lawrie clearly fielded a right-wing cross behind his own line, only for the referee to wave play on.

The nine-point gap to the play-off places is probably too big an ask for Town to overhaul but Nigel Emery has built a good squad at Flaxley Road.

“We’ve got character. The will to win is there – we’re just starting games slowly,” Emery commented.

“We have been better in the second half of each of our last four games.

“We can’t put our finger on why that is, but we’ll work on it and battle our way through."