Rangers made four changes to the side from last week’s home defeat to Staveley, noticeably Chris Keel and Dave Ricardo, (both suspended) from central defence and midfield respectively. But manager Steve Smith did give a debut to Chris Hudson (a recent signing from Bridlington Town) up front.

In a disappointing game generally, Rangers had a twenty-minute spell in the first half when they looked most likely to score. Jamie Richards had the best chance of the whole game on five minutes when a great Michael Banks cross from the left found him five yards out but he headed wide.

Richards again had a half chance on 13mins. When he was first to a low Banks cross to the near post but the keeper cleared at the second attempt.

New signing Chris Hudson, had a quiet debut but showed enough to confirm his ability. He timed a run on 16mins that beat the Selby Offside from a long clearance from Leigh Herrick. He caught the ball on the half volley and tried unsuccessfully to lob the keeper. Again Hudson went close five minutes later when he fired across the face.

Just after the half hour Nikolaidis rose well to head over when he probably should have done better.

Selby had barely disturbed Herrick in the Ranger’s goalmouth, but had started to press. Ex-Hull City striker Jason Harris was allowed to run with the ball to the edge of the box, he cut inside Blanchard, seeming to overplay the ball but was allowed to regain possession before firing low into the Rangers bottom left hand corner of the net. 1-0 Selby. (40mins)

And it could have been two on the stroke of half time when Harris headed a corner goal bound, but Banks was at hand to clear off the line.

HALF TIME 1-0

The goal close to half time was a real blow to Rangers confidence, straight after the restart Richards raced into the box but chose to pull back instead of hitting a first time cross and the danger was cleared. This summed up the afternoon. Selby didn’t test Rangers anywhere near as much as Goole had, but the spark wasn’t there to drive home the chances Winterton created.

Selby were in the ascendancy. Five minutes after the restart Selby’s Adam Wash was put through one on one before shooting at goal, Herrick stood up well with a reaction save to push the ball onto the bar. The rebound came back to Wash but Herrick again blocked the ball straight into the path of the oncoming Harris whose point blank header Herrick tipped onto the bar and away for a corner. Astounding.

Herrick again produced a top class save; Wash again from close in saw his shot tipped over, on 53mins.  Whilst Leigh Herrick was performing at the top of his game, others were well below their capabilities.

A Selby attack broke down in the Rangers box, a quick ball out to Banks was too easily intercepted by Stuart who raced to the edge of the box before firing in a low cross that Wash finally beat Herrick with on 60mins. 2-0. It was nearly three on 63mins. When Harris was found free in on goal but Herrick again spread well to save with his feet.

Steve Smith had introduced new signing Dean Wilson just prior to Selby’s second goal, and he quickly started to pick up Rangers attacking options. He linked well with Richards who put Hudson in on goal but Mitchell saved well on 66mins. And on 72mins. he crossed well from a corner where Hudson headed across the face. And a minute later Wilson latched onto a through ball, which he hit first time but it curled wide.

There where a few half chances as the game came to a close for both sides, notably a Harris shot blocked away and a Fordham header past the post.

Since the opening day the catalogue of missed chances has cost Rangers and today was no exception. But chances are being created. We will see now that the major cups are out of the way what the team is made of.

FULL TIME 2-0