COMEBACK - ALL IS FORGIVEN

Norristhorpe 3 Shelf Panthers 4

Forget Istanbul 2005. Crossley Fields Junior & Infant School 2009 saw a comeback that puts even Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in the shade.

Like the Reds, the Panthers staged a magnificent fightback after finding themselves 3-0 down at half-time. But, while Gerrard & Co had to rely on penalties after staggering to 3-3, Williams & Co scored four second-half goals to win the game outright.

It was an amazing turnaround after a first half in which Shelf were in danger of being over-run as they struggled up the slope into the teeth of a howling gale. The omens weren’t good in the first minute, when only a goal-line block by Jonny prevented the visitors falling behind.

A minute later, Norristhorpe revealed their secret weapon – a number 6 with a long throw that made Rory Delap look like a puny weakling. His first effort hurtled into the penalty area like a guided missile and catapulted into the net, but the goal was ruled out because no-one had touched it on its way in.

Pinned in their own half for most of the first half, Shelf held on doggedly until the 17th minute, when one of those deadly throws bounced in the area and an unstoppable half-volley was smashed past Cameron.

With the advantage of the wind and the slope to come, the Panthers would have been happy with a 1-0 half-time deficit, but Norristhorpe grabbed two goals in the space of a minute just before the break.

It was time for the coaches to work their magic. Lee reached for the hair-drier. Tony urged his players to make a fresh, clean start and gazed longingly at the immaculately-laundered bibs on the touchline.

Galvanised by the team-talk, Shelf took control of the match. Their first goal, after 37 minutes, was a neat back-header from Man of the Match Robert. A minute later, Toby unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt which bounced viciously over the keeper’s head, then just over the bar.

After 40 minutes, it was 3-2. Toby’s cross from the left hung in the air and Robert reacted quickly to power a header into the net.

Nine minutes later, the Panthers were level. Tom whipped a free kick in from wide on the right and Toby’s touch diverted it past the keeper.

Ross saw a shot headed off the line, but Shelf didn’t have to wait long for the winner, as Tom cut in from the left after 51 minutes and drove the ball low into the net.