Marton Abbey FC And Selby Olympia Battle To A Thrilling 3-3 Draw

Marton Abbey FC travelled to Selby Olympia’s home ground at Ouse Bank Recreation Ground on 6 September 2025 for a league away fixture that kicked off promptly at 2:00pm. The encounter ended in a pulsating 3-3 draw after 90 minutes of intense football under the watchful eye of referee Mark Burke.

Marton Abbey lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, deploying three defenders at the back with Scott Snowdon on the right, Conor Whitley centrally, and Matty Smith on the left. The midfield quartet consisted of Harvey Rochester on the right flank, Noah Willis and Darren Dewick occupying the central midfield roles, and Daniel Huggins operating on the left. Jack Hopwood was positioned just behind the two forwards, Dan Cooper on the right and Keanan Crake on the left, tasked with linking play and providing attacking impetus. The goalkeeper duties were handled by Dan Huggins. No substitutes were named for this fixture.

From the outset, Marton Abbey sought to impose their shape and rhythm, with the wing midfielders expected to provide width and supply the forwards through the attacking midfielder. The three at the back were charged with maintaining solidity and covering the flanks when the wide midfielders pushed forward.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Daniel Huggins delivered a precise cross from the left, finding Keanan Crake inside the box. Crake expertly finished with his left foot to give Marton Abbey the lead. The goal was a testament to the fluidity of the formation, with the left midfielder and left forward combining effectively.

As the first half progressed, both sides battled for control, but the scoreline remained 1-0 in favour of Marton Abbey at the interval.

Just five minutes after the restart, Marton Abbey doubled their advantage. Darren Dewick played a short, incisive pass to Keanan Crake, who calmly slotted the ball home with his right foot. This second goal underlined Crake’s clinical nature and the midfield’s ability to feed the forwards with quality service.

However, Selby Olympia responded swiftly and with determination. They pulled a goal back in the 55th minute, signalling the start of a challenging period for Marton Abbey’s defence. The visitors’ lead was further eroded just five minutes later when Selby Olympia found the net again, levelling the score at 2-2.

The hosts then seized the momentum and took the lead for the first time in the match with a third goal in the 73rd minute. Marton Abbey’s back three and midfield were under constant pressure, and Selby Olympia capitalised on a lapse to make it 3-2.

Despite the setback, Marton Abbey showed resilience and fought back in the closing stages. In the 89th minute, Keanan Crake once again proved pivotal by setting up Dan Cooper with a short pass outside the box. Cooper unleashed a precise right-footed strike from distance that found the back of the net, restoring parity at 3-3.

Throughout the match, Conor Whitley was a standout performer at the heart of the defence, marshaling his backline and making crucial interventions to keep Marton Abbey in the contest. His commanding presence earned him the player of the match accolade.

The game finished level, a fair reflection of a fiercely contested encounter where both teams showed attacking intent and defensive frailties. Marton Abbey will take heart from their fighting spirit and the contributions of their key forwards, while Selby Olympia demonstrated their ability to respond under pressure on home soil.