SELBY Town responded from their first defeat of the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Swallownest at the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium, writes Phil Dearnley.

A brace from striker Liam Flanagan earned Selby all three points in a result which takes them up to second in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League division one.

While Flanagan may take the headlines with his double, goalkeeper Dylan Parkin left the field delighted at having secured his first clean sheet since joining the club in 2019.

Selby took lead with just nine minutes played, somewhat against the run of play as Swallownest had looked confident in the early exchanges.

A free-kick from 25 yards out was duly dispatched by set-piece specialist Flanagan, who sent the ball into the corner of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Selby struggled to kick on after the opener as the visitors put wide a free-kick in a similar position to that of Flanagan's goal.

Parkin was being tested too as he had to be sharp to turn an attempt over for a corner.

Town's Harry Clapham did manage to force Swallownest's keeper into a smart stop while Luke Sellers shot over before half-time.

The away side continued to force the issue after the break, with Parkin again called upon to turn a shot wide, and soon after he was relieved to claim a shot hit straight at him.

At the other end though, Selby were showing more attacking intent, particularly through their full-backs, who proved to be the source of their second goal.

Harry Sheppard's delivery found its way to the left edge of the area and to Flanagan, who cut across the area, before smashing a shot past the goalkeeper.

There was little doubt about who was in charge of the contest from this point.

Clapham was causing problems as, after seeing a penalty appeal turned away, he headed just wide from a Flanagan cross.

The hosts also went close when Sellers fired over the bar, and Flanagan drew a strong save from the goalkeeper.

Selby had the ball in the tack of the net through Flynn McNaughton, only to see the offside flag raised.

Swallownest were still posing a threat in the dying stages.

Just before the end, they almost pulled a goal back as Parkin was required to make a point blank save from a deflected shot.

The match ended with Clapham having yet another attempt on goal deflected by a defender.